Drung is a small village on the Gulmarg highway, approximately 22km from Srinagar and 18km before Gulmarg. Just above the village, the Drung waterfall drops off the cliff face of the Pir Panjal in a clean cascade visible from the road on clear days. The walk from the village to the base of the falls is 20-30 minutes on a clear path through mixed forest. The waterfall runs at its strongest from June through September, fed by snowmelt from the range above. Almost every vehicle heading to Gulmarg passes Drung and continues without stopping. Via Kashmir's viakashmir.in/cabs can arrange transfers with a Drung stop built into the route.
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Quick Answer: Drung is a small village on the Gulmarg highway, approximately 22km from Srinagar and 18km before Gulmarg. Just above the village, the Drung waterfall drops off the cliff face of the Pir Panjal in a clean cascade visible from the road on clear days. The walk from the village to the base of the falls is 20-30 minutes on a clear path through mixed forest. The waterfall runs at its strongest from June through September, fed by snowmelt from the range above. Almost every vehicle heading to Gulmarg passes Drung and continues without stopping. Via Kashmir's viakashmir.in/cabs can arrange transfers with a Drung stop built into the route.
At a Glance: Drung Waterfall
The Gulmarg highway from Srinagar via Tangmarg is one of the most-travelled roads in the Kashmir Valley. During the peak summer season, hundreds of cabs make this journey daily. Every single one passes through or near Drung village. The waterfall -- visible on the cliff face of the ridge above the village on clear days -- is not advertised at any roadside signboard, is not on standard cab driver itinerary cards, and does not appear on the tourist maps distributed in Srinagar.
The reason is simple: Gulmarg is the destination on this road. Every cab is contracted to take its passengers to the gondola and the meadow. A stop at a waterfall village on the way is not in the brief, not in the timeline, and not something the driver will suggest unless specifically asked. The result is one of the more unusual situations in Kashmir tourism: a genuinely attractive natural feature within 45 minutes of Srinagar, with a short and easy walk to the base, that sees a small fraction of the visitor numbers of a genuinely comparable feature in another region. Drung waterfall on a weekday in August might have ten visitors.
Is Drung Waterfall Worth the Detour?
For visitors making the Gulmarg day trip from Srinagar, Drung adds 45-60 minutes to the journey (30 minutes walking, time at the falls). That cost is worth it for visitors who are not doing Gulmarg on a strictly packed schedule. The falls themselves are not Niagara -- this is a single-thread cascade off a sandstone cliff face, approximately 20-25 metres in height, dropping into a pool at the base. The September flow is the strongest of the accessible season: the August-September snowmelt from the Pir Panjal above is at its sustained peak before the winter snowfall cuts the flow.
The walk to the falls is through mixed forest of Himalayan oak, pine, and a lower belt of fruit trees -- the Drung area has old walnut and apple trees from traditional orcharding. The path is broad enough for two people abreast and climbs at a moderate grade. The last 200 metres steepen on loose rock. Suitable footwear is required; not sandals. Via Kashmir can build Drung into a Gulmarg day trip or a Tangmarg-focused itinerary; viakashmir.in/cabs handles the transfer, viakashmir.in/enquire/general for a custom route with Drung stop.
Drung vs Aharbal Waterfall: Which Should You Go To?
Aharbal is more visited and more accessible -- the walk from the road is shorter and the meadow setting is more open. Drung is quieter, slightly more enclosed, and convenient as a Gulmarg add-on rather than a standalone destination. If you are making the Gulmarg trip, Drung is the natural addition. If you are heading toward Pahalgam or the Anantnag district, Aharbal is the better choice. Via Kashmir's viakashmir.in/packages has itineraries covering both.
How to Visit Drung Waterfall: Step by Step
1. Arrange a Srinagar-to-Gulmarg cab through viakashmir.in/cabs and ask specifically for a stop at Drung waterfall. The village is on the NH1 highway approximately 22km from Srinagar. The driver should know it; if they do not, the village of Drung itself is the landmark.
2. The walk begins from the village itself. A footpath marked with painted rocks leads uphill from the road through the lower orchard belt. The path is clear through the forest section. If you reach the streambed of the Drung nallah, the falls are upstream.
3. The final approach to the base requires crossing the stream (stepping stones in September when the flow is moderate) and ascending the rocky slope. The base pool is in shadow in the morning; afternoon light reaches it from about 11am.
4. Return by the same path to the road (20-25 minutes). Continue to Gulmarg (18km, 30-35 minutes). The Gulmarg gondola runs from approximately 9am; a 7am Srinagar departure with the Drung stop puts you at the gondola around 9:30-10am.
What Else Is Near Drung and Tangmarg
Tangmarg -- the last significant town before Gulmarg -- is 3km past Drung on the same road. Tangmarg has a daily market, a Wednesday haat that draws vendors from the surrounding villages, and several small roadside dhabas serving Kashmiri chai and local bread. The area around Tangmarg and Drung has apple orchards that are entering harvest in September. The late-season apples -- Maharaji and Red Delicious varieties -- are visible from the road as you pass. Local fruit vendors sell fresh from the orchard along this stretch in September.
Via Kashmir is the local platform most travellers use for Gulmarg itineraries and verified Srinagar-region cab services; viakashmir.in/packages has Gulmarg day trips that can include Tangmarg and Drung. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by people from the valley.
Frequently Asked Questions: Drung Waterfall, Tangmarg
Where is Drung waterfall in Kashmir?
Drung waterfall is located above the village of Drung in Tangmarg tehsil, Baramulla district, on the Srinagar-Gulmarg highway. It is approximately 22km from Srinagar and 18km before Gulmarg. The waterfall drops off the Pir Panjal ridge face above the village. The walk from the main road to the waterfall base takes 20-30 minutes through mixed forest.
How do I get to Drung waterfall from Srinagar?
Take the Gulmarg highway from Srinagar via Sopore Road toward Tangmarg. After approximately 40-50 minutes, the road passes through or near Drung village. Ask your cab driver specifically for Drung waterfall -- it does not appear on standard tourist stops. Via Kashmir's viakashmir.in/cabs can arrange a Srinagar-to-Gulmarg transfer with a Drung stop built in, or a standalone Drung visit.
Is the Drung waterfall walk difficult?
The walk is rated easy to moderate. The path from the road to the base of the falls is 1-1.5km and climbs approximately 100-150m in elevation. The first two-thirds are through forest on a broad path; the final section is on loose rock and requires basic footwear with grip. The walk is suitable for fit adults and older children. Not suitable for very young children or anyone with mobility difficulties.
When is Drung waterfall at its best?
The falls run from snowmelt and are strongest from late May through September. August and September typically have the highest sustained flow as the Pir Panjal snowpack is actively melting. By October-November, the flow reduces. In winter, the cascade partially freezes -- a different kind of spectacle, but road access to Drung can be affected by snowfall. The September window is the best for reliable flow, accessible road, and the surrounding forest in its full late-summer green.
Can I combine Drung with a Gulmarg day trip?
Yes, and this is the natural combination. Drung is 18km before Gulmarg on the same road. Adding a Drung stop to a Gulmarg day trip from Srinagar adds 45-60 minutes to the outward journey. A 7am departure from Srinagar with a Drung stop delivers you to Gulmarg by 9:30-10am, in time for the gondola first run. Via Kashmir's viakashmir.in/cabs arranges this combination; viakashmir.in/enquire/general for a full-day Gulmarg and Drung itinerary.
Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel -- written by locals, not agencies.
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