FlyPakistan: TOP Attractions in Skardu

One of the two most well-known icy deserts in the area, the Sarfarangah Desert is located close to Skardu. Because of its location in the Shigar Valley along the Shigar River, it serves as an excellent capstone experience for a trip to the Shigar area. So when you visit this beautiful place put your shoes in the sand as the sand is smooth and enjoyable without shoes. Caution is advised, though, as there is a possibility that there are thorns buried beneath the sand in some areas.

The Baltistan Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Skardu District, south of the Indus River, between the settlements of Rondu and Shengus, adjacent to the Astore Wildlife Sanctuary to the south and east. This protected area was established in 1975 with the goal of saving the endangered species that occupy the park, some of which are the snow leopard, brown bear, lynx, Tibetan wolf, Tibetan sand fox, markhor, bharal, and Siberian ibex. All of these endangered animals may be found in this park.

The Shigar Fort in Skardu Valley is a remarkable architectural structure surrounded by Shigar's vast plains. The desert's cold sand is a wonder in itself. Moreover, Shigar Fort is the most visited location in Skardu due to its historical significance. The entire structure of the Shigar Fort, which was constructed roughly 400 years ago, is composed of stones with sturdy foundations. Formerly known as the Palace of Rock, the fort is now a guesthouse with 20 rooms and a large hall displaying the treasures of the Baltit culture.

The Heavenly Shangrila Resort is situated 35 minutes from Skardu on a gorgeous lake and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. This resort is primarily renowned for its Skardu boat rides. On the edge of Lower Kachura Lake is where you'll find this beautiful resort. In addition to that, it is well-known in Skardu as a location for picnics. The Shangrila Resort, popularly known as "HEAVEN ON EARTH," is located in a location that is surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the world. It encompasses the lake in the shape of a heart. The resort is well-known for its restaurant, which was constructed on the fuselage of a plane that had crashed in the area.

Buddha Rock is one of the most significant Buddhist relics in Skardu. It is around three kilometers from Sadpara Road.Satpara Lake can be reached by following the Sadpara road. It is a big granite boulder that has been etched with a portrait of Buddha, and the engraving most likely goes back to the eighth century. This rock can be found in the village of Manthal in Skardu Town. But Buddhists carved this rock when they lived in Skardu and Buddhism was practiced there. At that time, Buddhist monks wanted to draw their dreams and experiences, as well as pictures of Buddha with words written in the Tibetan language. Before the spread of Islam in Baltistan around the middle of the 14th century A.D., these Buddhist rocks served as a place of worship for the local population.

Upper Kachura Lake has water that is clear and is 70 meters deep (230 ft). The temperature is 15 °C (59 °F) in the summer. During the winter, the surface is solidly frozen. A lower part of the upper Indus River flows nearby. Due to its rough terrain, there isn't much infrastructure around the Upper Kachura Lake, so most tourists don't go there. This means that most people haven't seen its beauty. The Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forest ecoregion has a lot of plants that live in the area, and the area is also known for its wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca) orchards. At Upper Kachura Lake, people can go for Himalaya mountaineering, hiking, and trout fishing.

It contains some of the highest peaks and largest glaciers in the world. It features the biggest concentration of high mountains on earth and is recognized internationally for mountaineering, rock climbing, and trekking. It encompasses an area of around 10,000 square kilometers and is renowned internationally for these activities. It features sixty peaks that are higher than 7,000 meters, including K2, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Broad Peak. In 2016, the park was added to the World Heritage Site Tentative List.

Sheosar Lake is an alpine lake situated in Deosai National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is located at the height of 4,142 metres (13,589 ft). The lake is accessible through two routes. One is via Skardu and the other via Astore District. The road through Skardu can be covered by jeep in few hours, however, if trekked, it can take 2 days time. Second route is from Astore District. From main Astore town, it takes about 4 hours' jeep travel through a semi-metal road to reach Chilm, the last residential area adjacent to the plains. Between the months of November to May the area of Deosai is snow bound. During spring, the surrounding area is covered with wide variety of flowers and butterflies. Most visitors come to the lake are in summer between June to early September.

The alternative name for Satpara Lake is Sadda Lake. Satpara Lake is a natural lake located close to Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan that provides water to Skardu Valley. The Satpara Stream brings water to it. Since 2003, Satpara Dam has been built just below the lake, which will increase the size of Satpara Lake once completed. It plays an important role in the town of Skardu as a source of water supply. It is spread over an area of 1.55 miles (2.5 kilometers). In the middle of the lake sits a beautiful island reminiscent of a fairy tale. A country boat can be used to access the island. Locals believe there is a gold mine at the bottom of this lake, according to a well-known urban legend.

