Tarsar Marsar Trek- The Complete 2024 Guide

With a sight to behold the two lakes Tarsar and Marsar have tales and folklore closely associated with the people of Kashmir. Known as the “Switzerland of India”, the Tarsar Marsar Lakes are surrounded by snow-clad mountains, covered with lush green meadows and glowing with exuberant waters making it one of the best places to visit in Kashmir.

The two beauties of the trek

During the winter Tarsar Lake is covered by heavy snow where the lake freezes over. Even during the summers, you may get to witness floating ice. Summertime is the perfect time to see migratory birds such as the bar-headed geese, Himalayan golden eagles, and black bulbuls, making it the best time for Tarsar Marsar Trek.

The Marsar Lake is nestled in the Tral Valley of Anantnag district, near Aru Valley, and is often referred to as the “twin sister” to Tarsar Lake because of their similarities. Like the Tarsar Lake, the Marsar Lake too is beautiful with snow-capped mountains surrounding it and often shrouded in clouds.

A lake that changes colors with the changing sky (Tarsar Lake) and another with its glistening emerald color (Marsar Lake) – these two lakes form two of the most beautiful Lakes in Kashmir. The photography and pictures that come out of this place are jaw-dropping and words cannot explain the beauty of this place. You need to experience it, to explain it.

Navigating through the beauty of Kashmir

The Tarsar and Marsar lakes are situated 3km and 5 km away respectively, from the village of Nagberan. A chance to interact with the local people and their naturally warm hearts, namely the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities is a great way to immerse yourself culturally on the trek. Meeting new people is also an amazing way to connect with the land and its customs and one of the best things to do in the Tarsar Marsar trek.

The adventure for the Tarsar Marsar trek begins in Srinagar, where you start from the base camp in Aru where you meet warm and hospitable people ready to greet you and provide you with any assistance you require.

You slowly move onwards towards the Lidder River, trekking across dense alpine forests and some local Gujjar settlements. You will set camp in Lidderwat with the starry skies providing an amazing scene at night.

From Lidderwat Valley you will move to Shekwas which is a short trek and the Lidder River is a constant sight as you move along with it. Reaching Shekwas, you will get a panoramic view of the peaks in the distance.

From Shekwas you will move on to the Tarsar Lake and the Marsar Lake with their majestic and breathtaking view. The Tarsar Marsar Trek may arguably be one of the best camping places in Kashmir.

The trek ends with a trip back to Srinagar, which leaves you with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.

Other wonders near the trek

Located near the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary is home to 117 species of birds and 18 species of mammals. The endangered Kashmir stag can be seen grazing in this sanctuary along with Kashmir musk deer, common leopard, golden marmot, and the Asiatic black bear. It is a famous Tarsar Marsar trek tourist place to visit.

Governed by the Department of Wildlife Protection, the vegetation of the sanctuary varies according to the altitude with deciduous forest and coniferous forest being the main types found here.

Sundarsar Lake

Located near Marsar Lake, Sundarsar Lake is one of the best Tarsar Marsar Trek sightseeing places as it is another beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and a carpet of wildflowers colored yellow. An amazing place to let loose your creative photography skills.

Sheeshnag Lake

Another beautiful Tarsar Marsar sightseeing place is the Sheeshnag Lake which is an alpine lake located at the base of the Sheeshnag mountain, trekkers can catch a glimpse of this lake while ascending towards Tarsar Lake.

Making it one of the most famous places to see in the Tarsar Marsar trek, Lidderwat is nature’s beauty at its finest. A mix of dense pine forests, and a gleaming Lidder river, this is the perfect spot for setting up camp especially to enjoy this scenic route of Kashmir while traversing through to Tarsar Lake.

The Tarsar Marsar trek should be and is advised to be taken by a professional trekker, who knows the terrain and the circumstances surrounding the valley. Any medical emergencies that should befall your trek will be handled by said professionals, and make your trekking less risky. The Tarsar Marsar trek cost comes up to almost INR 15,000 to 20,000 depending on your personal expenses.

The polluting of the environment is a strict “NO’, and be wary of your surroundings and be sure not to litter.