Among many eye-catching places for tourists in Kashmir is Aharbal which is known for its waterfall, Aharbal Falls. Famous among tourists as ‘The Niagara Falls of Kashmir’, the boisterous waters of the Vishav river tumble down straight 25 metres below at Aharbal, creating a scintillating waterfall among the pine-covered mountains of Pir Panjal range.
This famous waterfall is located in the southwestern part of the valley in Kulgam district, some 75 kilometres from Srinagar at an altitude of 2266 metres above sea level.
The sheer volume of water that comes crashing down on the rocks below is enough to make its roar audible from a distance. The serenity all around pronounces the sound of a waterfall to deafening decibels as one nears it. The source of the Aharbal waterfall lies deep in the pine and fir forests in the form of gorgeous Kousarnag Lake (13,500 ft above sea level).
The scenic meadow of Kungwatan lies at the halfway point of the two-day trek to the high-altitude Kousarnag Lake. Surrounded on all sides by a dense canopy of verdant alpine trees, the meadow is a calm and tranquil place, mostly inhabited during summers by cattle herders. One can even enjoy angling in the Vishav river as it teems with trout fish, introduced into it by the Fisheries department. All it needs is just a fishing permit which can be obtained from the Fisheries department stationed at Aharbal.
