Edited by Seema Iqbal
Pakistan is a breathtakingly beautiful country… and I’ll back that statement up with pictures to prove it! My family traveled to Skardu, last summer, and returned mesmerized by an experience that will forever remain embedded in our memories.
Skardu is a major tourism hub, offering a magnificent mountainous terrain to trekkers, mountaineers and adventure seekers who hail from all corners of the world. The main attraction, of course, are the peaks. To be precise, four of the world’s fourteen tallest mountains are located in Skardu. The best time to visit is from April to October. The rest of the year, heavy snow and freezing weather makes the area pretty much inaccessible.
Like any tourist, I had researched our destination long before we boarded the flight. According to one article on Google, booking seats on the right side of the plane was sure to promise the maximum dividends in terms of views. Although we decided to test the theory, I didn’t expect much until we were up in the air. Take it from my experience: if you sit on the right side of the plane, you’ll view lush greenery and lakes that beckon your undivided attention. Passengers sitting to the left of the aisle were rewarded with a steady supply of aerial arid views. Now, if you are enamored by dust and desert then by all means sit on the other side!
Skardu airport is not modern at all. It has one of the longest runways but other than that, the lobby does not offer much to write about. The real adventure begins once you step out of the confines of the old, plain building.
Our first stop was Deosai Plains which extend all the way to Ladakh. The locals refer to the plains by a different name – Byarsa – which means ‘summer place.’ Judging by the imagery, it is easy to understand why. Deosai is situated at an altitude of 4,114 meters (13,496 feet) above sea level which is considered the second highest after Chang Tang in Tibet. The plains are inhabited by snow leopards, ibex, Tibetan blue bears and wild horses.
We spent the second day of our trip visiting Shigar Fort and the Manthokha Waterfall. The fort, too, has a local name – Fong-Khar – which means ‘Palace on the rock.’ Shigar Fort comprises of a four-century old building referred to as the Old House as well as the more recent addition, the Garden House. The Raja’s palace serves as a guesthouse with the grand hall accommodating a museum that offers a fascinating glimpse into Balti culture.
Our stop at the Mathokha Waterfall took our breath away! Located in Kharmang valley, the waterfall is 180 feet high. You can catch great tasting trout and have the area restaurants cook it exactly to your liking.
Our next stop was the shiite Nurbakhshi mosque which is approximately four-hundred years old. The mosque is named after the Sufi saint, Syed Nurbakhsh, who arrived in Baltistan from Kashmir around 1370 A.D. and inspired the Raja to accept Islam and, therefore, build the mosque. I was amazed by the intricately carved wood that covers the mosque and boasts the Buddhist-Tibetan style architecture.
The kids thoroughly enjoyed Shangrila resort which was established in 1983 by the late commander of the Pakistan Army, Muhammad Aslam Khan. He named the resort after a beautiful lamasery which is the focal point of James Hilton’s book, Lost Horizon. In keeping with the book’s theme, the resort features a restaurant housed within the fuselage of an aircraft that had crashed there many years prior. The owner of Shangrila resort had the aircraft moved to Kachura lake over the span of a year using donkeys, horses, and valiant men. As you can well imagine, it took raw physical strength to get the job done. The word ‘Shangrila’ is actually a Tibetan phrase which means ‘Heaven on earth.’
While we were in Skardu, we met a tourist family. The father resides in Hong Kong, the mother in Switzerland, and their daughter in the United States. Every summer, the family reunites for an adventure at a neutral location. Last year, they decided to visit Pakistan and raved about how many cities and towns they had covered during their trip.
Here are some more pictures from our visit…
Sadia Habib says
Thanks theqelem for giving us an opportunity to share our lovely experience. Skardu along with many other beautiful destinations in Pakistan are worth visiting. Whosoever wants to visit, plz feel free to contact me. I would love to host you at my place. It will a great pleasure for me & my kids to have our tourist guests❤️
Keating says
So glad you had a great time!! I’ve never been to that part of the world…or any part of the world other than the U.S. for that matter haha I’ve love to travel more!
Sadia Habib says
Thanks for going through the article. U are most welcome to visit our beloved country
Tabitha Blue says
Beautiful photos!!! I love travel, exploring, and especially finding waterfalls!
Sadia Habib says
Thanks Tabitha. Do make a plan to explore this side of the world.
Shannan N Panganiban says
This looks like such an awesome time!
Sadia Habib says
Thanks shannan. Indeed it was. There are many other lovely destinations in Pakistan overloaded with natural beauty.
eryn says
What an amazing trip! Thanks for recapping for us! I’ll add it to the places I’d love to adventure to!
Sadia Habib says
Thanks eryn. I’m glad u liked it. Do place this on your bucket list.
Jennifer Maune | Maune Legacy says
Good to know about sitting on the right side of the plane! Love these pictures – it looks beautiful there! – Jennifer | https://maunelegacy.com
Sadia Habib says
Thanks Jennifer. Your trip becomes amazing if u do some homework before going.
Julie says
Wow! Looks like a very beautiful place. I love the huge mountains in the background.
Sadia Habib says
Thanks julie. Indeed this part of Pakistan is loaded with extraordinary natural beauty.
Tami says
Surprisingly, with Skardu being a major tourism hub, I had never heard of it before today. Guess which destination is going on my bucket list now?!?
Seema Khan says
Isn’t it interesting how some of these places are the best kept secrets? Its endearing to know that the article inspired you enough to consider traveling to Skardu. I hope you get the chance some day 🙂
Sadia Habib says
You are right Tami. Hope with the help of theqelem we can explore hidden beauty of this world.
Tiffany says
Wow, it really is beautiful!! I have a friend who travels there with his wife several times a year because that’s where she’s from. I really love the unique restaurant, my kids would love that! I aspire to travel places like this someday! Thank you for sharing!
Seema Khan says
So glad you enjoyed the article. I really hope you get the chance to visit Skardu.
Sadia Habib says
Thanks Tiffany. Your kids are definitely going to love this place especially the hospitality of people of Pakistan.