Bungas Valley is also known as paradise of Kashmir and it is a beautiful, serene and picturesque tourist destination that is famous not only in India but in abroad as well. Tourists from all over India visit this amazing and mesmerizing site during their travel to Kashmir. With its countless meadows holding a sylvan beauty, the verdant valley of Bangus bears little resemblance to any of Kashmir's well-known tourist spots, particularly as it falls before the small Kupwara district in the purple haze of late evening. Few observers see this valley as attracting tourists unless they have an inkling for the beauty of Kashmir's panoramas. Once in this valley, the sky is the starting point for other realms, free from people, modern buildings, and a sparse number of residents. This is the least discovered region of Kashmir and has thus avoided the rapacious tourist crowds. The meadows here are at an altitude of around 10,000 ft and are about 128 km from Srinagar.
This valley of Kashmir has two meadows, one of which is called Big Bangus and the other Small Bangus. The entire area falls in the Trans-Himalayas. The valleys offer grassy pastures, surrounded by low hills where trees grow, and water streams that crisscross through them. The gorgeous valley of Kashmir has many medicinal plants that have been used in traditional healthcare systems for thousands of years. This information, passed orally from generation to generation, has withered from cultural change into nowhere occurring.
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted around the forests in the Bungus Valley from 2014 to 2016. Field surveys were carried out during various seasons to collect information regarding the knowledge and practice of wild plants characteristic in the local community. Finding 30 plant species belonging to 18 families used in everyday life makes the studied site interesting. The meadows and slopes of Bungus abound with flowers and medicinal plants like Macrotima Benthami (gaw zaban), Saussurea Sacra (jugi padshah), and Aconitum Heterophylleum (patrees). A new flowering variety of medicine called Swertia kashmirensis has recently been discovered in Bungus, and scientists have termed it a major breakthrough.
The fauna in Bungus consists of deer, antelope, snow leopards, brown and black bears, monkeys, and red foxes. The bird species range from pheasants to tragopan, black partridge, bush quail, and wildfowl. An annual festival is held in the Bungus valley to celebrate traditions, culture, and the natural beauty of this region. The festival provides a unique opportunity for showcasing diverse aspects of Kashmiri culture, such as traditional music, dance performances, and artisan shows, which draw many visitors wishing to learn more about the region's vibrant traditions and customs. Shopkeepers in the vibrant bazaar will showcase their trades, where all visitors will taste some very unique cuisine along with participation in various traditional activities in the spirit of lakes and rivers. The festival offers scheduled features like trekking, mountaineering, and horseback riding that take tourists around the valleys, unveiling their hidden treasures. Bungus Mela acts as a linchpin for the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of the region. The exhibition of ancient art forms, traditional crafts, and culinary tastes ensures that the heritage of Kashmir remains sacred and shall be inherited in generations to come.
Whether it's the spectacular Bungus Valley or the very lively cultural celebrations, there's just no ragsmida jamboree in the history of Kashmir that could rival Bungus. Bungus Valley, however splendidly landscape, cultural heritage and adventure-packed, should form a very important part of a travel planner's itinerary in Kashmir. The Bungus Valley presents breathtaking scenery to those who prefer solitude in nature, thrilling adventures, and great cultural experiences.
This small, yet superficially explored Bungus Valley certainly rivals Pahalgam, Sonamarg, or Gulmarg for aesthetic appeal. Experts believe that the biggest golf course in Asia might be established here, rendering green meadows sprawling over hundreds of kanals. Bungus Valley has immense eco-tourism potential, with its scenic beauty, undulating hilly terrain, meadows of different varieties of flora, and tributaries harboring trout fish. With the increased flow of tourists, even the micro business establishments have transformed in the regional vicinity. Local markets bustle with an influx of trekkers and hikers demanding a variety of items coupled with night camping, travelers, and passengers who head out for Bungus as part of the inevitable excursion. Visitors share what they think and how elated, excited, charged, and blissful they became upon spotting Bungus. There is much to appeal to the sight, with even more to feed the soul. Rightfully so, this beauty remains as a balm for the roaming mind and a repose for the human eye. Such beauty we see, and yet how crowded! The remote markets have started feeling the winds of change with the surge in visitors. Local stores start opening as commercial activities rekindle in direct response to increased tourist influx. They rely more on the economy now and ads abound for fruit and other products for sale. Everything is fresh and in good order setting before the tourists. In addition to these are the roadside mini food associations serving hot Noon Chai, snacks, chips, and other ready-to-eat items. Bangus Valley is what Kashmiri calf operators often proclaim: "chosen, most beautiful."
The beauty of the canyon is paradisiacal all through the year. The view can be best enjoyed without bogging down or suffering mortality from April to October, as it is during this period that the foliage reaches its peak spread and the valley itself is flowered with revival in nature. An elusive allure of Kashmir is the lovely bangus valley, hidden away in the Kupwara district of the northern area of Jammu and Kashmir. Once a valiant, battle-ridden workspace, Bangus today lays a lavish green carpet embellished with lush foliage fused with striking scenics. The valley shall continue to be grandeur all round the year. The valley wonderfully metamorphoses in tandem with the seasons into ever-different hues and shades, with April through September shading very brightly. Weather, generally, is not too unkind on treks during this time too. White nights greet the valley in winter, making it a winter wonderland for explorers during the more-than-orgasmic weather.
(Vivek Koul)
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