Green Getters in action at Kashmir Great Lakes

“Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast, Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast.”

The poet Amir Khusro wrote this about Kashmir, and his lines are not hyperbole. Yet, even a place as beautiful as Kashmir sees litter strewn around – behind its rock faces, in its streams and emerald green lakes. Last year, Indiahikes trekkers did a thorough clean up of Kashmir Great Lakes route- they collected more than 10 quintals of plastic and non-biodegradable waste!

We hope we’ll find the trail as clean as we left it last September when the season starts!

All of our trekkers carry these eco-bags to collect litter on trails and campsites.

What a catch! Trekkers cleaning up Gangabal lake.

Trekkers pick up litter from streams.

Emptying contents of eco-bag into bigger collection bags.

Picking up litter left by others.

The litter left behind by another trekking group.

Heave ho! Look at the haul.

Job well done! But a long way to go.

The garbage our trekkers collect are brought down to nearest city so that the waste can be segregated and processed. Here is a report on what happened to all the waste they collected.