Chohar Nag is a beautiful valley situated above Margan top
(Distt. Islamabad) in south Kashmir about 50 km from Kokernag at an
altitude of 12500 feet. The valley comprises of attractive meadows
and very big and beautiful springs surrounded by
rocky- mountains.
“Chohar Nag” in Kashmiri epithet means four springs. There is a
Kashmiri myth about the four springs of Chohar Nag. It is said
these are three sons and their mother, two of the sons are living
separately and the younger one is living with his mother. But in
reality we see four beautiful lakes rather than springs, two
located side by side just 150 to 200 meters apart and the other two
located far apart from each other. Out of these four lakes one is
large with an area of about 1½ sq. km. Adjacent to this, is another
lake with an area of about ½ sq. km, the area of other two lakes is
about 1 sq. km each. All the lakes are oligotropic with crystal
clear water. The big meadows and the rocky mountains are rich in
biodiversity. The undulated land, the big grasslands and the lakes
are so beautiful that human brain is forced to think about nature’s
wonderful creations. Such a group of four clear water bodies at the
alpine region is really mind blowing.
The water of bigger lake looks blue black from a distance. The lake
seems to lack littoral, sub-littoral zones and instantly begins
with profundal zone. The lake is so big and deep and its waves are
so forceful that one is afraid to go nearer to the lake. Out of 10
minutes you stay at the bank of the lake, one can see the lake just
for 5 minutes while for the rest of the time lake gets shrouded by
fog. The lake has a small out-let on one side, through which a
small quantity of water flows and this forms the Chavenz Nahla.
Chavenz Nahla after some distance meets Nawkan Nahla to form Gawran
Nahla, which ultimately merges Brangi Nahla. Brangi Nahla is the
source of irrigation water for large area of south
Kashmir.
The 2nd lake nearby to the bigger one has very clear water. The
little water that comes out of the lake forms a marshy land which
harbours different angiospermic taxa. The water of 3rd lake is
again very clear and tasty as if glucose is added to it. The water
of these two lakes forms Honarkash Nahla, which ultimately meets
with Chinab River. The fourth lake is almost locked from all the
sides, but from one side some of the water leaks into a marshy land
and ultimately flows in the Shangas area of Distt. Anantnag. So,
most of the valuable water remains locked in Chohar Nag valley and
evaporates in the atmosphere without being used as primary
biological prerequisite.