Ravindra Joisa

Expensive Camera Buying Tips - 13 attentive questions to answer

"Hey, Ravindra... My budget is XYZ. Which camera is the best for me to buy?"

This is a very common question many of them ask me and you might have asked the same question with other photographers. The first reply of mine would be - have you done a bit of R&D on what type of camera you really want? So, the next time you ask this question to any photographer, I would say.. do a bit of research on the following, finalize on two or three DSLR / mirrorless cameras, and then check with a photographer. So, in this article, I have mentioned some of the camera buying tips that will help you taking the decision.

Camera Buying Tips:

Following are the camera buying tips that you might want to consider before buying a camera. Internet is full of camera buying tips and I recommend not to blindly go with the tips provided by the brands or influencers because most of the camera buying tips blog posts and videos are sponsored posts. Do not fall prey to these influencers you are posting videos on camera buying tips

What kind of photography do you do?

Landscape, Nature, Wildlife, Sports, Wedding, Portrait, Underwater, Fashion, etc. There are different kinds of photography and go with what you like. So, when you buy a camera, based on the kind of photography you do buy the required lens.

What image quality do you really want?

You don't need a DSLR if you want to just upload photos on Instagram or social media. Your mobile camera or a point-and-shoot is more than enough. It's easy to go around with a smaller camera that has no interchangeable lens. If you want to sell or if you are on an assignment, then I would highly recommend you to go for a good quality camera.

Should I go with Kit lens or just the body (with Prime Lens)?

Let me tell you what I did. I bought a DSLR body (Nikon D600) without any kit lens. My first lens was Nikkor 50mm f1.4D. Usually, the kit lens will not have the aperture wide open and it starts with f4.5 and above. I like the prime lens because of its sharpness and quality. If you have plans of upgrading lens in the future then think about - do you really need a kit lens. Don't blindly go with the low price or offer.

This shop has an offer and discount with free tripod, bag etc?

Another very common question many ask me. Don't be in a hurry and make a wrong choice. Kit lenses are for general purposes but you may not get the highest quality. And the "free tripod" is another trap. Do not go with that, instead of all these free offers ask them if they can bring down the price of the camera. The tripod will usually be of poor quality. Read more on tripod here.

How much are you ready to spend?

If you have enough money to buy expensive gear, then I would say go for the quality lens. Invest in the lens than the camera body. The lens is meant for a long time and the DSLR body is for an upgrade.

Try getting the camera for rent

Before you buy a camera get some hands-on to the DSLR/Lens. Search in the nearby store or from friends if you can get it for rent for a day or 2. Try capturing different shots, check for quality, noise, low light performance, etc. If you are in Bangalore then you might want to try Toehold where you can get camera gear for rent. This is one of the camera buying tips that I would suggest to get real experience of using the camera.

Do you need a Full Frame or APS-C sensor camera?

I have seen a few famous photographers who don't use a full-frame camera for sports or wildlife because with the APS-C sensor you can reach even closer when the same zoom lens is used. Example: A 300mm lens on a full-frame camera will give you an output as seen whereas the same 300mm lens on a DX (APS-C) camera can go up to 480mm instead of 300mm output. Full frame is useful for portraiture, wedding, etc. Full frame lenses that are available in the market are more expensive but they can handle low light and noise much better. Read more on which one to buy, a camera with a Full frame or an APSC sensor?

Camera and Lens upgrade

If you have plans to upgrade to a full-frame camera later on, then see that you buy the FX (for full-frame) (Nikon) Lens and not DX (for APS-C sensor) lens (Same is the case with other brands). FX lens will be costlier, but the quality is much better. Else you will only end up spending double the money in upgrading both your camera body and lens.

Think about the long term

The future upgrade and maintenance - As said earlier, invest in a quality lens that your camera body. The camera is not like buying a refrigerator, it is more like buying a house, where you keep adding stuff to make a fully furnished house. Once you buy a DSLR, you then think of buying more lenses as per your needs.

Indian Wedding Candid Shots by Ravindra Joisa - Professional photographer

One lens for all

I wish we had one. You can go for a point and shoot where there is no option to switch lenses. You might find a zoom lens in the market which can go from 70mm to 300mm but what about the aperture? With the increase in the zoom, the aperture also increases from f4 to f5.6. This is still a good lens if you are just starting, but as you grow into becoming a professional photographer then you might consider having 14-24 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8. Do you see that the aperture remains the same with the increase in zoom? Also, these 3 lenses have the best of best glasses and are hence are costlier than the camera body.

Spend more on quality glass/lens than camera body

The new camera body will be in the market almost every 2 years, whereas that's not the case with the lens. The quality lens is important when working under low light, else expect too much noise. Usually, the full-frame lens with an aperture of f2.8 or lower lens is the best.

Want to pursue a professional photographer or as a hobbyist?

Unless you want to get into the photography business, I would say it is better to invest in mid prize range cameras photography. Photography is one of the expensive hobbies. Note that usually there is a new camera body being released every year or two. Whereas the lens upgrade happens real slow, once in five to ten years.

The camera sensor and good quality lens matter here. Usually, the full-frame high-end DSLR cameras have much better low light and noise handling capabilities. A good quality lens might be very expensive, but worth buying. It will usually be faster and have a larger aperture f1.4 etc and low-light performance.

Do not always go with the marketing done by brands and with higher Megapixels

A higher megapixel doesn't always mean better photos. Consider the Nikon D4S camera which has 16 megapixels. Even mobile phones come with 16 MP or more these days. Nikon did not initially go for a higher MP camera because it can introduce noise in your image and not so great low-light performance. This has got nothing to do with the brand, but the technology. Better sensor and glass is what you need to look into. Also, these high-end DSLR sensors have the capability of capturing noiseless images even at very high ISO settings.

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post on camera buying tips. Leave a comment below if you have suggestions on camera buying tips. Subscribe to my website and my YouTube channel for more photography tips and travel updates. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter.

Strikingly impressive view of Gangabal Lake and Mt Harmukh - Day 6

On this day, we begin our hike to Gangabal Lake by crossing a stream, which is followed by a boulder section of the trail. This is difficult because they are enormous and there is no proper trail. Then it's an uphill climb until we reach the pass, where we get a breathtaking view of Mt Harmukh, the Gangabal lake, and How to Nundkol lake. This is a twin lake that appears stunning from this vantage point. The hike from here is all downhill, crossing a stream and camping next to Gangabal Lake.

How to reach Gangabal Lake?

How to reach Mt Harmukh - Arrive at Naranag's ancient but pillaged temple ruins complex. The hike begins near the temple complex and continues through the pine forest. At the upper end of the forest, there is only one shop where you can get snacks but not a full meal. This is followed by the government guest house area, and then a kilometer or two of walking on meadows until you reach Gangbal Lake. This is a fantastic weekend getaway.

However, this is only one of the stunning lakes on the Kashmir Great Lakes trek. The other option is to take the KGL Trek trail, which begins in Naranag and takes 5 days to complete. More information can be found here:

Day 1 – Journey from Srinagar to Sonamarg

Day 2 – Trek from Sonamarg to Nichnai

Day 3 – Trek from Nichnai to Vishnusar Lake

Day 4 – Trek from Vishnusar Lake to Gadsar

Day 5 - Trek from Gadsar to Satsar

Crossing the stream and boulders

The sixth day of our trek begins with a crossing of an icy-cold stream right next to the Satsar campsite. The view from the Satsar campsite is simply breathtaking. Soon after crossing the stream, the gradual ascent begins, which is littered with massive boulders. It's best not to use your poles here because they're useless. Crossing these boulders must be done with caution because one wrong step can be fatal.

Satsar camp site.#Trekking in the #Himalayas at #Kashmir great lakes in #India. pic.twitter.com/qWGrEjPp4E
— Ravindra Joisa (@ravindrajoisa) January 13, 2015

Continue trekking across these boulders for another 1.5 to 2 kilometers, after which there is a steep ascent but it is very manageable due to the hike being on meadows. Remember to turn around. After many days of trekking in the mountains with almost no trees, you will arrive at a mountain range densely forested with pine trees. On the mountain slopes, you'll even come across a few shepherds' or Gujjar's huts. Continue walking until you reach the 13,400-foot pass.

