Kolahoi Glacier

Kolahoi Glacier is the largest glacier in the Kashmir Valley, located above Aru Valley near Pahalgam in Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir. Situated below the 5,425-metre Kolahoi Peak, it is the primary source of the Lidder River and its West Lidder tributary. Known for its alpine setting, moraine fields and surrounding meadows, the glacier is accessible via a strenuous high-altitude trek from Aru via Lidderwat and is noted for its scenic and glaciological importance.

Visitors can expect a challenging high-altitude trek from Aru Valley through Lidderwat meadows, pine forests and moraine terrain to reach the glacier snout below Kolahoi Peak. The setting features snow and ice fields, glacial streams, alpine meadows and panoramic views of surrounding peaks. There are no built structures at the glacier; the experience is entirely natural and requires trekking, with camping typically at Lidderwat. Views of the glacier, crevasses and the Lidder River source are the main attractions.

Kolahoi Glacier is the main source of the Lidder River, a major tributary of the Jhelum, and has been an important subject of glaciological studies due to documented recession over recent decades. The glacier and Kolahoi Peak have long been landmarks for the Pahalgam-Aru region.

Kolahoi Peak and its glacier hold local significance in Kashmiri folklore and are regarded as a prominent natural landmark of the Kashmir Valley, contributing to the cultural identity of the Pahalgam and Aru pastoral communities.