Places to Visit in Gurez Valley and Things to Do

When we talk about places to visit in Gurez Valley, the natural beauty of the valley will definitely top the list. It is one of the least explored regions of Kashmir and one that can truly be termed an offbeat destination. Once you reach Gurez, the best thing to do is to actually do nothing but enjoy the peace and the quiet.

With that being said, there are a few places that are definitely worth visiting which I will list in the post below. Most of these can easily be covered in a day or two at the most.

Kishanganga River Lake

Just before Dawar, you will come across the dam on the Kishanganga river that takes the form of a large lake, like in the picture below. It is a great spot to stop and click some pictures.

Habba Khatoon Peak

This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Gurez Valley. Habba Khatoon in real life was a poetess whose husband, the king of Kashmir, was captured and imprisoned by Akbar during his conquest of Kashmir.

Now the name stands for a mountain that overlooks Dawar, the central township of Gurez. A film starring Dimple Kapadia was also planned on the life of Habba Khatoon but it was never finalized.

I have provided more details on the poetess and her life in a different article, The Life and Legend of Habba Khatoon. It is said that she still wanders around here at the mountain in search of her husband.

Spooky? Maybe, but the mountain definitely looks gorgeous with the Kishenganga River flowing in its shadow. It is visible from the entire town but you get its best view while sitting on the banks of the river.

The best time to view this majestic peak is either at the time of sunset or sunrise. It turns a little golden in the early or late hours of the day and presents a perfect photographic opportunity.

Habba Khatoom Waterfall

It is a small stream of underground water that emerges from Habba Khatoon peak and flows down into the Kishenganga river. Locally, it is referred to as ‘Habba Khatoon ka Chashma’.

It will be wrong to actually call it a waterfall. It is just a small stream of water and to be honest, there is nothing great about it. The spot where this small waterfall is however very scenic, in the middle of the forest. You will have to leave your car parked and walk for about 500 meters to get to the water stream.

There are two things that I really liked about it though. It is possibly the coldest water that I have ever touched. I am not comparing it with frozen lakes or glacial waters because that is something entirely different. But for a flowing stream of underground water, I have not found one colder than this.

The second thing is the taste of the water. I know water does not actually have a taste of its own but it really feels good and very refreshing. Try it out while you were there and you will know what I mean.

Just ask any of the locals around and they can point you in the direction of this small waterfall. You will have to cross the river after Dawar and go to the left side after registering yourself at the Army check post in order to reach this spot.

The Marsh

Ok so it is not really called the Marsh and that is a name that I just made up. But I do not really know what else to call this place. Take a look at the picture below.

This is the spot where the old town of Dawar actually was. But after the dam was built on the Kisheganga river, this area got flooded and the houses were relocated.

What you get now is a small swamp-like area that is perfect to view the sunset and also get some long-exposure evening shots. Walking around in the mud is also fun. The trunks of the cut-down trees popping out of the water add to the overall charm of the place.

It is at the far end of Dawar town, after the market. You can ask the locals for directions. Right next to this marsh is also the spot where the campsites in Dawar are.

Khandiyal Top

It is the top of a hillock that offers a 360-degree view of the entire Dawar town, the Kishenganga dam lake, and the surrounding villages. It is another good spot to see sunrise and sunset.

To get here, you need to take the road going uphill near the petrol pump. Drive as far as you can, leave your car parked and then walk to the top. The roads will get a little narrow and confusing so ask for directions.

Chorwan Village

It is a small village a few kilometers from Dawar that is extremely close to the border. The last time I was in Gurez, I heard that it is now being developed for border tourism but I think that is just an idea for now. I am not sure when will it really happen.

You cannot go all the way to the village and will be stopped at the Army check post. But go as far as you can. The views on the way are quite amazing.