The strikingly impressive view from the pass

Gangabal lake and Nundkol lake

This is the most beautiful view of the entire trek once you reach the peak. The Gangabal and Nundkol lakes appear to be twins. To be honest, it was well worth the effort. "Wow," I overheard many of them say. The scenery is absolutely stunning. The Gangabal and Nundkol lakes appear to be playing hide and seek in the cloud.

The twin lake

Gangabal Lake is much larger than Nundkol Lake. The stream of water can be seen flowing down from one lake to the other. Spend some time here to get some good landscape shots and to appreciate nature's beauty. The view from this vantage point is so stunning that you will forget about your tiredness or illness of any kind. A few of my friends have even expressed a desire to spend their retirement years here.

The steep descent

The steep descent from this 13400-foot peak all the way down to 12000 feet. Be cautious as you descend further because the descent is steep and will last for at least an hour. There is a stream to cross once you reach the bottom. Once you've crossed the stream, take a seat and look back at the steep descent. The mountain slope appears to be significantly steeper than the Gadsar pass. Continue your trek through the meadows, gradually ascending and descending until you reach another stream. This is our campsite for the day.

Where to camp - Gangabal lake campsite?

Many people visit Gangabal Lake on weekends because it is close to Naranag, which is our final destination and a one-day trek away from Gangabal Lake. You can camp near Gangabal Lake or cross the stream over a wooden log bridge and camp near the stream or Nundkol Lake. The landscape of this twin lake is beautiful from afar, but once you get to the lake, human activities and camping remnants are common. On the next day, the hike is from Gangabal to Naranag.

Exploring Mt Harmukh Peak base

Nundkol lake, located at the base of Harmukh peak, is only a few minutes of walk from Gangabal lake. Harmukh has a massive snow patch that appears to be a glacier from a distance. If you arrive at this campsite early, you can spend time walking around the two lakes, which is also a great location for some amazing photos. You could try some timelapse shots, and this is the last place to get some great long exposure night shots because it is the last place where there is no light pollution.

YouTube video - Trek from Satsar to Gangabal lake

https://youtu.be/zn9INuHStoc

Follow me on social media for the latest updates on my trekking and photography tips and You may find the complete details on all days of Kashmir Great Lakes here. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Pykara waterfall Ooty - A beautiful place to admire

This long exposure image was taken at Pykara waterfall in India while travelling from Ooty to Bangalore through Mysore. It's nearly a kilometre walk from the highway to get here, and the waterfall isn't too high. This post will discuss how to get images of this type as well as how to go to this location.

How to capture silky smooth water flow?

An image of this kind is a long exposure shot where you need to keep your camera still. I have not used a tripod here while capturing this image as I did not carry one at that time. For all long exposure shots, it is a must to have tripod and a remote wireless trigger. But trying a long exposure shot on a bright sunny day can create an over exposed image. Here are few tips:

Use tripod to avoid camera shake.
Use timer or wireless trigger, again to avoid camera shake.
Capture image in RAW format.
On a bright sunny day, use polarized glass / higher stop filters as one of the filters to avoid overexposed image.
As you are having a slower shutter, increasing aperture (f16+) to a much higher value would be better so that aperture isn't wide open and it allows less light to the sensor.

Always remember to capture images in RAW format so that just in case if the image is under or over exposed you can always recover it while post processing the image. Try to get everything right within the camera instead of being too dependent on post editing softwares. Checkout my previous two articles on how to deal with under exposed and over exposed images and recover the image.

These tips apply not just for the Pykara waterfalls but also for any of the waterfalls and the camera settings depending on the local lighting conditions. So, the next time you travel to a place like Pykara waterfalls don't forget to remember these points if you want to get the silky smooth/ milky affect while capturing the image. Follow me on social media for more updates of this kind.

Where is Pykara waterfall located?

Pykara lake, located in the middle of a beautiful green shola forest, was created as a result of the dam and power plant built on the river. A few hundred metres north of the lake, the river cascades over the cliffs to produce the famous Pykara waterfall.

