Gurez Valley:
Kashmir's Most Hidden Paradise

Most tourists in Kashmir never hear the name Gurez. Those who have been there speak of it the way people speak of places that changed them — quietly, with something like reverence. The Kishanganga River, the wooden villages, the impossible pyramid of Habba Khatoon Peak at dusk. We've been taking travelers here for years. This guide will take you there too.

What Is Gurez Valley?

Gurez Valley is a high Himalayan valley in the Bandipora district of Jammu & Kashmir, located along the Line of Control in northern Kashmir. It sits at approximately 2,400 metres above sea level and is home to the Dard-Shin community — one of the oldest and most distinct ethnic groups in Kashmir, speaking the Shina language rather than Kashmiri, and maintaining architectural and cultural traditions found nowhere else in J&K.

The valley is bisected by the Kishanganga River — known downstream in Pakistan as the Neelum River — one of Kashmir's most beautiful mountain waterways, rushing turquoise-green through a valley floor of meadows and traditional wooden villages. Rising above the valley to the southwest is the unmistakable pyramid of Habba Khatoon Peak, named after the beloved 16th-century Kashmiri poet, its sharp silhouette visible throughout the valley as a constant, iconic presence.

Why Gurez Valley Is Unlike Anywhere Else in Kashmir

How to Reach Gurez Valley from Srinagar

Total: ~123 km from Srinagar. Allow 5–6 hours for a comfortable drive with stops. A 4×4 SUV is essential — the Razdan Pass section can be difficult in a 2WD vehicle. Our fleet includes Innova Crysta and Bolero for this route.

Best Time to Visit Gurez Valley

What to See & Do in Gurez Valley

Dawar — The Main Town

Dawar is the administrative headquarters of Gurez and the valley's main settlement. It sits on the western bank of the Kishanganga River with Habba Khatoon Peak rising dramatically to the southwest. The town has a few guesthouses and small restaurants, a weekly market, and the valley's only proper mobile signal (BSNL only — Airtel/Jio don't reach Gurez).

Habba Khatoon Peak

The Habba Khatoon Peak is named after Kashmir's beloved 16th-century poet-queen, who legend says wandered these mountains after her husband was exiled by Mughal emperor Akbar. The mountain's perfect pyramid form dominates the valley skyline — at dawn, when the peak is the only thing catching the first light, it glows amber above the dark valley floor in an image of extraordinary beauty.

Tulail Valley

A sub-valley branching off from Gurez, Tulail is even more remote and less visited. A winding road follows the Kishanganga deeper into the mountains to villages that see barely a handful of tourists per year. The landscapes become increasingly dramatic — steep gorges, ancient wooden bridges, wildflower meadows below permanent snow fields.

Kishanganga River

The river itself is one of the valley's great attractions. The Kishanganga runs turquoise-green and cold and fast through the valley, fed by glaciers above. Walking along the riverside in early morning — when mist fills the valley and the birds are loud and the water roars over boulders — is one of Kashmir's finest simple pleasures.

Inner Line Permit (ILP) — Complete Guide

The Inner Line Permit is mandatory for all Indian nationals visiting Gurez Valley. Here is how to obtain one:

Frequently Asked Questions