Girgan Dhok and its Lakes

  Popularly known as the “Valley of Seven Lakes”, Girgan Dhok is a must-visit for anyone travelling to Poonch. Located just 70 Km from the town of Poonch, Girgan Dhok features seven beautiful lakes and amazing scenic beauty. Girgan Dhok is located at a height of 12000 feet above sea level and it lies in the Buffliaz Belt. The beauty of the area has always appealed tourists from all around the world.

There is a fascinating legend behind Girgan Dhok. It is believed that a king named Girgan Dev ruled in the ancient times. He had seven children, six boys and one daughter named Sukh, Neel, Gum, Chandan, Nandan and Bhag and Kali (the daughter). When the king came of age he told his children to find a place in the Pir Panjal range where he could take sanyas.

After choosing a place all the children came back to Girgan Dev except Gum who did not return. They left in search of Gum and found him sitting at a spot from where he refused to go back. Girgan Dev got furious and buried his son in the earth. He then visited the other places selected by his children and was pleased. He blessed them that after their death they would all turn into lakes and would be on the earth forever. Hence, there are seven lakes in the area and the valley is known as Girgan.

The seven pristine lakes in Girgan Dhok are the main draw for the tourists. These lakes include Sukh Sar, Chandan Sar, Bagh Sar, Neel Sar, Kali Dachani, Katora Sar and Nandan Sar. The Nandan Sar is considered to be the largest of the seven lakes. It spreads over an area of two and a half mile in length and is about a mile wide. The Katorasar is the smallest of the lakes but the most beautiful. Water from the Nandar Sar drains towards the Alibad Sarai located in the Kashmir Valley; while water from the remaining lakes flows into the Poonch district.

The valley starts from the Bharamgala Mountain spanning till the Raviwali Dhok. Tourists visiting Girgan Dhok can get views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The valleys features lush meadows, colourful flowers small gushing streams and lots of other natural beauty. The area is excellent for trekking.

Girgan Dhok can be reached from villages of Bheramgala, Dhera Ki Gali and Noorichamb that are connected to Poonch by road. There are no paved routes till Girgan Dhok. There are three birdie paths that can be used for reaching the valley, trekking to the area is the only way to reach it. These paths include Noorichamb to Husathum to Panjtari to Nandansar, Bheramgala to Chai to Gali Girgan to Khuian to Nandansar and Dhera Ki Gali to Rattan Pir to Kuthgali to Nandansar.

The closest airport to Girgan Dhok is Sawari Airport at Jammu. The airport is around 250 Km from Poonch and is well-connected to major cities of India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, Srinagar, etc. From airport, taxis are available for tourists to reach Poonch.

The Jammu Tawi Railway Station is the closest railhead to Girgan Dhok. The Jammu railway station has trains to all major cities in India. From Jammu tourists can take buses or taxis to reach Poonch.

Jammu offers good road connectivity to Poonch. Buses can be availed from Jammu for a fare ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300. Taxis are also available from Jammu to Poonch. The terrain is hilly and it can take up to 7-8 hours to reach Poonch.

The weather at Girgan Dhok is quite amazing and pleasant. Tourists can visit the place at any time of the year. The weather is mild during summers and it can get quite cold during the winters. The best time to visit the area is between March to June and October and November.