Story from Dawn Newspaper by Jamal Shahid

They say there is a force in nature with a plan for everyone. For the famous mountaineer, Leila Esfandyari, the plan was glory.

She was the first Iranian woman to scale the Nanga Parbat in the Himalaya – one of the tallest and deadliest mountains in the world. Madly in love with the mountains, last year Leila lost her job as microbiologist in a hospital to climb the savage mountain, K-2, that has killed one out of four climbers who have attempted to reach the summit.

Not content, the 41-year old returned to Pakistan two months ago to ascend Gasherbrum II in the Karakorum Range – “ the 13th highest peak in the world at 8, 035 metres.

Sitting in the Alpine Club office in the Sports Complex during a debriefing, one of her expedition members, who was only 20 minutes away from the summit of Gasherbrum II, described how he greeted Leila Esfandyari who was climbing back down after conquering the mountain. A little farther down, he also saw her slip.

On July 22, the force in nature had also planned to end her life.

“There have been two confirmed deaths this year and one of them is Leila Esfandyari. She lost her life after she touched the sky,” said Saad Tariq Siddiqui, briefing officer of the Alpine Club. He added that the other mountaineer losing his life was a Chinese from Taiwan who died on Broad Peak, 8, 047 metres.

A third death of a Japanese climber was not yet confirmed who was attempting to climb the Ultar Mountain in Hunza Valley. According to the Alpine Club, a porter had also been killed during ascent on one of the mountains.

As many as 37 teams of mountaineers have come to Pakistan this year. Many have returned home successful after taking on Gasherbrum I and II and more than 7,027 metres Spantik Peak. Another 14 teams are waiting for clearance to enter Pakistan to climb.

But world renowned Spanish mountaineer Alberto Zerain and his teammate Txingu Arrieta were not so lucky this year as they tried to scale the Nanga Parbat, known to climbers as the “Man Eater” or the “Killer Mountain”.

At 8,125 metres, the 9th highest in the world, nothing came close to the Nanga Parbat in terms of the intimidating factor. Alberto Zerain and his team member felt that intimidation a little over 6,200 meters (base camp two) and decided to give it up and return.

“Winds were too strong. Snow was too soft for a proper grip. Rocks would often give away. And the weather was at its worst at all times and very, very dangerous,” said the veteran climber, who had conquered K-2 in 2008 after he failed to summit it in 1997.

With plenty of experience on his side, the Spaniard, who spent a whole one month with his six-member team on Nanga Parbat this year, described his attempt as “impossible”.

“Every mountain is a completely different experience. Success depends on the toughness of the mountaineer. On Nanga Parbat all signs pointed to pack up and return,” Alberto Zarien explained as he also debriefed the Alpine Club official. This year, so far, no team has been successful in summiting the K-2 or the Nanga Parbat.

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Mountain climbers photographed by Jimmy Chin, while scaling some of the highest peaks in the world.

Here’s a photographer who will go to great heights in his search for the ultimate picture. Jimmy Chin, probably the world’s greatest adventure photographer, has travelled the world with highly-skilled mountain climbers, scaling huge peaks and even skiing down the face of Mount Everest.

Conrad Anker reaches for his next gear placement, 2,500 feet off the ground on the Pacific Ocean Wall of El Capitain, Yosemite National Park, California.

Jimmy has built up a portfolio that documents his work in some of the most inaccessible and extreme situations imaginable. Jimmy is the go-to man for adventurers and publications such as National Geographic and Outside Magazine.

Yuji Hirayama climbs in Turkey in April 2009

His travels have taken him to the tallest freestanding sandstone towers in the world, the Hand of Fatima in Mali, to the highest sheer cliff face on the globe. “The climbs up the Hand of Fatima which is 2,000 feet and Naga Parbat which is just over 15,000 feet were spectacular,” said Jimmy. “The Hand of Fatima and the Kaga Tondo in Mali, is a personal favourite of mine. That shot sums up the bravery and tremendous ability of these climbers, who allowed me to join them and to experience the same dangers that they face”.

Cedar Wright and Kevin Thaw climb the south buttress of Kaga Tondo on the Hand of Fatima in Mali on December 20, 2002.

To work with Steph Davis as she became the first woman to free climb El Capitan’s Salathe Wall in Yosemite National  Park, was an honour and a privilege. “I am always concerned with finding the right spot and the right shot, so sometimes I forget to appreciate the skill of my fellow adventurers, but I am aware of how my life has been changed by my ability with a camera”.

Steph Davis free climbs the Salathe Wall of El Capitain in Yosemite National Park, California, on November 4, 2005. Steph is the first and only woman to free climb the Salathe.

Steph Davis leading the crux "Boulder Pitch" on the Salathe Headwall in Yosemite National Park on November 4, 2005.

Of all his adventures though, his ascents of Everest stand out as his most physically demanding and rewarding. “You do wonder – when you are at 28,000 feet, the height that aeroplanes cruise at, when you are struggling to draw breath and every limb aches – why do I do this?”

Kit and Rob DesLauriers with Dave Hahn on the South Summit of Mount Everest on October 4, 2006.

“But of course once you reach the summit and realise that there is nowhere you could stand taller on Earth, that’s why I do it. On my 2006 expedition to Everest me, Kit and Rob DesLauries decided to speed up our descent of the mountain by skiing down its south east ridge. To say that was fun and frivolous is a bit of an understatement”.

Kit DesLauriers hiking through the Khumbu Icefall of Mount Everest on September 18, 2006.

Pushing himself hard in training between jaunts, Jimmy’s life is a constant whirl of planning, travel and photography. “I lose anywhere up to 20 pounds on location with adventurers like Conrad Anker or Brady Robinson,” said Jimmy. “So I need to replace that lost weight and muscle by training hard when I am back in the States between jobs. And as I get older it is far more important for me to be doing this and taking my conditioning seriously”.

Jimmy Chin climbing the Pacific Ocean Wall in Yosemite Park, California.

Jimmy Chin on Mount Kinabalu, a World Heritage Site in Borneo, on April 25, 2009.

Granite towers reflected in a pool on the Karakoram Mountains in Charakusa Valley, Pakistan. This image was taken on August 10, 1999 during Jimmy's first major climbing expedition.

Dean Potter, one of the greatest high line walkers in the world, walks on a one-inch thick piece of webbing over a 500 foot deep chasm at Canyonlands National Park in Indian Creek, Utah, in January 2007.

Kasha Rigby, Giulia Monego and Ingrid Backstrom approach Redommaine peak before their first ski descent in October 2009 during the Shangri La Expedition, in the Himalayas

Kasha Rigby climbing Redommaine peak before the first ski descent in October 2009, during the Shangri La Expedition in the Himalayas

Conrad Anker traverses an alpine ridge deep in the Waddington Range on Mount Combatant, Coastal Range in British Columbia, Canada

Renan Ozturk on Mount Meru in Garwahl Himalaya, India, on September 14, 2009

Jimmy Chin climbs Mount Meru in Garwahl Himalaya, India

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Mr. Hassan Sadpara become the second Pakistani to summit world’s tallest Mountain, Mount everest 8848m, on Monday 12 may 2011 630am PST. He along with other four team members had left for the base camp on 3rd of April.

Note: His above image was taken on top of Gasherbrum in 2006.

Mr Hassan was born in small village of Sadpara, near beautiful Sadpara lake, about 7 kilometers from Skardu in Baltistan.

Mr. Hassan previously summit all five 8000m peaks in Pakistan and all without supplementary Oxygen!

• K2, 8611 m in 1994
• Nanga Parbat (8126 m in 1999
• Gasherbrum I (G-1) (8080m) in 2006
• Broad Peak (8051m) in 2007
• Gasherbrum II (G-2) (8034m), in 2006

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As everybody know that Kashmir is also called a paradise on earth. Because of its natural beauty, high mountains, greenery and many other things this is really a a natural gift of God for Pakistan. If you ever visit this beautiful paradise, must visit Leh Ladakh once. This beautiful place is located between two world’s main mountain ranges Himalaya and Karakoram, this place is one of the most stunning hill stations, with those attractive landscapes, green valleys, beautiful lakes and those soothing snowy summits. This is a place where everyone forget all of your worries and tensions.

I am sure that Leh Ladakh would be one the most beautiful experience of your life. Trek to Himalaya and the karakorak mountain ranges make your trip more adventurous and exciting.

Popular Treks In Ladakh

The wonderful treks of Ladakh are the ideal mixture of adventure and natural beauty, and present a pleasant experience. Some major treks are:

• Indus Valley
• Zanskar
• Markha Valley
• Nubra valley
• Padum Lamayuru
• Rupshu valley
• Stok Kangri
• Suru Valley
• Pangong Lake Circuit
• Tso Moriri Lake

These places are best in July to September for an exciting and thrilling trip.  There are numerous base camps which offer facilities for trekkers on their way. You can also say that Ladakh is simply a glory in summers. The temperature begins to fall around the second half of August, and it starts getting distinctly cold from the mid of September. In winters, the high mountain passes are closed due to snow and the whole area becomes one of the most hostile places on earth with temperatures reaching minus 20 degree Celsius.

In addition, there are so many Buddhist Monasteries, which fills up the essence of peace and harmony in your life. Once you visit Leh Ladakh you would come across many other stunning historical monuments making your trip more attractive and informative.

There are many Ladakh tour packages available for visitors. Visitors can select package according to their needs and requirements. Using these packages you don’t need to worry about your lodging and travel guide. Ladakh travel guides make it easy for you according to your needs.

Leh Ladakh has a range of hotels, which will make your experience an unforgettable one, and to be esteemed for the whole lifetime. Their good and excellent help you enjoy and get the pleasures of staying in a surrounding which is free from errors. The hotel presents excellent lodging that are fully furnished and well set. The hotels are generally near to the main market, airlines booking offices, post office and other requisite areas.

So if you are planning to spend your holiday’s tour or vacation in the adventurous hill station of Leh Ladakh, you actually don’t have to to bear those mind bothering hassles for finding an ideal tour package or the hotel, as Ladakh travel guides will do it for you. These travel guides will help you in making your dream come true in Leh Ladakh.

Ladakh is a dream land, which has the hustle and bustle with thick grove of popular trees. Ladakh consists of two districts Leh and Kargil. Its quiet and calm settings justify its name, which in Buddhist mythology mean “Heaven on Earth” which has been a cause for high selling for Leh Ladakh Tour packages.

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In the vacation world, the all-complete package still controls, as its fame attracts vacationers world-wide to reserve their trip and leave their case at home. Seeing the huge number of people who react to these pre-arranged vacation packages, more resorts are jumping on panel; offering techniques in which to bundle their services and facilities for a suitable vacation deal. For those for whom a vacation is nothing without hitting the slopes, a ski vacation package may be the most suitable and reasonable option for an escape.

A ski vacation deal, as opposed to a usual ski journey, bundles services and facilities and provides them for one simple price paid in advance. Depending on the resort, you can find a ski vacation package that comprises everything from travel, lodgings, and ski passes to meals, equipment leasing, and staff gratuities. What you get out of a ski vacation package depends exclusively on how you select to modify your getaway and therefore which targets and options you select to explore.

To locate a ski vacation package, you have numerous choices. First and primary, travel agents are still the major source for finding unpublished packages across the board. Work with a travel agent that is informed about ski resorts to find out about a ski vacation package that may work for you.

The Internet has become host to a crowd of travel websites all devoted to bringing you the best vacation packages on the market. Take the time to discover between them and be sure to pledge to some trustworthy travel sites that will alert you to price particulars all through the year.

Finally, many ski resorts will present a discounted ski vacation package for groups. If you plan to travel with family or friends, you may want to look into the option of a ski vacation package that will present larger lodgings for all of you, a meal plan, and a large group of ski passes.

A ski vacation package, while it needs some investigates and tolerance can be well worth the work. The result may be a magnificent getaway at one expedient and reasonable price.

