Drang, a peaceful wonderland

Drang, a beautiful village known as Veshvoke in Kashmiri language is located on the foothills of Gulmarg, and is approximately 3 km away from Tangmarg town or the national highway.

This panoramic wonderland attracts millions of tourists every season. Drang is encircled with lush green forests, pleasant hills, terrific mountain range, and roaring cascades. Drang embraces itself on the famous Ferozpur Basin banks, and this nalla is the lifeline of Gulmarg providing drinking and irrigation water facilities to the people.
In the summer season, snow on the pinnacles melt, forming this basin which later splits into small streams. When we look at the crystal clear water of the nalla, it has beautiful pebbles with different designs and patterns that catch the attention of tourists. Visitors often find peace on the bank of the basin and love to click pictures with their loved ones. Honeymoon couples and families enjoy water fights. They love to put their toes into the icy water, which gives a feeling of freshness.
A beautiful public park has been constructed where the visitors can relax and gaze at the scenic beauty. Drang is located at a very pristine place surrounded by the pine forests, in particular the fir, which is an high-altitude conifer tree species harbouring the wild life, predominantly the snow leopard and polar bear, and other flora and fauna.
The Fast living water is the abode of the famous Kashmiri trout fish, as such fishing is one of the major activities of this area. However, you need to seek permission from the fisheries department of Jammu and Kashmir for fishing.

There are eminent monuments on the site, which are believed to be Shiva temples.The area is popularly known as Pandavlary. It is a shepherd route, and thus, has a high economic value. The route has been used for the past thousands of years and travellers from central Asia have chosen to reach the Kashmir valley.

One can also reach Poonch District through this route. Drang holds a special place especially for the ones who want to try adventure. It is a rock climbing site where men and the mountains meet.

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During winter time, the route is used by the skiers for snow skating and snowboarding. Skiers descending from Gulmarg love to stay for nights.They spend quality time around natural beauty. Tourists enjoy bonfires and sing melodious songs. People can enjoy a great view of snow falling in the middle of the night. It’s likely that in the future, it shall grow into a dependable river rafting site as it has a perennial source of water.

Visitors who want to reach Drang, can either go by car or hire AT Vs, which will take you to the interiors of the forest road stretching all along the length and breadth of Drang area. Some people can even take a pony to go up to the Drang waterfall. Moreover, people hailing from Drang are simple, friendly, and compassionate. They have a positive approach for the outsiders.

Whenever domestic or foreign tourists land in trouble, the villagers are the first persons to help them on humanitarian basis. Earlier also when so many tourists went missing while travelling from Drang to Gulmarg, they were rescued by the locals.

People who are visiting for the first time, can hire guides to show them the right way. In case, outsiders are facing a hard time to get accommodation on time, the residents here will let them stay in their homes for days and nights without expecting anything in return. They also provide food and clothing to make the guests feel comfortable.

Drang pops up in the list of most famous tourist spots in the valley. How can we miss a chance to visit Drang village? Locals welcome the tourists and make sure that they are safe.