Skardu Valley

401

Tourists visiting Skardu should definitely read this:

Skardu is the name of a city in Gilgit-Baltistan, but in the local tourism industry, Skardu refers to the four districts of Baltistan and the district of Astore. Tourists visiting Gilgit-Baltistan either head towards Gilgit or Skardu.

For this reason, the tourism of Gilgit-Baltistan is divided into two parts:

1. Skardu Tour
2. Gilgit Tour

The Gilgit Tour starts from Jaglot and ends at Khunjerab Top, while the Skardu Tour starts from Jaglot and goes towards K2 on one side, Siachen on another side, and Deosai on the third side, ending at Mini-Merg.

If you are traveling to Skardu by plane, vehicles of all kinds are available from Skardu city to all tourist destinations. By road, the journey to Skardu begins after the Babusar Pass and the Karakoram Highway, starting from Jaglot. A new road has been constructed from Jaglot to Skardu, and the name has been changed from Jaglot-Skardu Road to Shahrah Baltistan. After Haramosh Shingos, you can take a road from Dambodass Bazaar in Rondu to Tormik and Blamak. From Dambodass, local vehicles can be taken for Bishu Meadu. After Bishu, continue past Shaheed Bridge, and after a 10-minute drive, at the JSR Chowk, take a right to reach Kachura Valley, a 40-minute drive from Skardu city.

From here, you can also take routes from Skardu to Astore, Ganche (Khaplu Valley), Khurmang, and Shigar.

The Skardu tour includes the following tourist destinations:

1: District Skardu
The district of Skardu starts from the Rondu Valley and ends at the Sarmaik area.

Skardu city is the largest city in Gilgit-Baltistan, and people from every district of Gilgit-Baltistan have settled here for employment purposes. People from various sects including Shia, Nurbakhshi, Sunni, Ismaili, and Ahl-e-Hadith live peacefully together in this city. Skardu is also the commercial hub of the entire region. Skardu is home to the only international airport in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan International Airlines operates daily flights from Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Since last year, flights have also started operating from Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Multan.

Tourist destinations in District Skardu:

• Deosai National Park

• Khaplu Fort (Historical Fort)

• Shangrila Resort

• Zhoq Valley, Stakchin Valley, Shgrathang Valley
• Kachura Lake (Upper Lake), Ghulcho Chashma, Pardan Kachura
• Skam Zho (Green Lake), Lower Kachura
• Satpara Dam
• Chandah Valley
• Stak Valley, Rondu
• Blamak, Rondu; Tormik, Rondu
• Basho Valley, Sultanabad, Basho Valley
• Nang Zhohuc Organic Village
• Katpana Lake & Cold Desert
• Bhadda Rock, Minthaal Satpara
• Mesur Rock, Hussainabad
• Dinosaur Rock, Chandah
• Surfa Ranga Cold Desert

• 2: District Ganche (Khaplu Valley)

• District Ganche starts from Krish and ends at the Siachen Glacier. The district is also referred to as the Khaplu Valley. District Ganche is famous worldwide due to its high mountains and glaciers. The highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen Glacier, is located in this district. Additionally, some of the highest peaks of the Karakoram range, such as K2, Geshbrum, Broad Peak, and Masherbrum, are in this area. Climbers returning from these peaks often use the route through the Hushe Valley in this district. This district is unparalleled in its beauty.
• Some of the historical and tourist spots in this district are:
• Khaplu Fort
• Chakchan Mosque (700-year-old mosque)
• Thoqsi Khar
• Haldi Kons Viewpoint
• Hushe Valley, K6, K7, Masherbrum – Valleys with some of the highest peaks of the Karakoram
• Slang Resort
• Happy Tulip Village (Flower Agritourism Village)
• Angoor Valley, Koro Village
• Cherry Valley, Ghuari, Khashel Agritourism Park, Ghuari
• Hanjur Badroq
• Kundus Valley, Garm Chashma
• Giyari Siachen, Saltoro Valley
• Thalle Valley, Thalle La
• Nangma Valley, Kande
• Khrafak Lake
• Chhort Border Village, Frano
• Khanqah Malla, Khaplu (Asia’s largest Khanqah)
• K2 Viewpoint, Machlu Broq
• Ghorsay Village – Famous for the beautiful village of international YouTubers Shiraz and Muskan
• 3: District Shigar
• Shigar is a fertile valley famous for its historical sites and towering mountains. The second highest peak in the world, K2, is located in this district, and five of the world’s 8000-meter-high peaks are also found in this region. This district is located 30 kilometers away from Skardu city.
• Tourist destinations in Shigar:
• Shigar Fort
• Blind Lake
• The world’s highest and coldest desert, Surfa Ranga Cold Desert
• K2 Mountain (K2)

