Tulian Lake Trek, Pahalgam: Status, Distance, Routes and Best Time

Status, checked 24 October 2026: Tulian Lake and its Baisaran approach are closed to tourists until at least 31 December 2026. Both appear on the Anantnag district list of closed tourist destinations dated 7 July 2026 (Baisaran is entry 18, Tulian Lake entry 19). Indiahikes, the largest operator on this route, has called off its 2026 departures. We check the district notices again on 1 January 2027 and will update this box the same day.

Tulian Lake at a Glance

Is Tulian Lake Open? Status for 2026 and 2027

No. Tulian Lake is closed to tourists for the rest of 2026. The Anantnag district administration's list of closed tourist destinations, dated 7 July 2026 and valid until 31 December 2026, names Tulian Lake (entry 19) and Baisaran (entry 18), the meadow every route to the lake passes through. In July 2026 the J&K Director of Tourism also said all trekking routes in the valley would stay closed until further orders, as reported by The Wire. Indiahikes, which had added extra May and June batches because of an unusually thin snow year, has since called off the trek for 2026. As of 24 October 2026 the district's announcements page shows no reopening notice.

The closures go back to April 2025, when an attack on tourists at Baisaran led the administration to shut most meadows and trails around Pahalgam. Some reopened within weeks. The high trails and Baisaran did not. Trekking to a site on the closed list is not allowed, and no guide or pony operator in Pahalgam will take you there while the order stands.

Pahalgam itself is open, and so are two of its valleys. Here is where things stand for the spots you might pair with Tulian.

What about 2027? The order lapses on 31 December 2026 unless the district renews it. If it lapses, the snow decides the rest. The trail above Baisaran usually clears in late June, so the earliest realistic window is late June to September 2027. Book flights you can change. Our Pahalgam travel guide carries the latest status for the whole area.

Where Is Tulian Lake?

Tulian Lake is in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, in a bowl of peaks above Baisaran meadow. In a straight line it is only about 8 km east-southeast of Pahalgam town. The trail winds twice that far, which is where the 16 km figure comes from. The water is turquoise, and through June and into July lumps of ice float on it. Peaks above 4,800 m ring the basin on the Pir Panjal side of the Lidder catchment. The stream that drains it runs down past Deno to join the Lidder near Ganesh Bal, so trekkers on the 5-day route follow the lake's own water most of the way up.

Seen from above, the lake is shaped like the numeral 8, split by a narrow inlet that links it to its water source. From the ridge on the north side you can see both loops at once, which is the photo most people climb for. The lake stays frozen and snow-covered for most of the year and is only open water for about three months.

How to Reach Tulian Lake from Pahalgam and Srinagar

You reach Tulian Lake in two stages. First get to Pahalgam (or Ganesh Bal, 2 km away), then walk.

Srinagar to Pahalgam. Srinagar airport (SXR) is the nearest airport. The road to Pahalgam runs about 90 km through Anantnag and takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours by taxi, longer in Yatra season. If you travel on shared cabs, take one from Srinagar to Anantnag (about Rs 80, 58 km) and change for Pahalgam (about Rs 110, 45 km), the fares Indiahikes quotes for independent trekkers. Our guide on how to reach Pahalgam from Srinagar covers taxis, buses and shared cabs.

By train. The nearest railhead is Anantnag, 46 km from Pahalgam, on the Kashmir valley line. The Udhampur, Srinagar and Baramulla line opened in June 2025, and direct Vande Bharat trains have run from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar since May 2026. The valley trains between Banihal and Baramulla stop at Anantnag. All the options are in our how to reach Pahalgam guide.

Pahalgam to Tulian Lake via Baisaran. From Pahalgam a 5 km pony and foot trail climbs through pine forest to Baisaran. Above Baisaran the climb gets steeper as you move closer to the lake, and there are few marked trails. The path heads up through spruce and fir past Kanimool, then into the open Tulian Valley before the final climb. That is 11 km more, and few people do it in a single day, which is why most groups camp at Tulian Valley.

Ganesh Bal to Tulian Lake. Operators running the 5-day loop pick trekkers up in Srinagar early in the morning and drive 85 km, about 2.5 hours, to Ganesh Bal via Langalbal. Indiahikes charged Rs 785 plus 5% GST per trekker each way for this transfer. The trail from Ganesh Bal joins the Baisaran route on the second day.

