Skardu - The Land of Dreams

Saba Ghani

2 years of guide experience in Pakistan.

Skardu is the main city of Baltistan and is located on the wide banks of the Indus River.

It has some of the highest peaks in the world, the Karakoram Mountains, which are perfect for mountaineering excursions. It's also popular with high-altitude hikers heading to Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp, and Concordia. Additionally, Skardu is about a 5-hour drive from Gilgit and a 12-hour drive from Besham. PIA also operates daily flights to and from Islamabad depending on weather conditions.

Skardu has its value, history, and lush scenery. It is heaven for hikers, and trekkers who love long treks to hike to witness the unmatchable beauty of the world. However, it is home to four of the world's fourteen 8,000-metre peaks (8,000 metres and above). The city is surrounded by rugged mountains and dunes. With the main tourist season from April to October, the Askola and Hushe valleys are the main gateways to the 8000m snow-white peaks including Mashabum, K2, Gasherbrum, Broad Peak, and Trango Towers, as well as the giant glaciers of Bartolo, Biawo, and Trango.

Top Places to Visit in Skardu

Lower Lake Kachura:

Kachura is 30 km from Skardu. The beautiful valley is known for its beautiful lakes, waterfalls, streams, springs, flora, and fauna. Although Lower Kachura Lake, known as Shangri-La Lake, is now open to the public due to being taken over by some officials, you can still visit the more beautiful and pristine Upper Kachura Lake. The water is shallow in some places and surprisingly warm too. So you can also go there for a swim. The area has rich vegetation from the pine forest ecoregion of the western Himalayas and is also known for its wild apricot orchards, Prunus armeniaca. Recreational activities at Kachura Lake include hiking, trout fishing, and climbing the Himalayas.

Upper Kachura Lake:

Kachura Lake is two lakes in the Skardu region of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan. The lakes at 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level are Upper Kachula and Lower Kachula. The latter, also known as Shangri-La Lake, is in a tourist resort called Shangri-La Resort outside Skardu's main city. The lakes are located in the Karakoram Mountains in the western Himalayas, Greater Kashmir, and the Indus Valley. Upper Kachura Lake is clear water with a depth of 70 metres (230 feet). In summer, its temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius. In winter, the surface freezes. The Upper Indus flows near lower elevations.

Due to its rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure, travellers find little and mostly undiscovered beauty in Upper Kachula Lake.

Skardu Museum:

The K2 Museum Skardu is a great place to visit when you are in Skardu, it is an informative place for children and young adults. Tourists love to visit here to gather information about K2 and to capture fond memories. The K2 Italian Museum is located in the gardens of the PTDC Motel in Skardu. The museum is a tent erected in 2004 to celebrate the 1954 Italian expedition's successful ascent of K2. The giant tent was built at the K2 base camp during the 50th anniversary of the Italian K2 expedition led by EvK2Cnr President Agostino Da Polenza. At the end of a successful expedition.

Kharpocho Fort:

Kharpocho or Skardu Fort is located right above the organic valley trek. Compared to other excursions, it is easy and granted. From the balcony of this fort, you can see the entire city of Skardu and most of the valley. Witness the beauty of nature and the diverse settings throughout the landscape from the historic fort from the 16th century. Don't forget to bring your camera when visiting this majestic place or you will regret it later.

Deosai Plain:

The "Land of the Giants", Deosai Plains, is composed of two words, “Deo” means “Huge” and “Sai” means “shadow”. Desai National Park, particularly known as the Roof of the World, is a vast and stunning plain covering 3,000 square kilometres. Take a thrilling two-hour jeep ride from Skardu to the Deosai Plains. This place is world-famous for its unique scenery and wildlife with beautiful flora and fauna in spring. Beautiful golden marmots can be seen, if you are lucky, you can see the rare Himalayan brown bear in Deosai. Travellers should explore this heavenly great place.

Satpara lake:

Satpara Lake is 2,636 metres above sea level, 8,650 feet above sea level, and covers an area of ?? 2.5 square kilometres. Satpara Lake is also written as Sadpara or Sapara Sar Jheel". Lake Satpara is a natural lake near Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, that supplies water to the Skardu Valley, it is provided by Satpara Lake. The Satpara Dam project on Lake Satpara is 7 kilometres from Skardu city at an altitude of 8,700 feet (2,700 metres), and with this, it will collect approximately 90,000 acres of water. The main source of water is ice that melts on the Desai Plain in summer. Locals tell stories about the lake, there is a gold mine at the bottom of the lake, which is why its water seems to glisten during the day.

Shigar:

In the Skardu Mountains, the beautiful Shigar Valley sits. This valley is known for its history, culture, and traditions. The best historical attraction in the valley is the famous Shigar Fort, which dates back to the 17th century. Shigar Fort has also been awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, there are many places to visit and experience in Shigar Valley, such as Jarbazo (Blind) Lake. Make sure you have this site on your list when you plan to visit Skardu.

Blind Lake (Jarba Zhou Lake):

The Blind Lake is a scenic lake near the Shigar Valley in the Skardu District of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Lake Jarbazo is used as a reservoir for the Wadi Shigar people. It is fed by the Indus River. The lake is on its way to the Shigar Valley. On one side of the lake is the Indus River and on the other is the Shigar River. Both rivers can be the source of water for this lake.

Jarba Zhou Lake (Blind Lake) is located in the Shigar Valley, just a 30-minute drive from Skardu. A hidden pearl and its visitors can enjoy walking on sand and rocks to the lake. There is no direct water source. There are more than 8,000 mountains in the Shigar district. The most famous of these is the K-2, the second-highest peak in the world. The ideal destination for climbing, hiking, trekking, camping, and other adventure sports.

