Kashmir Himalayan Circuit - a simple origin

Sometimes a passing comment can lead to a great idea

A few years ago when Mahmood Shah was the Director General of Tourism he would regularly catch up after work on my houseboat moored on Nagin Lake. While we shared kahwa chai (actually I had a beer) we would look across the lake to the snow-capped peaks of the Pir Panjal Range.

You know Mahmood speculated I have often thought that it would be possible to trek around Kashmir, starting from Tangmarg then heading to the Moghul Road and then onto the Banihal pass. After that to the Simthanpass and Margan top. As Mahmood paused for breath I interrupted. Then to the Wardvan valley, Gul Gali and the Amarnath trail to Baltal and Sonamarg, the Great lakes trek to Harimukh before descending to Wular Lake.

We felt pleased with ourselves and by the following morning a plan of action had been drawn up under the working title of the Kashmir Himalayan Circuit (KHC). A classic trek that had all the makings, for Kashmir at least in a more modest way, to compare with the Great Himalayan Trail across the roof of Nepal

A passing comment can sometimes lead to a great idea.