Neelum Valley 2016 (Ratti gali lake, Hans raj lake, Taobut and Arang kel)

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HANS RAJ LAKE

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At Hans Raj Lake.

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Hans Raj Lake.

Hans Raj Lake 2. by Shafiq Ahmad, on Flickr

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Hansraj lake by Shafiq Ahmad, on Flickr

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Hans Raj Lake.

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Patterns of snow on Hans raj lake.

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We spend about an hour of this beautiful morning at this rarely visited lake. This lake and Ratti gali can also be visited from Noori top side. If some one has visited it feom that side he can give information about the track, but for sure that will be a beautiful track. We were back at camp site by about 12:00 am

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Without any delay, we packed our bags and started back for Dawarian. The valley was full of low clouds with mild drizzling which later turned in to moderate rain, that continued till we reached the site where we could get a jeep for ride to Dawarian.

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I remember the days when, in past there was no jeep track to the lake and we used to hike from Dawarian to

camp site and then lake. Usually one way travel took a whole day with night spent at the camp near lake.

Traveling in this beautiful valley is much easier now but perhaps was more captivating and adventurous in those

days.

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Interestingly, going up and down this valley is not a journey in isolation. Go slow and you will enjoy chatting

with local folks, and greet every hiker passing by and stopping at every roadside tent shop to have chat with

these seasonal shopkeepers to buy a cup of tea or a pack of biscuits.