Avoid
Bangus Valley in November
Jammu & Kashmir, India
November seals Bangus under the first sustained snowfall. The approaches close. The valley empties of all human presence except military posts. The permit office stops processing applications. Bangus returns to the mountains and the wildlife.
The November story
November Bangus is closed to all civilian access. Snow accumulates rapidly at 3000m โ the valley that was golden grassland in September becomes a white wilderness. The military maintains its presence through winter. If you didn't visit between June and October, the next window is May-June of next year. Use November to process your trip photos, write about the experience, and begin planning for next season. Bangus is a place that operates on geological time โ one missed season simply means the valley will be there next year, unchanged, waiting. The Gujjar shepherds have been making this same annual pilgrimage for centuries. Your next visit is a single tick on that clock.
Why November scores 1/5
Roads & Access
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 2/5. rescue: Indian Army, SDRF J&K. helpline: DC Kupwara: 01955-252032. ambulance: 108 (limited access). police station: Handwara Police Station (40km). nearest hospital: Sub-District Hospital Handwara (40km)
Network
JIO: No, BSNL: No, AIRTEL: No
Kids
Not ideal for kids โ
Elevation
3,000m โ Moderate altitude
Who should go
- โExperienced trekkers / adventurers
- โNobody โ the valley is closed for winter
- โTrip planners processing this season's experience
- โThose booking operators for next year's June-September window
Who should think twice
- โFirst-time travelers
- โAnyone with health conditions
- โEveryone โ the valley is sealed under snow
- โThose who think November might have a late-season window โ it won't
- โAnyone without military-grade winter expedition capability
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | โ |
| February | 0/5 | โ |
| March | 0/5 | โ |
| April | 1/5 | โ |
| May | 3/5 | Late May sometimes opens the first trail access, though snow patches remain across the meadow. |
| June | 5/5 | June is when Bangus Valley becomes genuinely accessible. |
| July | 4/5 | July is Bangus at full bloom. The 30 sq km meadow is carpeted with wildflowers โ buttercup, iris, gentian, primula โ and the Gujjar shepherd camps dot the valley with woodsmoke and livestock. |
| August | 4/5 | August extends the bloom but adds monsoon unpredictability. |
| September | 5/5 | September is Bangus's autumn farewell. The wildflowers fade, the grass turns gold, and the Gujjar shepherds begin their descent with livestock. |
| October | 3/5 | October closes Bangus. The first serious snowfall can come any day. |
| Novemberviewing | 1/5 | โ |
| December | 0/5 | โ |
Practical Details
How to reach
Contact local transport
Elevation
3,000m
Difficulty
hard
Budget tier
budget
Permits required
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Nearby in Jammu & Kashmir scoring high in November
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