35 Spectacular Photos From The Warwan Valley Expedition

Warwan Valley Trek is the grandest in our country. At Indiahikes, we call it ‘The’ Warwan. There is no trek you would have done that can match the experience of this trek. And no trek you do after this will come close.

This is what our Chief Explorer & Senior Trek Leader, Nitesh Kumar, realised when he led a team to Warwan Valley (on August 7th, 2022). He said, "One emotion to describe this trek is in a sentence — Warwan sab ka Baap hai, kasam se!"  

In his words, "How does a single trek have everything at once, and every day? Each day, the landscapes differed, and those landscapes' scale was huge, even for my lens."

This trek was extremely special for Nitesh for a big reason. "I realised that as we entered our 76th year of independence, I led my 76th team as a Trek Leader at Indiahikes. I'm really proud of that, and this time it was even more special because it was the Warwan!"

So today, we want to take you through this long photo story that Nitesh has put together. Through some of the best photos we have seen of Warwan Valley, he takes you on the whole trek through his lens. All the photos in this photo story have been shared by Nitesh.

Before that, do take a look at this map of the Warwan Valley trek, to get a bearing of the locations in the photographs. 

The trek starts from Panikhar Basecamp and on the second day you trek to Denora. From Panikhar, it is a 13 km trek to Denora. Notice the brown barren Ladakhi landscape as you trek.

“When I reached Panikhar and started for Denora. My eyes started glittering to see those colours, patterns, shapes and drama. I wish I could take a buffer day at each campsite. I was getting emotional seeing all this,“ explains Nitesh.

On the third day, the trek from Kalapari to Kaintal Meadows via Lomvilad Pass is the longest and most challenging day on the trek full of adventure!

“Going through those glaciers was like waking up the giant and thundering falls of icebergs was literally like Arctic Live Documentary”, said Nitesh

"Bracken is a gigantic monster himself, but sleeping along with him, I can't ask for more! I woke up in the middle of the night and was just staring, and then the morning light fell on him. I'm getting goosebumps even while writing this now.

Those cracking sounds of walking on the glacier are still running fresh, and I wish I could feel that again in life! “explains Nitesh

"The breather after tricky sections and to get everyone safe. But when I looked back, I saw the Trans Himalayas bidding me goodbye with a big hug.", said Nitesh.

The next day, you trek from Kaintal to Humpet. The trail climbs a hillock which follows a flat grassland. Beyond a hillock is almost always another grassland. These grasslands are the highlights of the day’s trek.

You find grasslands filled with horses grazing in the wild. These grasslands of Sar alternate with a grassy river basin. It is quite an exquisite walk!

“Kaintal to Humpet was hands down my favourite stretch from the entire trek. I haven't walked for 15km straight on any Himalayan trek. This was like a walk with god's own theatre screens around, and this stretch was the ultimate meditation. I can walk on this trail every day of my life!!” described Nitesh.

From Humpet, the trek becomes dramatically different from the day earlier. The trek descends two valleys to the meticulous grasslands and the supremely beautiful village of Sukhnai.

The setting of villages is too perfect even for pictures. Fences border the trail you walk on. Willow trees jut out between houses. Mud-baked lanes crisscross the village. Flower beds line the hills around the houses. To top it, a clear stream runs through the village! All in a way that distinctly resembles the Gaulish village from Asterix comics. This setting is unique to this part of Kashmir.

“Humpet to Sukhnai was like detachment feelings that the trek was about to end, and I didn't want this! I wish Sukhnai camp wasn't close, but the moment I saw it from a distance, I got a big smile and rushed like Munni in Bajrangi bhaijaan at the climax.” bawled Nitesh

That brings us to the end of this beautiful photo story. 

For Nitesh, this was one of his most incredible experiences ever. "On the final day of Warwan, I was literally jumping inside. When I saw those lush green wide valleys with such beautiful villages across, I couldn't believe I was in India. Was this not Switzerland or any other part of the world? I couldn't soak that in for even a moment - It was Kashmir. I could never have dreamt of being here.

Warwan will definitely be the most grateful moment of my life. I still feel the more I put this feeling into words, the more I fail to justify it. Between all the ups and downs of work, the meaning of our work just gets sidelined, which I believe must never. But not only does this trek change our trekker's life but also mine as it reassures and answers the 'whys' of our work! "