skardu

Skardu  is 720 Km from Islamabad through mighty Karakoram Highway KKH at an altitude of nearly 2,500m (8,200 Ft). Skardu is a small town at the confluence of river Indus and river Shigar. The town is surrounded by grey-brown coloured mountains, which hide the 8,000 meter peaks of the nearby Karakoram range. There are three lakes in the vicinity: Upper kachura lake, Lower Kachura Lake & Sadpara Lake.

Skardu, along with Gilgit, are the two major tourism, trekking and expedition hubs in Gilgit-Baltistan. The mountainous terrain of the region, including four of the world's 14 peaks (8,000 m and above), attracts the attention of tourists, trekkers and mountaineers from around the world. The main tourist season is from April to October; except this time, the area can be cut off for extended periods by the snowy, freezing winter weather.

• Skardu Market :  A visit to local market of Skardu will offer you a chance to buy some cultural handicrafts for your relatives back home. Do take some time off during your Skardu exploration tour for a shopping visit.
• Kharpocho Fort: constructed by Ali Sher Khan Anchan is situtated at the bank of mighty indus on a hill overlooking Skardu Town. It provides an awesome sight for nature lover and photo graphers. A must see place to visit during your skardu tour.

• Shangrila Lake is just 32 km or 30 minutues drive from Skardu town also know as kachura lake fomous for brown trout. During spring many exotic and colourful flowers adorn its banks, while peach, apricot and apple trees are laden with blossoms in April. It is one of the must visit places during Skardu tour. Do plan a night stay here.

• Shigar Valley & Fort: is only 23 km away from main Skardu town and a gate way to Karakoram, Gasherbrum & k-2. Shigar is famous for apricots, mulberries, peaches, plums, pears apples & nuts.  Shigar valley’s gentle, irrigated slopes are filled with terraces of wheat, maize and barley.

• Khaplu Valley: Located at 103 km east of skardu  along Shyok river, Khaplu is the starting point for most trekking & climbing expeditions like Masherbrum, K-6, K-7 & Saltoro. There is a Palace of Raja of Khaplu and remains of Thors

• Narsok village, here you will find a large pure spring flowing from the base of the monolith.

• Buddha Rock Carvings: Dating back to 8th century AD, a huge Buddha figure surrounded by small Buddhisatvas is carved on a rock, three kilometres from Skardu across Sadpara Nullah on Skardu-Sadpara Road. Pre-historic men and animal figures are carved on rocks along Kachura Lake. Some rock carvings and diagram of a monastery near Perkuta (Mehdi Abad) Nalah are also found.
• Deosai Plains : Treks to the Deosai Plains, the second highest in the world at 4,114 metres (13,497 ft) above sea level, after the Chang tangin in Tibet, either start from or end at Skardu. In local Balti Language, Deosai is called Byarsa, meaning 'summer place'. With an area of approximately 3,000 square kilometres (1,158 sq mi), the plains extend all the way to Ladakh and provide habitat for snow Leopard, ibex, Tibetan blue bears and wild horses.

Skardu, along with Gilgit, are the two major tourism, trekking and expedition hubs in Gilgit-Baltistan. The mountainous terrain of the region, including four of the world's 14 peaks (8,000 m and above), attracts the attention of tourists, trekkers and mountaineers from around the world. The main tourist season is from April to October; except this time, the area can be cut off for extended periods by the snowy, freezing winter weather.

• Skardu Market :  A visit to local market of Skardu will offer you a chance to buy some cultural handicrafts for your relatives back home. Do take some time off during your Skardu exploration tour for a shopping visit.
• Kharpocho Fort: constructed by Ali Sher Khan Anchan is situtated at the bank of mighty indus on a hill overlooking Skardu Town. It provides an awesome sight for nature lover and photo graphers. A must see place to visit during your skardu tour.

• Shangrila Lake is just 32 km or 30 minutues drive from Skardu town also know as kachura lake fomous for brown trout. During spring many exotic and colourful flowers adorn its banks, while peach, apricot and apple trees are laden with blossoms in April. It is one of the must visit places during Skardu tour. Do plan a night stay here.

• Shigar Valley & Fort: is only 23 km away from main Skardu town and a gate way to Karakoram, Gasherbrum & k-2. Shigar is famous for apricots, mulberries, peaches, plums, pears apples & nuts.  Shigar valley’s gentle, irrigated slopes are filled with terraces of wheat, maize and barley.

• Khaplu Valley: Located at 103 km east of skardu  along Shyok river, Khaplu is the starting point for most trekking & climbing expeditions like Masherbrum, K-6, K-7 & Saltoro. There is a Palace of Raja of Khaplu and remains of Thors

• Narsok village, here you will find a large pure spring flowing from the base of the monolith.

• Buddha Rock Carvings: Dating back to 8th century AD, a huge Buddha figure surrounded by small Buddhisatvas is carved on a rock, three kilometres from Skardu across Sadpara Nullah on Skardu-Sadpara Road. Pre-historic men and animal figures are carved on rocks along Kachura Lake. Some rock carvings and diagram of a monastery near Perkuta (Mehdi Abad) Nalah are also found.
• Deosai Plains : Treks to the Deosai Plains, the second highest in the world at 4,114 metres (13,497 ft) above sea level, after the Chang tangin in Tibet, either start from or end at Skardu. In local Balti Language, Deosai is called Byarsa, meaning 'summer place'. With an area of approximately 3,000 square kilometres (1,158 sq mi), the plains extend all the way to Ladakh and provide habitat for snow Leopard, ibex, Tibetan blue bears and wild horses.

Night life is Skardu is limited to Bone fire and get togather with friend over a cup of tea

The first mention of Skardu dates to the first half of the 16th century. Mirza Haidar (1499-1551) described in his in the forties of the 16th century wrote Tarikh-i-Rashidi Baltistan and called Askardu as one of the districts of this country. With the conquest of Kashmir in 1586 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) were starting with Ali Sher Khan Anchan, the kings of Skardu mentioned as ruler of Little Tibet in the historiography of the Mughal Empire. These are, in particular, histories of Al-Badaoni, Abu'l Fazl, 'Abdu-l Hamid Lahori, Saqi Must'ad Khan and Inayat Khan.

Travel Time : from Islamabad to Skardu is atleast 20 hours (extendable to a 24 hours journey). Main route to reach Skardu is through Karakoram Highway with night stay in Chilas or Raikot. It is a journey of 720 km along mighty indus full of adventure and thrill.

Hotels : are readily available in Skardu, however prior reservations is required during summer season. Hotel ranges from budget to 4 Star. There are some very luxurious resort in Skardu i.e Shangrila & Serena Khaplu & Shigar.

Day Trips : can be arranged from skardu for Shigar, Khaplu, Deosai, Kachura Lake with a option of night stay as well. Families are required to stay in main town due to availbility of better facilites. Young hearts can explore option of camping & trekking in Deosai & Shigar making their Skardu tour timeless.

Camping Night stays: can be availed in Deosai, Shigar & Kaplu. Depending in travel plan it would be a good option to keep your budget low during Skardu travel.