Tulian Lake Distance Table

Tulian Lake Trek Routes Compared

Most guides describe two routes, one from Pahalgam and one from Baisaran. They are the same trail. Baisaran is simply where the Pahalgam path leaves the forest, 5 km above town, and younger groups often ride ponies to Baisaran to save the first climb. The real choice is between that direct route and the longer loop from Ganesh Bal.

We would pick the 5-day loop for most people. It gains height in four steps of 1,000 to 1,500 ft a day instead of one big push, and you get two nights at Tulian Valley, which gives you a second shot at the lake if the weather turns on summit day.

Tulian Lake Trek Itinerary, Day by Day

This is the 5-day Ganesh Bal loop as Indiahikes ran it before the 2026 season was called off, with the distances, heights and walking times from its route notes.

Day 1, Ganesh Bal to Deno. The walk starts in spruce forest beside the stream that comes down from Tulian Lake. After a clearing with a few dhabas you cross a wooden bridge and climb about 2 km to Deno, a campsite ringed by conifers. Take the right fork at the bridge. The left goes to Chutiyaal, which is tomorrow's route.

Day 2, Deno to Kanimool. You go back past the bridge to the Chutiyaal meadow, then about a kilometre of forest brings you out at Baisaran. From Baisaran the 4 km to Kanimool is a mix of gentle and steep sections through spruce and fir, past Gujjar huts. The peaks of Hodasarbal and Wokhalbal show up as you near camp.

Day 3, Kanimool to Tulian Valley. A short but steep 4 km. After about 3.5 hours you reach the stone-and-tarpaulin huts at Tulian Marg, and a little beyond them the campsite, with a stream right next to the tents. You sleep here two nights. On a clear night it is one of the best places for stars in the valley.

Day 4, summit day. The first part is an easy walk up the narrow Tulian Marg meadow. Then comes the climb that makes this trek moderate rather than easy. It is steep, covered in boulders and loose scree, and it is just as tricky on the way down. Fill your bottles at the last stream, use two trekking poles, and plan to turn back by early afternoon whatever the weather looks like.

Day 5, back to Ganesh Bal. About 7 km and 3,500 ft of descent, which is hard on the knees. Operators reach Ganesh Bal around 3 pm and drive back to Srinagar the same evening.

The 3-day version via Baisaran. Day 1, walk or ride from Pahalgam to Baisaran and continue to camp at Kanimool. Day 2, climb to Tulian Valley, drop your bags and do the lake in the afternoon if you are moving well, or wait for the next morning. Day 3, back down to Pahalgam. It works only if you have already spent a couple of nights in Pahalgam at 2,200 m, because you gain close to 5,000 ft in two days.

How Difficult Is the Tulian Lake Trek?

The Tulian Lake trek is moderate. It is not a beginner's walk, despite what older guides (including the earlier version of this page) said. Every day has ascents, descents and some boulder sections. Above Baisaran the path is faint in places and crosses streams that groups sometimes cross holding hands in a chain. On summit day you climb about 1,500 ft on large boulders and loose stones. The whole Tulian Valley section is gravel and rock, and there are a few rockfall patches.

Decent fitness is required. A fit beginner can do the 5-day loop with a trek leader. Someone who has never walked uphill for five hours should pick an easier first trek. Start training 6 weeks out. Build up to jogging 5 km in about 35 to 40 minutes, climb stairs with a 6 to 8 kg backpack twice a week, and do one long weekend hike with real height gain before you fly. Skip this trek if you have uncontrolled blood pressure, heart or lung problems, or a knee that complains on descents.

Best Time to Visit Tulian Lake, Month by Month

The best time to visit Tulian Lake is from July to mid-September, when the trail is clear of snow, the meadows are green and ice still floats on the lake into July. Kashmir gets only light rain in July and August, because the Pir Panjal range blocks most monsoon cloud, so the trekking is far drier than in Himachal or Uttarakhand in the same weeks.

The Amarnath Yatra runs on the Chandanwari road from early July to late August, and security on the roads around Pahalgam tightens during those weeks. September is quieter. For the town itself, see the best time to visit Pahalgam.

Tulian Lake Trek Cost, Permits, Guides and Ponies

There is no entry fee for Tulian Lake. What you pay for is the trek. These are the published operator prices before the 2026 season was called off, the best guide to what 2027 will cost.

Permits and paperwork. When the route is open there is no separate public permit counter for Tulian. Registered operators handle registration with the local authorities, and you carry original photo ID throughout, with copies. Most operators also ask for a medical certificate signed by a doctor. Foreign nationals should go with a registered operator and check registration rules when they book. While the closure order is in force, no permit is issued for any route to the lake.

