Kokernag in Kashmir

Kokernag, located in the Anantnag district of the state Jammu and Kashmir is a beautiful and alluring destination and a big hit among tourists seeking serenity and natural beauty. The place is blessed with amazing natural beauty and is home to the several varieties of plants and flowers.

Basically, the real name of Kokernag is Bindoo Zalangam, as recordedin the revenue records. It is situated at a distance of about 17 Kms. from district headquarters. Kokernag is a collection of many small springs and their collective appearance resembles to the claws of a Koker (cock). Kokernag is the largest fresh water spring of Kashmir and its water has many curative and digestive properties.

The word Kokernag has been derived from the two words namely, Koker and Nag. The word Koker has been taken from a Kashmiri word "Morgee" meaning chicken, while the word nag has been taken from Sanskrit word "Nag" meaning snake. Regarding the name of Kokernag, there are different versions. According to a famous legend it was a saint (Gushwami) who came from some unknown place to this place along with his bucket.

During his rest, some women folk came from the nearby densely forested area's in search of water, they failed in their search. Ultimately they saw the saint in a deep sleep with his bucket in front of him. The women folk went towards him in order kill thirst with his water, but when they opened the lid of the bucket they found snake in it which escaped and crept on the ground. As soon as it crept, its shape changed into a chicken called "Koker" in Kashmir, It dug the soil of the land by paws and water gushed out from these places, wherever it dug. This is the reason due to which we call the place Kokernag today. Saint was seeing all these happenings in his dream. Legend is that if he would have not opened his eyes all area of this place would have become a big lake or flood may have occurred.

It is also famous for its trout streams and the largest fresh water spring in Kashmir, Trout hatchery department which has constructed pools in series where in trout is reared. Different pools have got trout with different weights and ages. Departments sells it to the tourists who find it a delicious dish and enjoy it. Kokernag is eight miles form Achabal and famous for the curative properties of its beautiful springs. The total area of Kokernag is 300 Kanals of which 129 kanals is for the purpose of gardens and the rest is forest area.

Kokernag has some historical importance also. Kokernag has been mentioned in Ain Akbari, where in it has been mentioned that the water of Kokernag satisfies both hunger and thirst and its is also a remedy for indigestion. The author of Ain Akbari notices that touch-stone is found in Kokernag.

Kokernag Waterfall

Kokernag town in the Breng Valley of Anantnag District has many mythological stories attached to it. Kokernag is basically a collection of many small springs that collectively emerges into the largest fresh water spring of Kashmir.

Kokernag Waterfalls is perched at an altitude of 2012 metres at a distance of around 80km from Srinagar. The area around the waterfalls is blessed with lush greenery and countless colourful scented flowers that add to its vibrancy, freshness and an overall pleasant ambience. The spring gets bifurcated into multiple channels as it descends from the top of a hill to form a majestic waterfalls. Kokernag is a perfect holiday destination for nature lovers as well as amateur travellers who love to take a break from mundane city life.

Kokernag Rose Garden

Crafted like heaven and lived like royals, Kashmir is the abode to the most scenic panoramas of earth that soothes the minds and heals the souls of global travellers. From mughal gardens to towering mountains, snow clad valleys to placid lakes, Kashmir's beauty is just unimaginable and incomparable. Kokernag is out of those many scenic locations of Kashmir that enjoys a gorgeous setting at an approximate altitude of of 2,020m. Here the Kokernag Rose Garden forms the centre of attraction where thousands of domestic and international tourists leave their footsteps everyday.

The endless verdant plateau of Kokernag Rose Garden is layered by thousands of colourful flowers that make the landscape vibrant and picturesque. Scores of travellers visiting the rose garden everyday indicate that it has kept the Mughal's fetish for roses alive.

Achabal

Achabal (18 Km) is an important tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir and is famous for the beautiful Achabal Gardens developed by the then Mughal Emperor. The place is also famous for the beautiful spring that gushes out from the Sosanwar Hill.

Botanical Garden

A very beautiful and incredible garden, Botanical Garden is a must visit attraction of the place. It is blessed with rich flora and fauna and is full of a lot of varieties of beautiful Alpine, Rose, Tropical plants and around 1000 ornamental plants and trees. This garden is very well-known not only in Kokernag but in entire Jammu Kashmir state as well.