Lidder River, Pahalgam, Kashmir

The Lidder River or Liddar River, is a 73 kilometer long river in Indian Administered Kashmir. It originates from the Kolhoi Glacier of the Jehlum River and meets it at Gurnar Khanabal village at an altitude of 1615 meters.

Geography

Lidder River at Pahalgam
The Lidder River gives rise to Lidder Valley, originates from Kolhoi Glacier in the vicinity of Sonamarg and runs southwards through an alpine meadow called Lidderwat, from which the river has got its name. The river flows through lush green mountains of fir. The tourist village Aru is situated on its bank. It covers 30 kilometers to the tourist destination of Pahalgam where it meets a major tributary (the East Lidder) from Sheshnag Lake and runs westwards until it meets the Jehlum River at Gurnar Khanabal village of Anantnag. It has crystal blueish water as of Neelum River. Pahalgam occupies the central Lidder Valley.

The waters of the river are mainly used for irrigation purpose through different canals, the famous among them is Shah kol and drinking through water treatment plants.

There are many different varieties of fishes present in the river. A fisheries plant has also been build up at the bank of the river. Some types of fishes found in Lidder River are:

Brown trout (sulmo trutta fario)
Rainbow trout (sulmo gairdnri)
Shuddgurn
Anyour

Due to the negligence, incapacity and lack of coordination between the organising agencies, who cares and spends most on the security of the pilgrimage, there is no sewage system in place from Khanabal to Pahalgam, the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra.