Marvelous Tourism The district is the best manifestation of hospitality and respect to tourist. People of Skardu can speak English and Urdu but their mother tongue is Balti. Of particular note, Kharpocho Fort, Manthal Rock (Buddha Rock), Sadpara and Kachura Lake, exquisite Shangile Lake and the most famous Deosai plateau. Shigar fort renovated on scientific lines while preserving the cultural and architectural values, presents a through learning of the history and culture on one hand while offers a comfortable stay in traditional room/suites on the other hand with continental and local food varieties.
Skardu is a city in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, and serves as the capital of Skardu District. Skardu is located in the 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide by 40 kilometers (25 miles) long Skardu Valley, at the confluence of the Indus and Shigar Rivers at an elevation of nearly 2,500 meters (8,202 feet). The city is an important gateway to the eight-thousanders of the nearby Karakoram Mountain range. The town is located on the Indus River, which separates the Karakoram Range from the Himalayas.
Places of Attractions
Deosai National Park
Treks to the Deosai Plains, the second highest in the world at 4,114 metres (13,497 ft) above sea level, after the Chang Tang in Tibet, either start from or end at Skardu. In the 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 provides a habitat for snow leopards, Ibex, Tibetan blue bears and wild horses.
Skardu Fort
Skardu Fort was built by Raja Ali Sher at the end of the 16th century, and was home to Skardu’s local Rajas
Skardu Fort or Kharphocho Fort lies on the eastern face of the Khardrong or Mindoq-Khar (“Castle of Queen Mindoq”) hill 15 metres (49 feet) above Skardu town. The fort dates from the 8th century CE and contains an old mosque probably dating back to the arrival of Islam in the 16th century CE. The fort provides a panoramic view of Skardu town, the Skardu valley and the Indus River. It was built by Maqpon dynasty rulers of Baltistan. It was a seven-storey building. Mostly local people say that Kharpoocho is made by a ghost as they were servants of the ruler of that time.
Kharphocho (Skardu) fort was built on a design similar to that of Leh Palace and the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The name Kharpochhe means the great fort — Khar in Tibetan means castle or fort and Chhe means great.
Shigar Fort
The Shigar Fort is a 400 year old fort in the nearby town of Shigar. Located on the route to the world’s second highest mountain, K-2 is Shigar Fort. It is also known as Fong-Khar, which in the local language means the “Palace on the Rock”. The complex at Shigar comprises the 400-year-old fort/palace and two more recent buildings: the “Old House” and the “Garden House”. The former palace of the Raja of Shigar has been transformed into a 20-room heritage guesthouse, with the grand audience hall serving as a museum of Balti culture and featuring select examples of fine wood-carvings, as well as other heritage objects.
Kachura Lakes
There are two Kachura lakes — the less well-known (Upper) Kachura Lake and the more famous Shangrila Lake (“Lower Kachura Lake”). Shangrila Lake is home to the Shangrila Resort hotel complex (possibly the reason for the lake’s alternative name), built in a Chinese style and another popular destination for tourists in Azad Kashmir. The resort has a unique restaurant, set up inside the fuselage of an aircraft that crashed nearby. Kachura Lake is famous for its deep blue waters.
Satpara Lake
Satpara Lake is Skardu Valley’s main lake. In 2002, the Federal Government decided to build a dam on the Satpara Lake allocating $10 million to the project, in 2004. Progress has, however, been slow. Satpara Lake is 6 miles (9.7 km) from Skardu. Satpara Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the countryside offering trout fishing and row boating. This lake is the source of Skardu’s drinking water. The dam was mostly completed in 2011 and four powerhouse units are operational; the latest started operation in June 2013.
Manthokha Waterfall
Accessible from Skardu by road, the nearby Manthokha Waterfall is very beautiful place approx 70 kilometre from skardu in kharmong or kargil valley.[
Katpana Desert
Accessible from Skardu by road, the nearby Manthokha Waterfall is very beautiful place approx 70 kilometre from skardu in kharmong or kargil valley.[
Manthal Buddha Rock
Ancient rock with a carving of Bhudda. Religious rock art dating back to the 9th century, depicting Buddha in meditation & other figures.