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Ski vacations at Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah, as Solitude means to reconnect with our self and those who are around us. A Roman Stoic philosopher said “…everything is full of peace, full of calm: every way, every city, every meeting, neighbor, companion is now harmless”. If someone is looking for the last mountain experience on a Utah ski vacation, Solitude Mountain Resort is the best place. This mountain has everything they could want or need for their children, parents, and grandparents. It takes a particular type of person to go to Solitude, or even want to reside there after arriving. The entire area reverberates with the sound heartbeat of the snow on the mountains, signing for your access.

With more than 500 inches of snowfall per year and a low-key landscape that is skier-friendly, all stages of skiers and guests are welcome for a ski vacation that is totally amiable, unforgettable, and perfect trails in the quietness of the huge mountain, with fresh snow and uncrowned runs for the sprint of a generation.

Solitude initially became a skier’s paradise in 1957, urbanized by Robert Barrett, who made his destiny as a Moab uranium miner. He mainly started mounting the resort because he was deprived of restroom privileges at the ski area in Alta – simply because he was not a visitor. It took him eight years to master plan a adjacent ski resort, Solitude, and its new village created in the way of a sensitive, close, and European Alpine village.

As the only progress allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon of Solitude, the village is exclusive with old-fashioned shops, beautiful dining, and relaxed lodging with first class service and facilities. Today, the area is covered with skiers, but fewer in number than the historical miners. Now owned by a different family, the resort consists of 1,200 acres of 63 trails for beginners, intermediate skiers, and specialists. There are eight lifts, including seven chair lifts and one surface lift. The top height at Solitude Mountain is 10,036 feet, with an upright drop of 2,048 feet.

One of the shops in the village, Sone Haus – the Village Store, located in the heart of the village, features a pasture roof while allocating a quick lunch, special coffee, or an ice cream treat. Added newly has been an epicure deli which features traditional meats, cheeses, breads, and every day fresh made soups. The highly praised executive chef, Lane Pellinger, has recently added fresh heat-and-serve meals for taking back to rooms on Solitude Ski Resort.

The most important thing is to remember to have an excellent time and relax. Skiing is one of the best enjoyable ways to use your tough earned vacation time.

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When you consider of all the ski resorts you could retreat at in Colorado, one of them be prominent in most skier’s minds is Aspen Ski Resort. Aspen offers a range of ski areas for all stages, from beginners to the great skier. Aspen Colorado ski resorts are some of the most well-known in the country, mostly the Ajax Mountain resort. This resort is most popular by having the greatest ski lift in the world, at the time.

The slopes at Ajax Mountain wouldn’t be a very good place for beginners to test their ski skills, as it contains many vertical slopes. However, intermediate to expert skiers would get these slopes a stimulating challenge and wonderful adventure. Ajax Mountain is a ski enthusiast’s favorite among all of the Aspen resorts.

Beginners may be found the slopes of nearby resorts to be more suitable. The Aspen Highlands is incredible for those who prefer less of a physical challenge and a more soothing atmosphere. If you’re a lover of snowboarding or merely want to try it out, Buttermilk Mountain is an enormous area to start out at. Aspen Highlands consist of 420 acres, so there’s plenty of scope for everybody without the fret of congested slopes.

Twelve miles away from the town of Aspen, there is a huge area of Snowmass which at over 4500 feet in elevation, it definitely provides a world of pleasure for skiers of all categories. It has no below 84 runs some of which can take as long to ski down as it takes to go the town. If you prefer to take your skiing holiday here, it might be a better idea to find lodging in the instant area.

With a large range of different types of slopes, there is something to put up everyone at Aspen ski resorts. Whether you are just starting out, you are more into snowboarding, or you are an intermediate to specialist skier, then you can be completely sure that you will find something to ensemble you.

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Mount Roraima (also known as Roraima Tepui or Cerro Roraima in Spanish, and Monte Roraima in Portuguese), is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateau in South America.First described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1596, its 31 km² summit area is defended by 400m (1,300 ft) tall cliffs on all sides. The mountain includes the triple border point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

Mount Roraima lies on the Guiana Shield in the southeastern corner of Venezuela’s 30,000 km² Canaima National Park forming the highest peak of Guyana’s Highland Range. The tabletop mountains of the park are considered some of the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to some two billion years ago in the Precambrian Era.

