Complete description of all the lakes of Azad-Kashmir.
1. Rati Gali Lake
2. Rati Gali Small
3. Hans Raj Lake
4. Kala Sar lake
5. Ghatian Lake
6. Saral Lake
7. Moon Lake
8. Ram Chakor Lake
9. Mulanwali Lake
10.Butkanali Lake
11.Shounter Lake
12. Chitta Katha Lake
13. Chitta Katha 2
14. Banjusa Lake
15. Baghsar Lake
16. Subri / Langarpura Lake
17. Zalzal lake
18. Patlian Lake
19. Mai Narada Lake
20. Noori Lake
21. Khargam Lake
22. Duck Lake
1. Rati Gali Lake
First of all, remove the confusion of the name Rati Gali. Until 2010, the local name of Rati Gali was Darian Saryan Sar. Sar(sar) is locally referred to as a lake or a natural body of water. Officially in 2010 and a local Sufi saint, Mian Barkatullah Sarkar, whose Astana is known as Barkatiya. Due to the recognition and respect of his religious services, the lake and the road leading to it were named after him and the lake was named Rati Gali Barkatiya Lake, which also has a formal government notification. Rati Gali Lake is an alpine glacial lake located in the Neelum Valley, meaning its source of water is the glaciers in the area.
This lake is accessible from Duariyan on Wadi Neelam Road at a distance of about 75 km from the southern side of Muzaffarabad. Which leads to the base camp after a 16 km jeep track from Dwarian. The lake can be reached after an hour easy trek from the base camp. This lake is located at an altitude of 12130 feet or 3700 meters above sea level. It is a popular tourist spot in the area where all the facilities are available. There is a large camping site at the base camp where tents and food, electricity and Wi-Fi are available at affordable prices and for horse riding enthusiasts there is a horse-riding facility to reach the lake. Remember that this lake is the biggest lake in the region. Around which there are twenty-six other small and big lakes. Also, four waterfalls are formed from the water of this lake.
2. Rati Gali Small
This lake is called Saryan Sir, at a walking distance of 10-15 minutes from Rati Gali Base Camp. There are many water reservoirs/reservoirs in this place which are called Sar in local language. Accordingly, this place is called Saryan Sar. The place has a waterfall and local dhoks and dhares where locals stay during summer.
3. Hans Raj Lake
This lake is also located in the Neelum Valley of Azad Kashmir. Originally, the local name of this lake was Rata Sar and the reason for its fame is the red colored mountains around it. Also, there is Lal Buti peak in this area which has been used in geographical survey during the British rule. There are three La Buti Peaks in this area, one is at Rati Gali, the second is at Sargan and the third is at Keil. The reason for the name Hans Raj is the fame of Pakistan's greatest travel writer and tourist Sir Mustansar Hussain Tarar, when he came to this lake, he described the pieces of floating glacier in it as similar to the floating Hans Raj. And it was written by Hans Raj and this lake became famous as Hans Raj Lake since then this lake is called Hans Raj Lake. Rati Gili Lake is located at a distance of about one and a half to two hours from the base camp, between Rati Gili and Noori Top, on the Rati Gili Pass at an altitude of about 3900 meters. On the other hand, the famous Dudipat Sar of Kaghan valley can also be tracked through Saral Lake. In winter, this lake is also covered with snow like other lakes of Neelum Valley.
4. Kala Sar Lake
There are three lakes in the Neelum Valley known as Kala Sar 1, Kala Sar 2 and Kala Sar 3. Kala sar 1 is an hour's walk from Hansraj Lake, Kala sar 2 is another hour's trek, while Kala sar 3 has to trek a little higher. You can also get a view of Ghatian Lake from Kala Sir 3 provided you take the guidance of a local guide. For the night you will have to come back to Rati Gali base camp or private camping but even for that local guides can guide you better.
