Drung: A beautiful place round the year

Drung: A beautiful place round the year

Drung is a small village in Tangmarg Tehsil in Baramulla District. It is about 3.5 km from Tangmarg town, connected to it by a zig-zag macadamised road, which gives a beautiful view of Ferozpora Nalla and adjacent villages. The tourist spot is located 42 km from the summer capital city of Kashmir, Srinagar. It is famous for its waterfall, caves, an ancient temple, Ferozpora Nalla, and a hydropower plant. A fast-flowing stream, pines, and hillocks give it a resemblance to Pahalgam, and visitors do not miss the chance to visit the beautiful place while going to Gulmarg.
The road to Drung, despite its narrowness, is breathtakingly beautiful, passing through a dense pine forest and old mud shacks. Summer and winter are both great seasons to visit the location because it’s open year-round and looks stunning regardless of the weather. Many people who visit the place with their loved ones have a good time between the hills. The view and atmosphere of the rushing stream and the waterfalls are enchanting. In the summer, putting your feet in the cold water gives you spiritual vibes; it resonates with your senses, body, mind, and spirit.
The area takes on a golden hue in the summer season. There is a lot of greenery all around and a spectacular waterfall in the midst. During the summer, tourists and locals alike visit Drung to go horseback riding, see fast-flowing streams, waterfalls, caves, and an ancient Hindu temple that is just a few steps away from the waterfall and is believed to have been built by the Pandavas. People go there to pay their respects and also to appreciate the ancient architecture. Pony rides from Tangmarg to Drung and adjacent areas fascinate people even more about the place. The towering waterfall, merging with the stream, is another eye-catching element and people love watching and capturing those moments. Caves inside those hillocks refresh the impression of how people in ancient times used to live here.
Drung reveals itself in its truest form during the winter months when everything is covered in snow. The waterfall freezes solid due to the extremely low temperature. During the winter season, tourists and locals visit Drung to capture a glimpse of the frozen fang, which is adjacent to the Ferozpora Nalla bridge. People from different parts of Kashmir and other parts of the country go for a sojourn before going to Gulmarg, as it is just 3 km from the Tangmarg highway. Because of the limited availability of accommodation and camping space, people prefer going for a day picnic to Drung. People enjoy sledging down the slopes in the frozen snow.
During my recent visit to Drung, I booked an AC cab with Wadiye Sitara Tour and Travels. It was just a three-hour sojourn, but I enjoyed the mesmerising view from the back seat of the car for the first time. My eyes caught the frozen fang on social media, and the next day I couldn’t stop myself from paying a visit. Despite Drung being an underdeveloped place, its natural beauty propels tourists to visit the place. We hardly find one or two guest houses around Drung, but people can book a hotel in Tangmarg and visit Drung as well as Gulmarg from there. We find no cafes or restaurants in Drung, so staying for the night might not be a good idea if you’re not planning to take your food along with you. In the daytime, you will find Maggi and tea stalls, as well as shops where you can get some refreshments at the best possible price.
Here are some of the reviews about Drung by tourists who have visited this place in recent years:
Cakirantahelani from Ahmedabad: ‘The taxi driver took us to the Drung Valley. This place is awesome. We paid 1500 to the driver, and when we saw the place, it was “worth it”. If anyone is visiting Gulmarg in the winter, do visit this place.’ Chirag V: ‘It’s a good place, especially during the winter season. You can take out half an hour to visit this place. It’s on the way to Gulmarg while travelling from Srinagar.’ Sudeep from Bengaluru: ‘There is a hydropower station. The place is good for photoshoots. There is a stream running down the hills.’

—The writer is a student of B.E Civil Engineering at SSM College of Engineering

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