Greg Child, an Australian mountaineer, and filmmaker said the fort is "perched above the junction of the rivers" and has a view of the Rock of Skardu. At the end of the 1600s, Ali Sher Khan Anchan, who was king at the time, built the fort. General Zorawar Singh, a member of the Dogra Rajput clan, recognized the significance of the fort's placement in the town while working for Maharaja Gulab Singh. As a result, he occupied the fort. As part of his several military expeditions, Baltistan was annexed to the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The fort was destroyed in 1857 under the direction of Ranbir Singh.

The way of living in the "Nansoq Organic village Skardu" is identical to the old traditional balti style. Their dwellings are organic, with minimal use of machinery and synthetic materials. Keeping this community in its original state is a symbolic representation to show how important the organic way of life is. In the Baltistan region, strong remnants of the organic way of life remain. Nansoq is one of the most organically pure villages in the Skardu region. The only reason to keep this village's organic way of life is to show, that even now, it is still possible to live in a way that is good for the environment.

This is one of the most popular tourist spots in Skardu, welcoming both internal and overseas visitors. The waterfall is located in the village of Manthokha, which is accessible from the city of Skardu. From Skardu, one must continue the Kargil-Skardu route to reach Manthokha Waterfall. The Kargil-Skardu road passes through the following villages en route to Manthokha: Thorgo, Hussainabad, Parkutta, Manthokha, and Ghasing. A stream that is moving downstream eventually enters the Indus River at the village of Manthokha. You will find Madhupur on the eastern bank of this stream. The route that connects Manthoka and Madhapur will take you to your ultimate destination.

The Basho Valley is one of the most popular places to visit in Skardu, which is in the northern part of Pakistan. It is known for its extreme beauty, majesty, and primitive charm. The Bashu Valley in Skardu is located within a two-hour drive from the city's main center, and it is very accessible by jeep. Even during the hottest of summers, the valley offers a peaceful ambiance. In addition, the place is considered to be ideal for camping and trekking due to its expansive green plains and streams. At night, when it gets cold, the valley is even more beautiful because people can see thousands of stars right above their heads.

Shangrila was established in 1983 with the opening of the first Resort Hotel in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Shangrila Resort Hotel was founded by the late Muhammad Aslam Khan Afridi, the first commander of the Northern Scouts of the Pakistan Army. The resort is known for its restaurant that is built on the fuselage of an aircraft that had crashed nearby. Shangrila was named after a book titled Lost Horizon by James Hilton. In the novel, the author narrates a tale in which an airplane crash landed near a riverbed, in the early 1920s. The surviving passengers came across some Buddhist monks from a nearby temple and sought their help. They were taken to a beautiful lamasery filled with a variety of fruits and flowers.

In the desert, there are big sand dunes that sometimes get snow on them in the winter. The Cold Desert is one of the highest deserts in the world because it is 2,226 meters above sea level. Although the desert geographically extends from the Khaplu Valley all the way to Nubra in the region of Ladakh that is under the administration of India, the largest areas of the actual desert area are located in the Shigar Valley and Skardu, both of which are under the administration of Pakistan. However, near the Skardu Airport is the part of the desert that receives the most tourist traffic.

As you explore the large plains of Deosai, you will come across the beautiful Sheosar Lake in the middle of the plains. At an altitude of 13,589 feet above sea level, this lake holds the record for the greatest elevation of any lake of its sort in the world. A mesmerizing scene is created by the deep blue water that is surrounded by the verdant plains of Deosai. And in the background, you will find the formidable mountains of Nanga Parbat. Each season at the lake has its own beauty. In the winter, the lake is frozen, and in the summer, its many colors captivate visitors.

Katpana Lake is gaining prominence due to the alluring beauty that it possesses, and it is one of the spots in Skardu that is still relatively untouched. The Katpana town serves as the setting for the lake's entrance. The vista is made even more breathtaking by the presence of a wide variety of trees along the shore of the lake. If you are thinking about taking a trip to Skardu, you absolutely have to make time to go to Katpana Lake. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in Pakistan.

Khaplu is an old town in Gilgit that has a lot of history. Khaplu is 103 km east of Skardu and is the entrance to Masherbrum Peak. It was the second-largest kingdom of the Yabgo dynasty. Along the Shyok River, it patrolled and protected the trade route that led to Ladakh. There are numerous historical sites in Khaplu, including the exquisite Chaqchan Mosque and others. Khaplu is only accessible by road. Khaplu Valley is quite popular with tourists from all over the world because of its panoramic vistas and mountaineering and trekking opportunities.

Deosai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Skardu. The Deosai National Park was created to protect numerous animal and bird species, including the Snow Leopard, Red Fox, Himalayan Brown Bear, Wolf, Golden eagle, Sparrow Hawk, and Snow Cock. In addition, this park is renowned for its luxuriant flora and fauna, streams, green meadows, snow-capped mountains, and dense wildflowers. The National Park is only visited during the summer when a breathtaking display of flowers and butterflies greets visitors. However, Bara Pani, Sheosar Lake, Burgi Land, Ali Malik are all great locations to visit in Deosai. No doubt, Deosai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Skardu.