Pykara is a river in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, 19 kilometres from Ooty, with a hamlet of the same name nearby. The Todas hold the Pykara River in high regard. It begins from Mukurthi mountain, runs north, and then turns west when it reaches the plateau's edge.

About Pykara Waterfall

The river travels through a succession of waterfalls, the final two of which are Pykara Falls, measuring 55 metres (180 feet) and 61 metres (200 feet). The falls are around 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the major road bridge. At Pykara, there is a woodland rest house. A boat house on the Pykara reservoir is an additional draw for visitors. Pykara is known for its well-protected, gated sholas, Toda communities, expansive green meadows, and abundant animal habitat. The Pykara Dam, falls, and reservoir draw a large number of visitors.

How to reach Pykara Waterfall

Coimbatore Airport Terminal is the closest. Mettupalayam is connected to Ooty via metre gauge railroad. Mettupalayam is the nearest Broad Gauge Station. Coimbatore is a major railway junction. Also, Pykara waterfall is around 20 kilometres from the Ooty bus station.

Leave a comment below if you have more ideas. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Beach Photos at Night - Tips to capture stunning images

Capturing beach photos at night can be tricky. It is next to impossible considering the low light to capture a good quality image without a tripod and a lower aperture lens. In this blog post, I will be sharing some of the tips on how you can capture stunning beach photos at night.

Beach waves at night — *Surathkal Beach at Night*

Captured this at Surathkal Beach or the NITK beach, late in the evening at around 8 PM once the place was deserted. It's common to find images of beaches that were captured during the daytime, but capturing an image at night takes a bit of patience and time. You need to wait so that it's dark around with no people around. Also, there is a risk of you being robbed as you are alone with your expensive gadget. But to get those best shots, you need to put in some effort.

Silky smooth Beach Photos at Night

This is a long exposure shot of sea waves which has a silky effect. The sky full of stars appears purple because of the industrial light. The sea waves appear more like mist or cotton. You can even capture images of the star trail. When the sea waves go back, capture the photo to get that silky smooth thread-like image. These waves will make the beach photos at night appear stunning.

To make it more interesting it's good to add something in the foreground instead of just the waves like a stone or a boat etc. You may try to light up the foreground subject a bit using a handheld torch or an external flash. Remember to carry your tripod when capturing long exposure shots of this kind else you will end up getting blurred, shaky images. Low light can introduce noise. So, don't increase the ISO to a very high value, it again depends on your camera sensor.

Camera gear to capture beach photos at night

Gadgets used in capturing the above image include Nikon D610, Nikon 50mm f/1.4 D, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, Manfrotto Tripod, Wireless Trigger. You may try some of the latest cameras that are available in the market as Nikon D610 was the last in that series. 50mm f1.4 lens is one of the best investments and I would recommend that lens be your first lens to buy if you are serious about photography.

Place your tripod in a steady position and adjust the levels. Keep the aperture wide open and a shutter of about 20 to 30 secs. Keep the ISO as low as possible. You might need to increase the ISO if it's totally dark. With better cameras increasing ISO should not be a problem. I tried to keep it as low as possible as there was moonlight, light from the lighthouse, and industrial light (light pollution) from the nearby refinery.

See that you click on the shutter button when there is an approaching wave so that in the 20 to 30 secs duration there should be one or more waves that come to the shore and then leave the shore again. This is how you get the soft silky, cotton effect and the white waves. Use a remote trigger or a wireless trigger or self-timer to see that there is no camera shake of any kind. Also, with this exposure, it is enough to get stars in the dark sky. You may even try to get a few galaxy shots where there is no light pollution.

Photographing Reptiles with amazing details

It's fun photographing reptiles or the little dragon / Lizard in the wild using a telephoto lens. This is something you might find in your own garden from time to time. The eye movement, the red dot above the mouth, and the pattern on its skin are all intriguing features of this reptile. While zooming in and out, I compare its eye to my camera lens. Both the left and right eyes move independently. This appears to be a miniature dragon and dinosaur from the Dinosauria (Scientific Name) family.

This little dragon is a very shy reptile that flees when approached unless it is being raised as a pet. Photographing reptiles can be dangerous because some of them are venomous, so use a telephoto lens and stay a safe distance away. You'll be more akin to a term commonly used in Indian weddings: 'the candid photographer,' but for reptiles. It can be difficult to identify at times due to its camouflaged skin color and surroundings. When these reptiles know you're nearby, they move quickly and don't stay long.