The highest point in Guyana and the highest point of the Brazilian state of Roraima both lie on the plateau, but Venezuela and Brazil have higher mountains. The triple border point is at 5°12’08N, 60°44’07W, but the mountain’s highest point is Maverick Rock, 2,810 m, at the south end of the plateau and wholly within Venezuela.

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Those mountains lover who have a their small camping spot of Urdukas may have seen the Trango Tower massif across the mighty Baltoro Glacier on the way to the elevated giants of K-2, the Gasherbrums, or Broad Peak. The east face of Great Trango Tower and Nameless Tower are among the major upright faces of the world. It are wasn’t opened until 1975 climbing after being closed for several years and in 1976 Nameless Tower was climbed for the first time by a strong British team on their second try. In 1977 the peak of Great Trango Tower’s was first climbed by Galen Rowell, John Roskelly, Kim Schmitz, and Dennis Hennek by the easiest route ups the western side. Great Trango is somewhat a large mountain with three main peaks, all over 6000 meters. In 1984, the 5000 foot Norwegian Buttress was the first route established on the massive East Face, which led to the first ascent of the East Summit (6231 meters).

Climbs:

Nameless has 8 ways to its top all on its Southeast and Southwest faces. Great Trango Towers has 2 big-wall ways up its East/Northeast Face. Some alpine ways go up the Northwest and West sides of Great Trango. Nameless Tower is more featured than Great Trango with more cracks and possible lines. Routes on Nameless are approached from either the Trango or Dungee Glaciers, while Great Trango’s wall routes are appoached from the Dungee Glacier. Great Trango’s approach is more serious and dangerous than the Nameless approaches.

In 1999 for the first time the West peak of Great Trango and the Trango Pulpit both were climbed. The West peak was climbed by two separate teams, one American and one Russian, almost all together, by equivalent routes. The American team of Alex Lowe, Jared Ogden, and Mark Synnott climbed a long, bold, highly technical line which they called “Parallel Worlds.” They reported complexities up to 5.11 and A4. The Russian team of Potan’kin Igor, Alexandr Odintsov, Ivan Samoilenko and Yuri Koshelenko climbed a uniformly proud route (Eclissi) and meet similar technical challenges. Both climbs were chosen for the impressive Piolet D’or award in 1999. The Pulpit was climbed by a Norwegian team.

Climate:

Normally the weather was suitable for our recent 1992 expedition in June and July. It never got extremely windy and the storms were normally mild, though at times they got fierce. Later in the season is also measured suitable (August, September), but the frequency of floods increases later in the season making some of the approaches too risky. This area of the Himalaya sees very little monsoon action.

Permit For Climbing:

A permit for climbing in Pakistan is needed from the Pakistan Ministry of Tourism. There should be 4 persons for the pemit, who all must be registered at time of applying for the permit, though these names can be changed later. Changes to the permit must be finalized 4 months earlier to arrival in Pakistan. The application wants to comprise such particulars like exact dates of arrival and departure, members including specified leader, set aside members, general size, particulars of travel to and from the peak, information on the peak desired, and details of the leader and expedition members. A visa is also required. Obtain the visa after permit application is approved.

Trango Tower is the most adventurous and also the most dangerous spot to climb. This mountain is the challenge for all those mountain lovers who love to do different dangerous and thrilling adventure.

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Popularity: 30% [?]

Skardu Valley

Skardu is the major city of Baltistan along the broad bank of the river Indus. In northern areas Skardu is the largest district. Baltistan is abode to some of the uppermost summits in the world, the Karakoram Range; Skardu is very well-liked with Mountaineering Journeys. It is evenly famous with elevated altitude trekkers, who trek to Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp and Concordia.  Skardu by road lies about 5 hours away from Gilgit and 10 hours drive from Besham.  A daily flight to and from Islamabad is also in process. Skardu has a nature of its own and has very attractive scenery. The Indus becomes broad and still here. The town is bordered by dry Rocky Mountains and sand banks. Here are the some famous and most interesting places of Skardu.

