Ningle Nallah Tips: What to Know Before You Go

No. Nothing is sold at the stream, and there are no toilets or shelter. Carry water, a packed lunch and a rubbish bag from Gulmarg, and use the facilities in town before you set out. A litre to a litre and a half of water per person covers a half-day visit in summer. Bring a flask of hot tea if you're going on a winter snow walk.

Carry 1 to 1.5 litres of water per person, a packed lunch, a fleece and a rain shell, shoes with grip, sunscreen, cash in small notes, an original photo ID and a bag for your rubbish, because nothing is sold at the stream. For a winter snow walk, add full snow gear, snow boots and a flask of hot tea.

For most visitors a local union taxi plus a short walk is the most comfortable option. A pony takes about 1.5 to 2 hours each way on a stony, bumpy track, so it suits people who'd rather not walk and don't mind a rough ride. Fit walkers can cover the 10 km from Gulmarg on foot in about 3 to 3.5 hours each way.

Hire only from the registered pony stand and ask to see the Gulmarg Development Authority rate card for the route. Agree the route, the waiting time at the stream and the total price before you mount, and pay at the end of the ride rather than the start. Note the pony's registration number or the handler's name in case of a dispute.

You don't need one for the summer taxi route, because the driver knows the stop and the path to the water is short and obvious. Take a local guide from Gulmarg if you're walking the full route for the first time, for any snow walk between December and March, or if you're fishing, since a gillie knows which water your permit covers.

It is easy to moderate. The route is about 10 km from Gulmarg on a stony, sometimes muddy track with gentle gradients, and fit walkers take about 3 to 3.5 hours each way. Gulmarg is at about 2,650 m, so walk slowly if you arrived the same day. Anyone short of fitness or time should take the taxi and walk only the last stretch.