Overview
About Bangus Valley
Bangus is a high meadow basin in Kupwara district at about 3,012 m, roughly 100 km from Srinagar. The main bowl, Boud Bangus, is an east-west elliptical plain of about 300 square kilometres; the smaller Lokut Bangus lies to its north-east.
Slopes and side plateaus carry flowering herbs and medicinal plants, and Gujjar and Bakarwal herders graze livestock here in summer. Road access from the Handwara side was completed in 2022.
On the ground
What to look for
- Boud Bangus and Lokut Bangus meadows
- Alpine wildflowers and medicinal plants
- Summer Gujjar-Bakarwal grazing camps
Best time
When to go
In season now
Best months: May–Sep.
Know
Good to know
- Kupwara is a border district near the Line of Control; access can be curtailed
- Snowbound and effectively inaccessible in winter
- Almost no shops, fuel, lodging or mobile coverage; carry supplies
Getting there
From Srinagar
- Nearest town
- Handwara
- Road ends at
- Mawer / Bangus road head
Location