5. Ghatian Lake
Rati Gali is located at a distance of about four hours from the base camp. This track goes from Rati Gali to Ghatian Lake via Hans Raj / Kala Sar Lake. That is, with proper planning and strategy, these three lakes can be easily tackled in a single tour. You can easily get a view of Ghatian Lake from Kala Sar, while you can also get a view of Ghatian and Nanga Parbat from the top of the mountain behind Rati Gali. While at the end of Noori Top, trek along the bridge or canal coming from Sharda or Sargan, that route will take you to Ghatian Lake after four to five hours of trek. There are also three lakes named Ghatian. Which are identified as Ghatian 1, 2, 3. For 1, 2, the view is clear, while for the third, one has to hike up to some height. Its local name is Donga Sir or Donga Nad.
6. Saral Lake
This lake is also a part of Neelum Valley which is 13600 feet or 4100 meters above sea level. Several routes are used to reach here. The first route leads to Basil and Dudipat Sir and from there to Saral. This route is less used and most of those coming from this route return from Saral View Point. Because for that, you have to descend once and then go uphill to reach the lake. The second route comes from Jalkhed, Noori Top via Mian Sahib Road to Saral, where it joins the Dudipat head track. The third route is on Noori Top with a stream coming from the front on the Kashmir side, horses are also available for this and the trek is also done on foot. The fourth route follows Gumot Nala and it will take you to Saral Lake. Gumot Nala is mainly coming from Saral.
7. Moon Lake
The route to Moon Lake also goes through Saral Lake. There is a trek to the left of Saral which can be done in one day along with Saral. Do it with a local guide. You can also reach here from the back side of Gumot and Jabba.
8. Ram Chakor / Char wali lake
This lake is also located in Saral valley at a distance of four to five hours. In 2019, a team of local guides discovered five lake tracks, this lake being one of them. Due to the abundance of Ram Chakor (bird) it is also called Ram Chakor Lake while the local name is Phirardnad. Phirar is also called Chakor in the local language. It can also be reached here via Gumot, Jabba Back and Sargan.
9. Mulanwali Lake
Mulan Wali Lake, also called Mulan Wali Nad, is also located near Moon Lake and Ram Chakor Lake.
Note: Moon Lake, Ram Chakor Lake and Mulanwali Lake can also be done together which will include a night camp and can be easily done with a local guide to avoid any trouble.
10. Butkanali Lake
After the vehicle journey from Jagran to Shall, a 7–8-hour walking trek rises above a place called Dhok Kundi and leads to Dhok but Kunali, from where the path to Mulanwali Lake becomes a walking track of about one and a half kilometers.
11. Shounter Lake
This lake is located in Shounter Valley Neelam Azad Kashmir, this lake is located at an altitude of 3100 meters or 10200 feet above sea level. This lake is located at the foot of the snow-capped mountains and the source of the waters of this lake is also the glaciers between these mountains. This lake is also called Spoon Lake, the reason for the name is its spoon-like shape, and it can be easily reached by jeep from Keel. There is this lake along with Shounter waterfall where the road ends. It is also locally called Bitar Lake.
12. Chitta Katha lake
This lake is also located in Shounter Valley. Located at an altitude of 13500 feet or 4100 meters, this is a beautiful lake, the approach to which is fascinating as well as difficult. From the base camp, two stops named Dick One and Two add to its charm. A 20 km jeep trek from Kiel takes you to a village called Huz Neelam, its base camp, which used to be the base camp of Chitta Katha. After which a 5 km but steep uphill path leads to this lake. Generally, the locals can come and go in ten to twelve hours, while the tourists also spend twelve hours one way. It is better to do from Base Camp to Dak 2 in one day, next day go from Dak 2 to Lake and return according to your convenience and time. One of the reasons for the fame of Chitta Katha Sar is the captivating view of Hari Parbat. Moreover, no one has been able to summit this peak till now. It is the third highest peak in the region, first being Sirwali, second being Toshira Wang, the range and third being Hari Parbat. There is also a lake named Chitta Katha 2 in the valley below. Further Linda Sir 1,2 at a distance of one to two hours, Panj Khatian and some lesser-known unnamed lakes are also present in this area.
