Field guides / Azad Jammu and Kashmir / Shounter Valley
Field guide · Nature
Shounter Valley
The Shounter Valley is a high side-valley reached by jeep track off the Kel-Taobat road, its centrepiece a glassy alpine lake that mirrors the surrounding peaks on a calm day. It's less visited than Ratti Gali or Arang Kel simply because it takes more effort to reach, which is exactly why travellers who make the detour tend to have it largely to themselves.
The Shounter Valley is a high side-valley reached by jeep track off the Kel-Taobat road, its centrepiece a glassy alpine lake that mirrors the surrounding peaks on a calm day. It's less visited than Ratti Gali or Arang Kel simply because it takes more effort to reach, which is exactly why travellers who make the detour tend to have it largely to themselves. It is also the trailhead for the tougher trek onward to Chitta Katha Lake.
Why go
- ✦Shounter Lake's mirror-still reflections
- ✦High alpine pasture, far quieter than Ratti Gali
- ✦Trailhead for Chitta Katha Lake
A Quieter Alternative to Ratti Gali
Shounter sees a fraction of Ratti Gali Lake's visitors, largely because the jeep track and distance from Kel demand more time and a sturdier vehicle. The reward is a high pasture and lake that feel genuinely remote, with Chitta Katha Lake's harder trek beginning here.
Plan It with GreenPak
Best arranged as a dedicated day or overnight detour from Kel with a 4x4 and local driver, use Plan a trip to fit it around the Kel-Taobat leg.
Planning tip
When to go, July to September, once the jeep track and high pastures are clear of snow.
Getting there, A jeep-track detour off the main Kel-Taobat route, reached from Kel.
Allow, A full day trip from Kel, or an overnight camp for those continuing to Chitta Katha Lake.
