GUREZ
Gurez, or Gurais (Guráai in the local Shina language), is a valley located in the high Himalayas, about 86 kilometers (53 mi) from Bandipora and 123 kilometers (76 mi) from Srinagar, to the north of the Kashmir valley. At about 2,400 meters (8,000 ft) above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It has diverse fauna and wildlife including the Himalayan brown bear and the snow leopard. The Kishanganga River flows through the valley. The valley lies near the Line of Control, which separates it from the Astore and Neelum districts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Being situated very close to the Burzil Pass, which leads into Astore, the inhabitants are ethnic Dards/Shins. They speak the Shina language and have the same styles of dress and culture as their kinsmen in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan. Due to heavy snowfall (around 2 metres (7 ft)) and closure of Razdan Pass in winter, the valley remains cut off for six months of the year.
WALUR LAKE
Wular Lake (also spelt Wullar) is a large fresh water lake in Bandipore. The lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum River. The lake’s size varies from 12 to 100 square miles (30 to 260 square kilometers), depending on the season. Lake Wular belongs to the largest freshwater lakes in the Kashmir Valley, 40 km northwest of Srinagar City. Wular Lake is also one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia.
BABA SHAKUR-UD-DIN (R.A)
Baba Shakur-ud-Din (R.A) is the most famous Shrine in Bandipore District in North Kashmir and is located 17 kms in the North East of Sopore on the hillock at Sher Kot on a mountain overlooking the magnificent Wular Lake. It is also known as KralSangri. It is situated between Sopore and Bandipore. Baba Shakur was basically from Manchamapargana, village Arwat tehsil Badgam. He was adisciple of Baba Zain-ud-Din (R.A). On the advice of his teacher he spent about 12 years inmeditation at Shangpal (Forest) in Khoiham pargana.
TULAIL VALLEY
The Tulail Valley is a Himalayan sub-valley of Gurez in the union territory of Kashmir. The Valley lies 120 kilometres (75 mi) northeast of Bandipora and 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Srinagar. Tulail Valley lies immediate east of the Gurez Valley. The Tulail Valley is situated at an average altitude of 2,750 m (9,020 ft). Tulail, with its headquarter at Badugam town, is one of the tehsils of Bandipora district. It is bordered by the Gurez Valley in the west, Mushkoh Valley and Drass town in the east, the Kashmir Valley in the south, and across Line of control in the north is Astore District in Azad Kashmir. Tulail Valley is formed by the east to west flowing Kishanganga River which originates from the Krishansar Lake in the alpine meadows north of Sonamarg.
HABBA KHATOON SPRING
The Habba Khatoon spring is among the one of the beautiful springs of Kashmir full of gushing water creating a loud but wonderful noise of unhindered flow of water. It’s water is considered one of the purest waters in the world . Many opine that the water of this gorgeous spring has medicinal properties in terms of healing. It is believed that Habba Khatoon once took water in an earthen pot (Clay Handi) from the nearby river, upon moving towards her hut the pot fell down and broke which then gave rise to a spring at the same spot.