A view of Skardu and River Idus Valley from K2 Motel

Kharphocho Fort, Skardu:

There is most famous and a very ancient Fort of Skardu which is known as Kharphocho Fort (King of Forts). This fort is situated on a hill overlooking the town. This fort was constructed by Ali Sher Khan Anchan, who ruled over Baltistan till the end of the 16th century. This powerful Indus is flowing along just a few yards under your feet. This river is surrounded by the silvery white sands and really this is a breathtaking view.

Satpara Lake

Satpara Lake, Skardu:

About 8 km (5miles) north of Skardu and 20 minutes by jeep lays Sadpara Lake, bordered by icy mountains, which are mirrored in its crystal clear waters. There is a fairytale island in the middle of this lake. You can reach there through country boats. This lake also proliferates in fish and is also well known for fishing.

Shigar Valley:

The entrance to the huge mountain summits of the Karakorams, Gasherbrum & K-2, is only 23 km away from Skardu via jeep road. Shigar valley’s calm, irrigated slopes are filled with terraces of wheat, maize and barley. Its orchards of apricots, mulberries, peaches, plums, pears, apples and nuts are identity of Baltistan. There is a beautiful wooden mosque in the middle of the town. This mosque was built by Kashmiri carpenters about some hundred years ago.

Shigar Fort, some memorable moments

Shigar Fort:

This is also a very famous fort of Skardu. This fort is located on the famous path to the world’s second highest mountain K-2, and known as Fong-Khar, which in the home language means the “Palace on the Rock”. This fort was restored by Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP-P) an institution of the Aga Khan Development Network.  Shigar Fort Residence is a exclusive tradition guesthouse that presents guests the chance to practice the restored original architecture of the 17th Century Raja Fort Palace, while enjoying the current facilities and services of a comfort guest house.

The complex at Shigar includes the 400-year-old Fort/Palace and two more new buildings, the “Old House” and the “Garden House”. The previous Palace of the Raja of Shigar has been altered into a 20 room tradition guesthouse, with the grand audience hall serving as a museum of Balti culture and featuring select illustrations of fine wood-carving, as well as other legacy objects.

The world famous Shangrila. A treat to visit.

Shangrila Lake, Skardu:

About 32 km (20 miles) from Skardu and 2 hours by jeep lays the sparkling quiet deep Shangrila Lake also called Kachura Lake, teeming with brown trout. During spring many foreign and colorful flowers decorate its banks, while peach, apricot and apple trees are loaded with flowers in April. Later in the summer one can taste the apples, which are a particularly yummy collection. There you can also visit and stay at Shangrila resort. Which is complete luxurious and comfortable for your journey.

Khaplu Valley:

This is a stunning valley of the Shyok River and it is 103 km east of Skardu. Khaplu is the initial point for most trekking and climbing journeys. Many prominent mountains such as Masherbrum, Saltoro, Sia Kangri, K-6, K-7 are situated here. Chaqchan Mosque is one of the initial mosques in Baltistan (1504 AD), credited to Syed Ali Hamdani. There is also a Palace of Raja of Khaplu and remains of Thors

Narsok village:

This is the village where you will find a large pure spring flowing from the bottom of the monolith.

Buddha Rock Carvings, Skardu:

At this place an enormous Buddha stature bounded by small Buddhisatvas is carved on a rock, three kilometers from Skardu crossways Sadpara Nullah on Skardu-Sadpara Road. Ancient 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 Famous - Choota Pani bridge

Deosai:

The Deosai Plains are 32 km south of Skardu. This raised ground is the environment of the greatly threatened Himalayan Brown Bear and many other wild animals. At an average height of 3500 metres, Deosai is now a National Park and sheltered area for different animals.

The rolling plain here holds no trees or bushes and the area is covered by for seven months in a year. Spring approaches to Deosai in August when millions of wild flowers start to blossom all over the flourishing green grassland. This is a time when Deosai seems like a heaven with scenery full of wild flowers on green rolling mounts and crystal clear water flows with snow covered summits in the background. The Deosai Plains are also home to the Himalayan Ibex, Red Fox, Golden Marmot, Wolf, the Ladakh Urial, the Snow Leopard, and over 124 local and traveling birds. Birds in the park comprise the Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, Griffon Vulture, Laggar Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Indian Sparrowhawk and Snowcock.