13. Chitta Katha 2
Just below Hari Parbat, a one to one and a half hour walks to the left leads to Chitta Katha 2.
14. Banjusa Lake
Banjusa Lake is an artificial lake located in Poonch district at a distance of 18 km from Rawalakot. It is a popular tourist destination and is easily accessible to every tourist. It is located in a dense forest. There are also several rest houses. Kilometer long, kilometer wide and 52 meters deep, this lake is located at an altitude of 1981 meters or 6499 feet.
15. Baghsar Lake
The lake is located near Baghsar Fort near the Line of Control in Wadi Samahni, Bhimber.This fort has been under the rule of the Mughals and has a wonderful historical status . This lake is 975 meters above sea level and has a length of about half a kilometer. This lake is famous for its winter migratory birds and its lotus flowers. Another reason for the fame of this lake is that its shape is somewhat similar to the map of Pakistan. This area is full of cherry trees and blooming water lilies.
16. Subri Lake / Langarpura Lake
Subri Lake or Langarpura Lake is located at a distance of about 10 km in the south-east direction of Muzaffarabad. This lake is located at the exact place where the river Jhelum widens. The lake is easily accessible via the Muzaffarabad-Chakothi Road.
17. Lake Zalzal
This lake came into being as a result of the earthquake of 8 October 2005 when two mountains merged and four villages of Bhatsher, Lodhi Abad, Kurla and Padr were obliterated and the natural passage of water was blocked. This lake is located between Chikar and Bani Hafiz. The lake is 3.5 km long, and 350 feet deep. It is located at an altitude of 1828 meters above sea level. The lake can be easily visited on the way to Ganga Choti / Sidhan Gully or while staying at Chikar Guest House. There is also a Rest House of Tourism Department near this lake.
18. Patlian Lake
The path of this lake goes through Luvat Nallah. You can reach here after a 3-hour jeep drive and half-an-hour trek from Dwarian. There are three, four big and small lakes and innumerable waterfalls in its vicinity, among which Jhag Chamber and Kunali Waterfalls are famous. At a distance of one and a half hours from Main Patlian Lake, a lake is also named as Patlian Two.
19. Mai Narada Lake
This lake is a sacred place for Hindus and is their place of worship. This lake can be reached after a two-to-three-day trek from Sharda. This lake is located at an altitude of about 14000 feet.
20. Noori Lake
This lake is located on Noori Top and its sign is that there is a huge waterfall in front of it.
21. Khargam Lake
This lake is located behind Rati Gali. Khargam Lake is above the crack that is visible in the mountain behind Rati Gali. It is a relatively difficult and rugged rocky trail suitable only for professional trekkers and hikers.
22. Dick Lake
Dick lake trek starts from Janui. Similar to the Chitta Katha Lake trek, this trek is about 8-9 hours of walking on one side. Take camping equipment with you. There are no campsites in this area. Apart from this, the lakes of Gujarnad and Shakargarh are still unexplored.
There are also 11 lakes in Gal Valley which flow into Neelum Valley. Apart from this, the beautiful areas of Sunder Nikka, Hola back and Kala Jinder also have many lakes and waterfalls. July to October is the season to visit these lakes, after which more or less majority of the areas are covered with snow. Their length, width or depth has not yet been measured by any authentic means, the founders of most glacial lakes are more or less frequent. Don't risk swimming in all these lakes. Also, for camping it is necessary to have proper guidance and local guide. Red candlesticks were used for geographical surveying during the British rule, traces of which still remain. In the area there are three Lal Buti Peaks in Rati gali, Sargan and Keel area, besides Dak Bangla Rati gali Mohri and Gora Cemetery Rati gali which were the residence and burial grounds of British soldiers/officers during that time. Kishan Ghati Cave located in Sharda is said to be around 5000 years old and was used as a place of worship for Buddhists and Hindus.
There are some new discoveries in these lakes or regular treks up to them are chosen.