LET'S GO TO SKARDU (Skardu diaries: Part II)

_{Aerial view of heart-shaped Shangrila Lake. Look at it's beautiful aqua-marine ferozi color
photo is my property}

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I had to, believe me, I had to! This cover picture could have been the showstopper of the series, but I wanted to lure you in with this one. This heart shaped lake in Skardu, known as the famous Shangrila Lake with its red huts, also known as Lower Kachora Lake, is the hallmark of Skardu.

_{A little recap before starting today's travelogue:}

• _{Skardu is the largest district and city of Gilgit-Baltistan.}
• _{Known as the "land of mountains," Skardu is ideal for trekking and hiking.}
• _{Many hiking treks originate from Skardu.}
• _{Skardu boasts four of the world's fourteen peaks, standing over eight thousand meters tall above sea level.}
• _{The region features lush green plains, snow-capped mountains, freshwater springs, and historical sites.}

In my previous post, I detailed our main place of stay in Skardu and highlighted the main visitor attractions. I won't necessarily follow the same enumeration order. Instead, I will group together two to three, or maybe four places at a time. The sequence will be based on proximity or the continuity of roads leading from one destination to another. Occasionally, we managed to visit two places in a day, mainly because we traveled mostly on weekends, given that husbands were busy throughout the week.

Shangrila Lake/ Lower Kachora Lake:

The first stop today is the famous Shangrila Lake. We had only seen this piece of heaven on calendar covers or heard about it from very few people in our family who had the honor of visiting this beauty in person. Did I mention before that we traveled all through Skardu on jeeps driven by local drivers? This meant the husbands and males were relieved of navigation and driving duties. Upon reaching our destination, situated just a brief 40-minute drive away from our guest room in Skardu, I was dumbfounded for a good five minutes as I laid my eyes on this place for the first time! Yes, I just couldn't utter a word. I stood there, totally mesmerized, taking in everything that surrounded me.

Now, let me show you a close-up. What a beautiful day it was! A light drizzle was followed by a stunning rainbow. It felt like Shangrila welcomed us with open arms. It seemed to say, "this is the reward for your patience. Behold me in all my splendor."I savored every moment, every scene, every flower, and tried to absorb and capture everything with my lens and my eyes. I'm so thankful to nature for this opportunity.

This lake is bordered by flower-filled gardens and orchards full of fruit. Shangri-La, literally means “heaven on Earth” in Tibetan.

Shangrila Lake and Resorts offers an array of activities for visitors to enjoy, each contributing to a memorable experience.

We explored the tranquil waters of Shangrila Lake by boat, immersing ourselves in the serene surroundings and breathtaking views. Boats of various sizes are available, ensuring a comfortable experience for families and groups.

From stunning landscapes to candid moments, there's no shortage of subjects to capture and cherish!!!

_{In this shot you can see the original Shangrila Huts, from which the name of this lake was subsequently derived.}

_{Shangrila was established in 1983 with the opening of the first resort hotel in Skardu. The Shangrila Resort Hotel was founded by Muhammad Aslam Khan Afridi, a Pakistani military officer who served as the first commander of the Northern Scouts of the Pakistan Army. The resort is known for its restaurant that is built on the fuselage of a nearby crashed aircraft. Shangrila was named after Shangri-La, an idyllic Himalayan paradise described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon by British writer James Hilton. sr}

_{Almost same frame, but shot at different times of the day}

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The beautiful blossoming flowers served as the cherry on the cake

Last but not the least, an evening shot of the lake:

Upper kachora lake:

Upper Kachora Lake is a clear freshwater lake with a depth of 70 meters (about 230 feet). It is located next to Shangrila, a little higher in altitude. Travelling by jeep/4WD for around 15 minutes (from Shangrila Lake) you end up at Kachora village where you have to park your vehicle.

I was told that we would have to take a small track leading down a few stairs to reach this lake. We first went to reach the upper side of the village. And then we reached that 'small' track. Which I didn't find small at all! There were many stairs descending, more than 100 steps at a 70° angle. It was a difficult descent, but thankfully I was not wearing any heels.

_{Upper Kachora Lake}

We were told by the locals and those who had visited Skardu earlier in the group that Upper Kachora Lake is a must-visit when you’re in Skardu. It offers outdoor enthusiasts the chance to hike, trek, and enjoy boating. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, this serene lake is often hailed as 'The Splendour of Nature.' It draws countless visitors each year who come to bask in its stunning scenery and unwind in the tranquil surroundings.

_{Aerial view of Upper Kachora Lake. In background there is Shangrila/ Lower Kachora lake & Nala Soq (Soq spring) photo: my property}

_{My girls chilling and posing}

We sat at the shore, dipping our feet into the lake. The men geared up for swimming in the lake. There weren't many visitors there, as it was the time of COVID, bad for tourism but in a way good for us; we had all those natural places to ourselves without the overcrowding of people. It was such a tranquil atmosphere. We spent almost all noon at the lake and we never got tired of this beauty. The men swam to their hearts' content; I don't know how. Did I tell you that the water in the lake was freezing cold. My daughter captured her father in action. 😆

While the men swam, we relished the serene moment, sitting in the gentle breeze. Amidst the laughter of girls and the splashing of boys, we talked, all the while praising the beauty of nature.

We took a different route on our way back to our cars. There were various huts serving as pit stops, offering refreshments and tea. We stopped at one such stall, where a hotel employee or perhaps a local shared a captivating folklore related to Upper Kachora Lake.

This story goes like this... One minute! You will not find anything related to this on internet no matter how much you surf so this post is not only steemexclusive but also maan-exclusive 😉:

Legend has it that this lake wasn't originally here. Instead, there was another village named Ghaziabad where this lake was present. However, following a landslide and subsequent flood, water from that area flowed here, creating this lake. They say that this place Ghaziabad is situated on the same landscape as this lake, surrounded by nothing but trees now.

We also met some locals there, who mentioned that there is a stone somewhere far away dating back to the time of prophet Isa. Apparently, there is something written on it, but they details could not be deciphered by anyone!

Now it's up to you and your imagination to decide if there is a shred of truth is these stories or not...

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_{Note: I intended to include the visit to Nala Soq (Soq Spring) in this post, but now I have decided against it. I think it would be overwhelming. So, I will start the next post with that beautiful place. In the aerial view that I included under the heading "Upper Kachora Lake," you may have observed that I have also marked Nala Soq.}