Do not rush while photographing reptiles

It's simple to capture this with a telephoto lens, but with a shorter prime lens, you have no choice but to get closer. The best thing to do is to take your time, move slowly closer, and keep capturing as you get closer. To get the best shots, keep your camera ready with all the necessary settings before moving closer while photographing reptiles.

Camera technique to be used

If you are using a full-frame camera, FX mode, then switch to cropped mode - DX mode. By switching to DX mode you will get that extra zoom and you can be even closer to the subject without moving even a step closer. Also, capture in the RAW mode so that it will be easier to edit the photo while editing using Lightroom. When it comes to editing I have got a list of free Lightroom tutorials on my Courses page that you can refer to and be a master.

Little Dragon Lizard in the wild. pic.twitter.com/nLRVy77oOM
— Ravindra Joisa (@ravindrajoisa) January 4, 2015

Here is another image that I captured in the garden using my prime lens 50mm f1.4. This wide aperture gives a shallow depth of field. You may want to read more on playing with the camera aperture to get stunning images. Know more about the kind of lens that you need to use by watching this YouTube video.

https://youtu.be/81d7koZ1Ft0

What to keep in mind with wildlife photography

The same technique can be used to photograph birds or any other wildlife in addition to photographing reptiles. Move slowly; it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. To get that perfect shot, you must have plenty of time and patience. I've seen a few friends come to photograph birds with high-end cameras, but they make the mistake of running closer to capture a photo and scaring the bird away. Finally, they obtain a blurry, out-of-focus image of a flying bird. Gadgets/cameras are secondary, and the first thing anyone should learn is how to capture an image. Also, keep in mind that I've moved around and kept the background dark.

Black Headed Ibis - flying bird — Black Headed Ibis - Bird Photography

Some key points while photographing reptiles

Keep the camera ready with the manual settings handly. Basically, it is good to know how to use your own camera which most of them fail.
Use a telephoto lens when photographing reptiles that are venemous. Also. wider aperture will be better.
Have patience, a lot of it. This is a must in wildlife photography.

Trek to Satsar - a beautiful hiking trail from Gadsar - Day 5

Day 5 began with another lovely morning in the Himalayas at Gadsar. We were given permission to hike farther to Satsar, and on this particular day, we chose to hike the mountains directly in front of us. Continue hiking to the other side of the mountain range. Climbing all the way up is too difficult, so we detoured, and strolling through the meadows was well worth it. This was followed by inclement weather. The cold temperature and heavy rain made our hike quite difficult. We crossed Satsar Lake by going around it, which looked more like a marsh, and eventually arrived at the Satsar campground. After a long day, we enjoyed a wonderful evening close to the creek.

Gasdsar to Satsar Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Early in the morning, wake up to see the mist and snow-covered mountain summits. Your campsite is located deep in the valley rather than on a mountain summit. We were stranded at this campground for over two days due to severe rain. We cannot return to the beginning point to abandon this journey because we have already crossed the Gadsar pass; the only option is to walk farther and complete the expedition. Enjoy the stunning dawn photography surrounding the campground and prepare for day 5 of the Kashmir Great Lakes trip.

Previously and how to reach Satsar?

If you have not gone through the previous 4 days of trekking posts then don't forget to go through these links:

Day 1 – Journey from Srinagar to Sonamarg

Day 2 – Trek from Sonamarg to Nichnai

Day 3 – Trek from Nichnai to Vishnusar Lake

Day 4 - Trek from Vishnusar Lake to Gadsar

The alternative option is to begin at Naranag, a camp for a day near Harmuk mountain, and then cross the pass around Satsar. Essentially, the trial that I will be discussing over the following two days.

Crossing the dangerous Crevasse

The fifth day of hiking begins with a crossing of an ice patch bridge over a very cold creek. The water force/current was excessively strong, maybe because it had poured for two days straight. We were fortunate to notice the massive crevasse in the show patch bridge, which may be really dangerous. I made it around this massive crevasse and into the opposite side of the creek.

