Bangus Valley

Bangus Valley is a vast Himalayan valley located about 10 km from Handwara in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, at an altitude of around 10,000 feet. It comprises two main meadows, Bod Bangus (Big Bangus) and Lokut Bangus (Small Bangus), known for expansive alpine grasslands, dense coniferous forests and diverse flora and fauna. Surrounded by the Pir Panjal and Shamsabari ranges, it offers pristine natural scenery and is promoted as an offbeat eco-tourism destination.

Visitors can expect a wide, bowl-shaped valley with rolling alpine meadows, pine and deodar forests, and streams. The area is divided into Big Bangus and Small Bangus, both accessible by walking across grasslands. There are no permanent structures inside the valley, mainly open meadows used for grazing. Visitors can explore on foot, enjoy views of surrounding mountains, observe seasonal flowers, and experience a quiet natural environment with limited commercial development.

Traditionally used as summer pasture by Gujjar and Bakerwal pastoral communities practicing seasonal transhumance; reflects local pastoral culture and seasonal grazing traditions of Kupwara region.