Katpana Desert:

Lake Katerbana is located on the banks of the Indus River in the Katapana Desert, near the city of Skardu. The lake is the perfect and relaxing haven away from the busy streets of Skardu. Here one can take a dip in the cool waters of this beautiful lake and take some pictures of the environment. The Katpana Desert is also nearby, so you have a chance to explore the area as well.

Sarfaranga desert:

Sarfaranga Desert is about 15 kilometres from the city centre. This place is a mystery to all researchers and geologists. It's one of the tallest deserts on Earth and one of the coldest. With all the lush green valleys of Baltistan, this place is truly majestic and different, with mountains, dunes, flowing rivers, springs, and even snow in winter. Every year, a jeep rally is held here which shows this hidden gem of the world. The SarfaRanga jeep rally has been started in August for the past three years. About 80 to 85 cars and some cyclists attended the rally. People from Pakistan, especially from Gilgit-Baltistan, come here to watch the exciting event and support the local community. In addition, the Cold Desert Rally also provides an opportunity to present cultural diversity and expand tourism in the region.

Shyok River:

The Shyok River, a sidestream of the Indus River, flows through North Ladakh into Gilgit-Baltistan. The Shyok River originates from the Rimu Glacier, one of the tongues of the Siachen Glacier. The name of the river rising from the glacier means "River of Death" in Ladakh/Yarkandi, which is a matter of chance and does not originate from the same reference. This is because the river has to cross several times during the journey north from Leh to Yarkand in Central Asia. In fact, for the winter road, Shyok has to cross a total of 22 times. But the upside is that winter is relatively easy to traverse. Fortunately, there are now many bridges on the river that allow people to cross the river safely.

Hushe Valley:

The top of Wadi Hushe is Masherbrum (7821 AD) and five large glaciers including Masherbrum, Hushe Gondogoro Valley, Chogolisa, and Tsarak Tsa. The popular Hushe Valley offers a variety of short and easy hikes, some non-technical summits, some great rock climbing, and exciting routes to Baltoro Glacier.

Hushe village is the last village where the enclave road ends. It is located 140 kilometres east of Skardu, a starting point for excursions to various summer pastures and five glaciers.

Passing the Charakusa River, past the Shepherd's Summer Camp, and the intersection of the GondoGoro River and the Charakusa River, we will cross a wooden bridge and arrive at Momachi, a large shepherd's settlement with a mosque. The next day we will head to Dalzampa, which means "flower field". This is a beautiful campground about 4150m above sea level, between two lakes, with Masherbrum and the white glacier rolling down from the Masherbrum trail, reflected in the still waters.

Khaplu Fort:

Tucked away in the beautiful north of Skardu is the stunning Khaplu Fort Valley. One of the most beautiful spots in the Skardu Valley, it makes everyone fall in love with its majestic scenery. The valley is located at an altitude of 2600 metres. Apart from the Karoo Valley scenery, it is also famous for historical monuments such as Khaplu Palace and Chaqchan Mosque. Chaqchan Mosque is supposed to be the oldest mosque in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan. Pack your travel bag and embark on a journey to this beautiful destination in the mountains of Pakistan.

Chaqchan Mosque:

The Chaqchan Mosque, which means "Miracle Mosque", is a mosque located in the city of Kapulu, Gilgit-Baltistan. Dating back to 1370, the mosque is one of the oldest in the region, when the people of this region collectively converted from Buddhism to Islam. This is an old mosque with real charm. The woodwork is beautiful. A vibrant mix of Persian, Kashmiri, and Tibetan architecture that has been around for nearly 700 years. The Pakistani government has placed the Chaqchan Mosque on the Pakistan Heritage List. After extensive restoration work, the mosque is now operational. The architectural style of the mosque resembles criticism of Roman authors, as the stone walls were built to suit the cold winter of the area.

Manthoka Falls:

Manthoka Waterfall is one of the most incredible yet most visited waterfalls in Kharmang Baltistan. Manthoka Falls is 40 km from Skardu. Manthoka Falls is one of the largest and most natural waterfalls in Skardu. 2 hours drive from Skardu, a highly recommended place to tourists.

This waterfall is located in the Kharmang district of Baltistan Skardu. Several currents, including the "Bara Pani", provided spectators with excellent views, before disappearing into the Indus. From the confluence of the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and the Karakoram, we turn right to Mantuka, while a straight road leads to Kaplu after crossing a bridge over the Indus. The river that flows out of the Khaplu Valley is known as the Shyok River and originates in the disputed region of Ladakh between India and China. The tributaries of the Indus are distributed in Siachen, the Deosai Plain, and the Kharmang Valley in Pakistan. The place is impressive, great for camping and fishing, and a sight for sore eyes.

Khamosh waterfall:

Khamosh waterfall is also located in the Kharmang district of Baltistan. This is a natural waterfall and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Pakistan. This stunning waterfall is located 60 km from the town of Skardu. The panoramic view of Khamosh Waterfall attracts tourists in the Kharmang district near the border of Kargil. The waterfall is famous for its sparkling freshwater falling from a height. The surrounding mountains offer visitors the perfect opportunity to hike and find new perspectives on sightseeing. The rocky terrain near the falls provides mating sites for the different fish and can be seen in the waterfalls.

The locals called Balti are very welcoming and serve you traditional food which is a rare tradition in the world.

You can check out our tour "6-Day Holidays Tour to Skardu and Deosai Plains" includes these amazing places.

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Skardu - The Land of Dreams