Do you need a guide? Yes. Take a local guide for the climb from Baisaran, because the trail above it is not marked and the weather turns fast. A guide also knows where the safe stream crossings are, which matters in late June when meltwater is high.

What to Pack for the Tulian Lake Trek

Trekking shoes with ankle support and a good grip on wet rock. Not running shoes.

Three to four warm layers, a down or synthetic jacket, a waterproof shell, thermals, a wool cap and gloves. Nights at Tulian Valley drop close to freezing even in August.

Two trekking poles for the boulder climb and the long descent.

Microspikes if you go in May or June.

Two 1-litre bottles and purification tablets or a filter.

Sunglasses, SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm. The glare off snow and water at 12,000 ft is harsh.

A headlamp, a power bank and offline maps. There is no signal after Pahalgam.

Cash for ponies and porters, drawn in Pahalgam. There is no ATM higher up.

Original photo ID with photocopies, plus your medical certificate.

A small personal first-aid kit with any medicines you take, Diamox only if a doctor has advised it, and blister plasters.

Safety, Altitude Sickness and Trek Etiquette

Altitude. Above 10,000 ft acute mountain sickness is a real risk, for fit people as much as anyone. Headache, nausea, loss of appetite and breathlessness at rest are the warning signs. If they get worse, go down. The 5-day loop gives your body time to adjust. The 3-day route does not, which is why we suggest it only after a couple of nights in Pahalgam.

Weather and terrain. Start summit day early. Afternoon cloud can cover the ridge and the boulder field is slippery when wet. Never cross a fast stream alone.

Getting help. The nearest hospital is in Pahalgam, about 2 km from Ganesh Bal. Exits on the loop are Lidroo near Deno, Pahalgam from Kanimool, and either Ganesh Bal or Pahalgam from Tulian Valley. Serious cases go to Srinagar.

Wildlife and shepherds. Gujjar and Bakarwal families graze flocks in these meadows through summer. Ask before photographing them, and keep away from their dogs. Black bears live in the forests below Kanimool, so keep food sealed at camp.

Leave no trace. Carry all rubbish back to Pahalgam, camp at the marked sites rather than on the shore, and don't wash with soap in the lake or its stream. Swimming in a glacial lake at 3,684 m is dangerous and not something any operator allows. And above all, respect closure orders. Don't try to reach the lake while it is on the closed list.

Tulian Lake vs Tarsar Marsar vs Sheshnag vs Kashmir Great Lakes

Tulian is the shortest of the big lake treks around Pahalgam and Sonamarg, which makes it a good first Kashmir trek. Here is how it compares.

The Sheshnag route is the Amarnath Yatra trail and Chandanwari is on the 2026 closed list too. Check the status of every route before you book.

Places to Visit Near Tulian Lake

Baisaran, 5 km above Pahalgam, is the meadow every Tulian route crosses. Closed to 31 December 2026.

Betaab Valley, 7 to 8 km from Pahalgam on the Chandanwari road, is a ticketed river meadow. Open.

Aru Valley, at the head of the West Lidder, is the base for the Tarsar Marsar and Kolahoi treks. Open for day visits.

Chandanwari, 16 km from Pahalgam, is the start of the Amarnath Yatra and a snow point into early summer. Closed to 31 December 2026.

Pissu Top is the first steep climb on the Yatra route above Chandanwari, open only during the Yatra.

Pahalgam Golf Course is in town and open.

For the full list, see our guide to places to visit in Pahalgam.

Photography Tips for Tulian Lake

The classic shot is from the ridge on the north side of the lake, where the figure-of-eight shape shows in one frame. Get there by mid-morning, before cloud builds over the peaks. Late June and early July bring the floating ice that makes the lake look like nowhere else in Kashmir. By September the ice is gone and the water turns a deeper blue. Kanimool is worth an early start for sunrise on Hodasarbal and Wokhalbal, and the Tulian Valley camp is dark enough for the Milky Way on clear nights. Keep spare batteries inside your jacket, because the cold drains them fast.

How We Checked This Page

Status lines on this page are checked against the Anantnag district closure order of 7 July 2026 and the district's announcements page, and altitudes and distances against Wikipedia and the published day logs of the Indiahikes route. Prices are operator rates as published before the 2026 season was called off.

Planning for the 2027 season? Tell our Kashmir desk your dates and they will line up an operator once the trail reopens. See Kashmir trekking packages or, for a wider trip, our Kashmir tour packages.

Edited by TravelTriangle