Bungus, a valley abandoned
This large landscape welcomes you to Bungus Valley.
Bungus is a bowl shaped valley, situated in the northern border district of Kashmir, Kupwara in Handwara area at 10,000 feet above sea level. A 300 Sq. Kms valley, Bungus can be a developed as a tourist place in Kashmir, but it lacks the concern of the administration. No road connectivity. Army restricted zone. Photos and text by Muhabit-ul-Haq.
The road to Radha.
To reach Bungus you have to go to Radha through any vehicle which is 40 Kms from main town Handwara. After Radha there is no road to Bungus. It needs a Trek for about four hours to reach Bungus valley.
The Gujjar huts for summers on the foothills.
During trekking you will pass through dense forests and hills also. After covering this journey you will reach to the valley covered with trees and many streams flowing through the landscape. The only habitation is tribal Gujjar huts for summers. Only Gujjars come to reside in and around Bungus to graze their animals in large pastures.
Army patrolling through the Bungus Valley.
During winter heavy snowfall closes the hills through which you reach Bungus. The only transport in the valley is ponies. Bungus comprises a Mountain Biome, which includes Grassland Biome with flora at lower altitudes and Taiga or Coniferous forests at a higher altitude. The area also contains wetlands in the form of a fresh water marsh located within the Valley.
A stream flowing in the Bungus forests.
Before planning to go Bungus get permission from the army officials at the TCP camp located at Nowgam, Handwara either you won’t be allowed. Bungus is highly security alert zone because of the Indo-PaK border nearby.
Frozen stream in the bowl of Bungus.
Sunset Bungus.
Muhabit-ul-Haq is staff photographer with The Kashmir Walla.
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May 7, 2011 - 11:50
wow!!!! simply speech less aftr seeing the photographs…great job..
May 7, 2011 - 13:33
awsm…
May 7, 2011 - 20:44
super lyk boss !!!! Truely outstanding…
May 7, 2011 - 21:19
I think Bungus valley is a gift of nature for us…..
May 7, 2011 - 23:13
waaaoow dese piks are amazing reallyyy….
May 8, 2011 - 12:53
great work muhabit baya……….felng proud
May 8, 2011 - 14:42
great work bungus realy is a beautiful place
May 8, 2011 - 18:04
Its really an awesome place but unfortunately is visited by Army more than we Kashmiris.
I request you to bring forward something about Gurez also, which is another abandoned tourist destination. Best of luck.
May 8, 2011 - 21:00
Except for the Second and the Last pic …all other pics are awesome…Muhabit if these are all your pics then I must tell u that I love u…and You are well on ur way to become a great photographer…
May 8, 2011 - 23:01
gr888 work………..amzaing,mindblowing,outstading,awsm….
May 8, 2011 - 23:07
Muhabit, these pics deserve a comment and here it is…
Mera naam karega roshan jag mein mera…
May 9, 2011 - 14:57
Oh this is awsome and i wanna go there
May 9, 2011 - 19:22
photos in the feature are awesome . . . . Loved them. Well done Mr. Photo-Journalist.
May 9, 2011 - 20:24
AWESOME……… you are real representative of people of JAMMU KASHMIR. I think….. yeh sharuat hogi …. intihaa kaya hoga ….MANSH ALLAH. Congrates u and your THE KASHMIR WALLA team.
May 9, 2011 - 23:04
u hv rely done a gr8 job…keep it up:)
May 10, 2011 - 09:18
BUNGUS…….Bungus…….bungus….. awesome pictures …HAQ.
May 14, 2011 - 22:03
keep up de gud job…………impressive work……
May 18, 2011 - 11:58
The photographs are just “B.E.A.utiful”
i have never been to bungus but after seeing these pics…i can’t stop myself from going there.
Well done guys, good work.
May 20, 2011 - 00:18
what abt accomodation, is it possible to stay there for 2,3 nights without any inconvenience?
May 24, 2011 - 13:28
work u have done is good
October 17, 2012 - 14:53
great pictures, great work done
March 28, 2013 - 16:35
great job done, bungus vally is really beautiful landscape and should be a tourist destination as well.