Ops! Wrong turn and trail

This is followed by a difficult hour-long ascent. There is a tiny route, and one false move on a rainy day with a slippery trail can be disastrous. We resumed our trek. There was some debate over whether to go farther up or stay on the same path. We just kept going for another half kilometre before realising it wasn't the path and having to go back and climb up on a separate track. The incorrect route, on the other hand, was worth the walk because of the scenery we could see from there.

The magnificent view

Beautiful landscape with mountains all around covered in meadows, and in the Himalayan mountain slopes, you will discover many little houses and a few pine trees, with smoke rising out of these huts, making this spot even more attractive. That would have been a fantastic shot for a photographer. Even though it was pouring, I managed to grab a few images. The streams on the opposite side of the mountains resembled waterfalls.

We returned to our original track and proceeded on our journey. On the slopes, you could see a few shepherds with their sheep and goats. We paused for a few minutes at one point, more like a viewpoint. This is when the valley below divided in two, one to the right and one to the left, where we needed to go. The scenery from here was breathtaking; I'd never seen such massive mountain ranges as the Himalayas before.

Stream cuts through the mountain with no exit

After then, it was more of a level trek up the mountain slopes. We went further, and there was another stream where the water entered the mountain, with no idea where the exit is. The water penetrates the mountain more like a train entering a tunnel, but there is no way out. I inquired with locals about the location of the exit, and each had their own storey. I wish I had more time to spend exploring this location. It was pouring severely outside, so I kept my cameras inside.

The enormous Satsar Lake

We pushed on, it continued to rain severely, and we were eager for some form of cover. We ate our packed lunch at an abandoned hut before continuing our journey. The Satsar lake comes next, which is made up of more than five lakes yet looks to be an one enormous lake. We resumed our journey in the rain, using a level path and hiking up and down the massive rocks. Satsar lake may seem better from above, and a drone photo would have been great. Unfortunately, this is a no-fly zone for drones. So, if you're going on the KGL hike, don't even think about getting a drone.

Satsar Campsite

After navigating all of these stones, we arrived at a little spot of ground near the Satsar lake and camped close to the stream. On three sides, the campground is surrounded by mountain peaks, and on one side, you can see the depth and the mountains below. This is the most magnificent vista since you can see the peaks hiding in the clouds below. We were seated on top of a flat stone, a bit distant from our campground, with a hot cup of soup. A wonderful spot to unwind and see nature's splendour.

Wonderful evening spent outside

We were fortunate that the rain stopped and our cameras could be used again. Most of the time, shortly after the rain, you can anticipate a clear sky for a short period of time, and I wanted to take advantage of this. We ate supper early since it was around four degrees outside at night. We spent some time outside our campground, capturing some long exposure night images. In majority of the long exposure images, the moon seemed to be the sun.

Satsar camp site at night.http://t.co/lhxmMJiaVL pic.twitter.com/22kyfL43wQ
— Ravindra Joisa (@ravindrajoisa) December 17, 2014

Even though it was pouring fiercely, it was another great day. Almost every minute of the Kashmir Great Lakes trek was enjoyable for me. The Great Lakes Trekking is something that everyone should undertake at least once in their lives. It is well-known for its stunning scenery and is an ideal location for professional photography. Consider viewing the video below to get a visual tour of the entire trail as well as the lovely campsites. The next day, we went on a trek from Satsar to Gangbal, which included some breathtaking scenery and a great perspective of the twin lakes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8LlDOmkJtY

You may find the complete details on all days of Kashmir Great Lakes here. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Crossing the Gadsar Pass – The Breathtaking Alpine Twin Lake | Day 4

This is a long day with many kilometers to go and mountains to climb. But the nicest part is that we can't tell it's difficult because of nature's beauty. The ascent to Gadsar pass, the highest point of the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, is worthwhile. It's all downhill from here until you reach a few little settlements. Along the journey, you will observe snow-capped mountains and Gadsar Lake.

Vishnusar Lake campsite

Start early from the Vishnusar lake campsite and spend a few minutes next to Vishnusar lake. Capture some of the best views from all possible angles as the water will be still in the morning, with no wind. Perfect to get the best shot of the reflection of mountains that are on the other side of Vishnusar lake.

