Kausar Nag
| Kausar Nag | |
|---|---|
  Kausar Nag Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India | |
| Location | Kulgam, Kashmir valley, India |
| Coordinates | 33°30′44″N 74°46′08″E / 33.512287°N 74.768780°ECoordinates: 33°30′44″N 74°46′08″E / 33.512287°N 74.768780°E |
| Type | Oligotrophic lake |
| Primary inflows | Melting of snow |
| Primary outflows | A tributary of Veshaw River |
| Max. length | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) |
| Frozen | November to July |
Kausar Nag or Kausarnag (sometimes alternatively spelled as Konsarnag), is a high-altitude oligotrophic lake located in the Pir Panjal Range in the Kulgam District of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.The lake is roughly 2 miles long and half a mile at the widest point.[1] The trek to Kausarnag is via the famous waterfall of Aharbal. The lake is located in a valley that is surrounded by peaks on all sides with elevation in excess of 4000 metres above sea level.
Vishnupad legend
According to Panun Kashmir, the lake is one of the two places in Kashmir Valley that is associated with worship of ‘Visnupad’. The other shrine of ‘Visupad’ is located in the foothills of Pir Panjal at Fatehpur, in Dooru-Shahbad tehsil, not much away from Verinag (Nilkunda) Spring. Fatehpur shrine houses as per local folklore, footprints of Visnu on a stone.[2]
Yatra controversy
In July 2014, a controversy erupted when a group of Kashmiri pandits asked the state government to allow them to proceed for an annual yatra to the lake from the valley side. Pertinently, for the past five years, a yatra was being conducted from Reasi side to the place but managed by the local administration. However,the experts have warned against such moves saying the ecological set up would be disturbed. Moreover, experts and the majority political players are of the opinion that the glacial water bodies are only tourist spots and don’t have any religious significance. This led to protests in the Kashmir Valley, especially in the Kulgam district against the conduct of the yatra. [3] Although, regular excursions to lake by local schools are common and tourists are allowed to visit the lake. The protests were only against pilgrimage by Kashmiri Pandits.
References
- ↑ "VAM :: Vertical Amble Mountaineering: Kausar Nag Trek Information". Verticalamble.in. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
- ↑ "Konsarnag – Myth, Legend and History". Kashmir Sentinel. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
- ↑ http://www.kashmirlife.net/kashmir-shuts-against-kausar-nag-yatra-63126/
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