An adventurous jeep trip will take you right across the striking mountain ranges of the Himalayas and the Karakorams Travelling on KKH; you will take pleasure in the most stunning scenery on earth. Before reaching Deosai, you will also observe the delightful visions of Nanaga Parbat (8126 m), the ninth highest peak of the world. At Deosai, you initial stop will be at Sheosar Lake. This place presents stunning visions of south fact of Nanga Parbat and a panoramic sight of Deosai Plains. At Bara Pani, you can spend one day and visit the center of the National Park for Bear watching or you may get pleasure from fishing in the cold waters or Barwai Stream. From Deosai, you can trek back via Skardu and Gilgit to have the most exciting drive along the Indus River.

Fertile banks of the Indus River at Skardu

Traveling to Skardu:

Travel By air:

Pakistan International Airlines flies every day from Islamabad. However, since the pilots fly on no computer navigation, the flight only goes on clear days. During the flight it’s probable to catch a glimpse of Nanga Parbat (the 9th highest mountain in the world) and K2 (the 2nd highest mountain in the world. The air trip is full of adventures and could itself be viewed as the highlight of the visit. After following the similar air route, which joins Gilgit to Islamabad/Rawalpindi, the plane turns right and flies over the gap of the Indus River.

Travel By road:

You can also travel through the road which is quite inexpensive rather than travel by air. Skardu can be reached by bus from Islamabad. The drive brings you all the way over the Karakoram Highway.

The Karakoram Highway is not fully constructed and the Skardu road still has to be repaired. By road you can reach there within 36 hours through public transport. You can also reach there from Gilgit. Though it’s less than 200km the journey will take you close to 8 hours (by public transportation.

Things To Do in Skardu:

There are lots of things available for visitors and tourist. Here are some attractions which is well liked and popular for many visitors

Snow-covered peaks of the Karokoram Mountains, Skardu Valley

Mountaineering, Trekking and Hiking:

This area is perfect for mountaineering, trekking and hiking. You can not do mountaineering and trekking without the permission of tourism department. Authorization for mountaineering and trekking for limited zone is permitted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan, Pakistan Sports Complex, Kashmir Highway, Aabpara, and Islamabad.

Fishing:

You can also do fishing near the bank of Satpara and Kachura Lake. Fishing permits are issued by the Fisheries Department at Gilgit and Skardu.

Flora & Fauna:

There is large variety of Roses, lilies, pansies, willow, pine and fir trees in Skardu. Apples, apricots, peaches, plums mulberry, walnuts and grapes are available from June to October and almonds from October to March.

Skardu Wildlife:

Baltistan boasts of wildlife like Markhors, ibexes, snow leopards and birds, namely Chakors, partridges and ducks. Many animals and birds are confined but limited shooting is permissible. Hunting permits are issued by the home administration.

Walking Tours:

A leisurely walk around the eastern end of the Skardu rock will take you to the nearby village of ‘Narsok’, where you will locate a large pure spring flowing from the base of the monolith. To arrive at Narsok, walk to the extreme end of the Skardu Polo field and lift up a trail that evades the rock slopes beneath Zowar Singh’s fortress. On the west bank of the Satpura Nala is a tall rock with a perpendicular, beige-colored northern face. Carved here circa A.D 900 is an attractive image of a meditating Maitreya Buddha bordered by Bodhisattvas.

Shangrila resort

List For Lodging:

• Karakoram Inn
• Concordia – II
• Hunza Inn
• Baltistan Tourist Cottage
• Baltoro Rest House
• Northern Areas PWD Rest House
• Yak N Yurt Sarai
• Skardu Inn
• Indus Hotel
• Hotel & Restaurant Dewan-E-Khas
• Shangrila resort
• Shigar Fort Residence
• K2 Motel

Skardu is really a beautiful and a very interesting place to visit. This is also a base spot for many mountaineers. People of Skardu are so simple and traditional. They respect every tourist also guide them about their culture and traditions. This place is just like a heaven. I really believe that just a one time in our life we should come and visit this beautiful and stunning city. This Skardu city is a great attraction for mountain climbing and also for an adventurous journey.

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Popularity: 39% [?]