Satsar Lake, Sonamarg - Timings, Accessibility, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 12 km from Gadsar Lake, 10 km from Naranag, and 59 km from Sonamarg, Satsar Lake is an alpine lake is located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Situated amid the rocky foothills of the wonderful Himalayas, it is one of the popular places for trekking in Jammu & Kashmir and among the best places to visit in Sonamarg.

Perched at an altitude of 3600 m, Satsar or Sat Sar consists of seven small alpine lakes situated in a narrow alpine valley stretching from north to south. These lakes are spread over a 4 km distance with a width of 1 km. The lake is mainly fed by melting snow. During the late summer and autumn, two or three lakes usually dry up, depending upon the precipitation. The water of Satsar Lakes drains to Wangath River which is a tributary of river Sindh. Satsar serves as a natural mountain pass between Tulail Valley and Sind Valley. The lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol lie on the opposite side of Zajibal Pass.

The picturesque lake is surrounded by lush green meadows and alpine flowers like potentilla, gentian, and blue poppy. During the spring season, rare flowers of Hedysarum are found in abundance along the lakeside. Besides, the lake is home to brown trout fish and only licensed anglers with prior permission are allowed to fish here. Apart from nature enthusiasts, the place is thronged by adventure seekers as trekking can be enjoyed in the region.

The lakes of Satsar Valley are also on the trail of Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. So one can reach the lake either from Naranag or Shitkadi, Sonamarg. The lake can be accessed from Gurez and the Arin village of Bandipora. Among several trek routes to the lake, travellers prefer the one that commences at Naranag. From here, it is a 10 km short trek to Satsar Lake that passes through the alpine meadows of Trunakhul and Badpathri. Tourists prefer to take the Naranag trek and return via Gadsar Lake, Vishansar Lake, and Sonamarg, or vice versa to cover most alpine lakes of the area. Satsar Lake is accessible only during summer as in the winter season treks leading to this place experience heavy snowfall.

All the lakes of Satsar are frozen and covered in huge snow. They remain inaccessible in spring, winter, and autumn. The lakes are only accessible during the summer months from July and September. However, April to June is the best time to visit Satsar Lake, as it is most beautiful during this time & you can enjoy a variety of activities.

Timings: 6 AM - 5 PM

Entry: Rs. 100 for Permit