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Jammu and Kashmir

Tulail Valley (Badugam)

Upper Kishanganga: log-and-stone Dard hamlets 40 km past Gurez

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Best time to visit Tulail Valley (Badugam)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: June to September
  • Shoulder: May and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: November to April

Planning a specific month? JuneJulyAugustSeptember

Tulail Valley (Badugam) season by season

Winter December to February Do not go

Dec-Feb Razdan Pass is shut and Tulail lives off stored rice and firewood; nothing moves in or out but the army, so it is not a trip.

Summer March to May Shoulder

March and April the pass is still buried. It usually opens late May, when the Kishanganga is loud with melt and the barley goes in.

Monsoon June to September Prime time

Jun-Sep is the window: warm days, cold nights, potato and rajma fields, and the rough 40 km run east of Dawar to Badugam and Chakwali.

Autumn October to November Shoulder

October turns the poplars gold and empties the road; once November snow lands the pass closes and Tulail is on its own until spring.

What Tulail Valley (Badugam) is actually like

Log-and-stone houses, a few new homestays and no hotels; evenings are noon chai and the last shop shutting with the light.

Things to do in Tulail Valley

The local places worth your time in and around Tulail Valley, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Niru

    Village · 5 km out

    One of Tulail's main villages near Badugam; like the rest of the valley it is home to Shina people in wooden houses.

  • Gadsar Lake

    Trek · 22 km out

    Alpine lake on the hiking trail from Tulail over to Sonamarg; a multi day walk with camping, best from June to September.

  • Krishansar Lake

    Lake · 27 km out

    Lake in the alpine meadows north of Sonamarg where the Kishanganga rises; reached only on foot over the passes.

Getting to Tulail Valley (Badugam)

Srinagar to Bandipora, shared sumo over Razdan Pass to Dawar (5h), then 40 km further east up the valley to Badugam.

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
2786 m
State
Jammu and Kashmir
Coordinates
34.5529, 75.0685

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Tulail Valley (Badugam)?

June to September is peak season in Tulail Valley (Badugam). May and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid November to April. Jun-Sep is the window: warm days, cold nights, potato and rajma fields, and the rough 40 km run east of Dawar to Badugam and Chakwali.

How many days do you need in Tulail Valley (Badugam)?

3 days is the usual stay. Log-and-stone houses, a few new homestays and no hotels; evenings are noon chai and the last shop shutting with the light.

How do you get to Tulail Valley (Badugam)?

Srinagar to Bandipora, shared sumo over Razdan Pass to Dawar (5h), then 40 km further east up the valley to Badugam. Practical ways in: road.

Is Tulail Valley (Badugam) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Tulail Valley?

Niru, Gadsar Lake and Krishansar Lake. One of Tulail's main villages near Badugam; like the rest of the valley it is home to Shina people in wooden houses.

Nearby, and where to go next

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