Vishnusar Lake near Gadsar — *Vishnusar Lake, Kashmir Great Lakes, India*

How to reach Vishnusar Lake and Gadsar

Check out my previous posts for the first 3 days of trekking:

Day 1 - Journey from Srinagar to Sonamarg

Day 2 - Trek from Sonamarg to Nichnai

Day 3 - Trek from Nichnai to Vishnusar Lake

The magnificant Kishnsar Lake

Continue your journey by rising for another hour. Deep down to the left is a stream that flows from Kishnsar/Krishnasar lake at around 12,000 feet all the way down to Vishnusar lake at 11,000 feet. Krishnasar Lake is a great site to fill up your water bottles and prepare for the next hard climb. Kishansar lake has a little island that becomes more visible as you approach the Gadsar mountain. The two lakes look to be twin lakes from the summit or from Gadsar pass.

The toughest portion of the entire trail

The level area in front of Kishnsar Lake is good for walking through the meadows, followed by a difficult ascent. It's a seventy-degree incline, and you can't afford to make mistakes. Two bad steps and you'll be all the way down, and there aren't even any trees here. If it rains, this is a dangerous spot to climb; instead, camp near Kishnsar Lake and wait for the rain to cease.

Splendid view of the alpine twin lake

As you progress, don't forget to stop and turn around every now and then. The scenery is really breathtaking. The hue of the water at Kishnsar Lake indicates how deep it is. It's dark blue in some spots and greenish-blue along the island and the margins. As you climb, you can see the Gadsar peak in front of you, which appears to be a massive monolithic rock. Even though you cannot climb the mountain, you may get extremely near by using the Garsar Pass at 13,750 feet.

*Twin lake view from Gadsar pass of Kishansar and Vishnusar lake, Kashmir, India*

Garsar Pass - Crossing the highest point

As you get closer to Gadsar Pass, look back to observe the two lakes you passed over earlier. Even though there is a 1,000-foot height difference, it looks to be a twin lake and is the most stunning vista. Don't forget to take a panoramic or wide-angle photo from here. Spend some time taking photos at the Gadsar pass.

What's on the other side of Gadsar Pass

The view from the opposite side of the pass is just as lovely. To the left are snow-covered rocky mountains, while to the right are arid brown mountains. There are meadows, a stream, and a gorgeous valley in between. There will be no more climbing for the rest of the day, and it will be a gentle drop. If you're lucky, you could come upon some brightly coloured flowers in the meadows below.

View from Gadsar Pass, #Kashmir Great Lakes Himalayan Trek #India #Travel #Hiking #Photography http://t.co/1vHNS0c7b1 pic.twitter.com/BnLNZ2BKT2
— Ravindra Joisa (@ravindrajoisa) November 21, 2014

A plethora of streams to the left, generated by the melting snow from the snow-covered steep slopes. Continue trekking across the meadows for around 30 minutes before descending near vertically for about 10 minutes. This is where you may stop for lunch near to the stream, and it's also time to refill your water bottles.

The gorgeous Gadsar Lake

Continue your journey for another 30 minutes and you will come across another gorgeous lake, the Gadsar Lake. This lovely lake is surrounded by rugged mountains and little waterfalls. Locals advise against drinking water from Gadsar. So, just take in the scenery, take some photos, and continue your journey. This would have been a great location for camping, but you are not permitted to do so.

Continue walking down the valley. The path you take from Gadsar to the next campground will run parallel to the stream. As you go, you will come across a few native homes. They were quite helpful, and after your document check, head to your campground, where you will have to cross the stream.

We had a difficult day because we were not permitted to stay adjacent to Gadsar Lake and had to trek four to five kilometres to the next campground. This campground is within around fifteen kilometres from the front lines/war zone. It was too much to climb and walk, but it was also the most enjoyable. Trekking across the Kashmir Great Lakes is something you should do at least once in your life. On day 5, we continue our trek from Gadsar to Satsar, another gorgeous campsite. Meanwhile, watch the YouTube video to get a sense of the hike on Day 4 to Gadsar.

Pages