One's destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things.

This is a wild natural lake surrounded by rocky mountains but still having its own beauty. I call it wild because apparently there are no green mountains surrounded. It is a beautiful blue lake and a reservoir of Satpara Dam so it's a part of the dam named after famous mountaineer Satpara. This lake comes on way to Deosai about few km from skardu city and between Satpara village. It's followed by satpara village and then same route further leads to deosai national park .  We stayed here for a while on our way to deosai. Melting ice of deosai plains is the main source of its water. 

Shigar Valley in skardu gilgit baltistan is beautiful with it's unique beauty. We chose to travel through shigar valley and explore it on the 4th day of our tour to skardu. It's famous for multiple reasons. Let's start exploring one by one. First of all it has world's cold desert on such high altitude and each year jeep rally is being organized here. Secondly this route straight leads to askole (the last village before K2 mountain). Same road is used to arrive askole and then the mountaineers start their journey towards K2.  Apart from that, an historical fort known as "Shigar fort"  located here, a great place for history lovers indeed. It's now under management of serena hotel and use as a museum hotel for tourists.  "Blind lake" is another natural yet magical addition to the beauty of valley. It's really worth visiting if you loves nature in its pure form.  Throughout our drive in Shigar valley we have came across to some of the most memo

Upper Kachura lake is one of the most scenic lake unless you arrive there in right timings. Due to time constraints I couldn't explore it properly. When I arrived there it was almost evening but still it was spilling the magic. I hope to go back and explore it in details.  It's basically a village and there is a small track from this village that you have to walk and get down to the lake. Easily accessible. It looks mesmerizing in fall with golden leaves. However i visited in month of August. Next time hopefully in autumn to have these magical views of Skardu. Here are few pictures from my visit to Upper Kachura Lake. If you love boating then must do that and you will get more awesome views during boating time. 

Lower kachura lake also known as "Shangrila lake" is located inside Shangrila resort. All time most famous and oldest resort of skardu. It has similarity with Tibet style architecture. On our first day to skardu we visited here at kachura side. I am glad that i covered all places including Soq valley and upper kachura lake .  You can either stay here overnight or may come as a visitor for some time. Nice place to enjoy but I won't say it's calm because of noises I didn't feel good with such a beautiful nature. There was machine noises due to construction in hotels surrounded by the resort. As well the boats in the lake. I suggest these boats should have a silencer. It's good to get some beautiful views and pictures. 

On third day of our Skardu tour, we travelled to Kharmang valley. It's one of the famous valleys in Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan that is located near Kargil district. The main tourist attractions in this area are two waterfalls. One is Manthoka waterfall and another is Khamosh waterfall.   Overall drive to Kharmang valley is pretty good. Well carpeted roads and the distance from Skardu to "Manthoka Waterfall" is about 85 km that can be done in less then 3 hours. Further more "khamosh waterfall" located about an hour drive. So both the waterfalls are doable to visit in one day.  You have two choices there. Either you have to opt for these two waterfalls. Or you can visit only Manthoka waterfall and then return and turn towards Khaplu Valley. Check my video here on my youtube channel 👇

Continuing with my post en route to beautiful kharmang valley   here I visited to Khamosh waterfall, that is less visited as compared to Manthoka waterfall .  I came here after Manthoka,  but I personally liked being here. It is natural waterfall and the rocks besides there are very beautiful and artistically fitted in this natural setting. There is a small restaurant that served really tasty tea and French fries. Just be there and take your time, enjoy the beautiful scenery and have some tea. For watching video click my youtube channel link 

In Kharmang Valley, Manthoka waterfall is the most visited place by the tourists. The area is located near Kargil district. Kharmang valley is basically comprised of many small villages. The road to the valley is scenic and full of natural beauty surrounded by mighty mountains. We finally arrived via beautiful drive towards kharmang valley to Manthoka waterfall. I just enjoyed from far and didn't crossed the hanging bridge due to much crowded tourists. Another beautiful waterfall is also located in same area but about an hour drive from here, that is Khamosh waterfall.   Here is the link to my short beta video of manthoka waterfall on my youtube channel.👇

I planned my trip to Skardu by air and I was amazed to see how comfortably it took around 60 min from Faisalabad to Skardu and return flight take even 40 min to Islamabad. Air travel is the most feasible way of arriving here. Due to long road journey we ultimately decide to have a flight. Northern areas of Pakistan are one of the adventurous destination. I was long been waiting to explore the Giant deosai plain. Have a look at the scenic flight here 👇 Though road travelling has own adventure but the flight was far more scenic in Skardu case. Because it was more than an ordinary flight. It was in fact an air safari, where the captain of PIA "PAKISTAN AIRLINES AIR SAFARI FLIGHT TO SKARDU" continuously keep you updating about the flight and you may get the chance to capture some unforgettable pictures of Mighty "NANGA PARBAT", the 9th highest mountain in the world and Pakistan's most visited lake " LAKE SAIFUL MALOOK" I would definitely recommend PIA fl

On our first day in Skardu we decided to explore "Soq valley". It is one of the most scenic valleys in Skardu, located in upper Kachura side. Though it's no more a hidden place in Skardu. Most of travelers do know about this place. Taking a straight road from Shangrila resort to upper Kachura lake and then the road diverts. The straight ones leads to Upper Kachura lake while the other turn left towards Soq valley. It's somehow a trek type for which 4x4 vehicles suitable. Our driver told us that a road will be soon constructed here that will further leads to Nagar Hunza and onwards to china border. This will be the easiest and short cut route to join Skardu and Hunza. Travelers would no longer be required to use the Skardu Gilgit road.  Want to watch full video then click my Youtube  channel  I enjoyed the drive through SOQ Valley and finally get to a place, a little restaurant up there were offering some tasty trout fish. They have their own trout farm.