• Hshopi Bagh
• Khanqah Malla (600-year-old mosque)
• Arandu Valley
• Concordia
• Gulab Pur Ranga
• Zhoqgo Waterfall
• Garm Chashma, Chhotordon, and Baisal
• Khobastan Agritourism Village, Shigar
• The highest peaks of Central Karakoram: Geshbrum, Broad Peak, Trango Tower, etc.
• 4: District Khurmang
• A land of waterfalls and clear, pristine streams.
• Tourist destinations:
• Minthokha Waterfall

• Khamosh Waterfall
• Sheila Valley
• Ghandus Lake (Two lakes, one upper and one lower)
• Kargil Border
• Suspulo Apple Agritourism Village
• The Galtari Valley, which is located in Khurmang, is about seven to eight hours away from Skardu. After Deosai Top, a road goes to the left side and continues towards the valley.
• Bada Das
• Franshat
• Benyal
• Thanot
• Shkhma
• Barbat
• Hussaini Top
• Shingu, Shigar, Mitial, Theli, Karabush
• Dumbo Bhaw
• 5: Astore
• District Astore is administratively located in the Diamer Division, but access to Astore is through Skardu. Particularly for tourists who arrive by air to Skardu, access to Astore is via the Deosai National Park. Tourists coming from Astore can reach Deosai via the Chilum route. The tourist destinations in the Astore Valley are as follows:
• Rupal Face, Nanga Parbat
• Rama Meadows
• Preshing
• Chilum, Brzal Top, Mini Merg
• Dumail Lake

• Rato
• Shounter
• Darle Lake
• Haramosh and Shingos Valleys
• Beyond Alam Burj, heading towards Skardu, a beautiful valley appears at a short distance from Mappon Das.
• Tourist destinations:
• Katwal Valley
  In addition to this, there are numerous other tourist spots that are not accessible to the general public. For shopping, the famous areas include Benazir Chowk to Alamdar Chowk, Sher Ali Chowk to Agha Hadi Chowk, and College Road to Jamia Masjid Road. For handicrafts and dry fruits, the popular markets are Yadgar Chowk to MP Chowk, Bhutto Bazaar, etc. Hotels and guesthouses range from one thousand to twenty thousand rupees, while other tourists can manage their accommodation based on their budget. Restaurants and eateries are also available in these markets.
• Other Important Agricultural and Regional Festivals/Seasons:
• Apricot Blossom Season
  In March and April, the entire Gilgit-Baltistan region transforms into a beautiful valley filled with apricot and cherry blossoms, creating a vibrant atmosphere of color and fragrance. Tourists from Japan and other countries visit to witness this season. In the villages of Bara, Sarmo, and Dogni in District Ganche, the apricot blossoms offer a unique beauty throughout GB in April. This year, the district administration is celebrating it as the Apricot Blossom Festival. During the same period, the Tulip Festival is also held in the village of Happy in Khaplu, most likely on April 15.
• Apricot Festival in Shigar
  Every year in August, a two-day agricultural festival is held at Hshopi Bagh in Shigar.
• National Cherry Festival in Ghuari
  In the village of Ghuari in District Ganche, where the famous photography point features long lines of popular plants on both sides of the road, the festival is held annually at the Khashel Agritourism Park.
• Suspulo Festival
  Suspulo, a famous variety of apple grown in District Khurmang, begins its production in Pari village. This festival is held annually in October in the same village.
• National Bardo Festival in Bulgar
  In the villages of Bulgar and Theli Valley in District Ganche, a special crop called Bardo is grown. This festival is held every year in September. It is a vibrant cultural event that provides tourists with a unique and enriching experience.
• Autumn Season

• The autumn over the apricot trees is a distinct feature of Gilgit-Baltistan. During this season, the region’s tourism is filled with mesmerizing landscapes and breathtaking views