Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Beauty of Skardu Valley


Skardu: Amidst a landscape of stark mountains, deep and steep gorges, crashing waterfalls and quiet lakes, Skardu, the district headquarters of Baltistan valley, is situated on the banks of the mighty river Indus, joined by the river Shigar just about 5 8 km further up. Perched at a height of 8,000 feet/2438 metres, Skardu offers cool and bracing climate. To the east is Laddakh, in the south Indian-occupied Kashmir and to the north is the Chinese province of Sinkiang. Skardu is strategically situated at the foot of an enormous rock, which is crowned by a historic fort
There are three lakes, Satpara about 8 km, lower Kachoora about 35 kilometres and upper Kachoora about 40 kilometres. The Lake Resort Shangri-La (above - left) is a picturesque place to rest and admire the beauty of Lake Kachura and Skardu Valley. To the southwest of the town is the sprawling Deosai Plateau which can be reached via the beautiful Sadpara/ Satpara lake just about 8 kilometres from Skardu. Deosai Plateau is unique in many ways. About 70 kilometres across and averaging 3,500 metres / 11,660 feet in height, Deosai connects Baltistan with the Astore Valley. It is to the north and east of Skardu that the Karakoram mountains assume their most impressive and unyielding character. it takes just two hours, by jeep to reach the gateway to the dreamland, the ancient village of Shigar tucked up in a lush green valley having abundance of fruit trees including apples and apricots for which the whole region is renowned. Of the world's fifteen highest peaks, five are located in this region, including K-2. Most of the longest and the most dreadful glaciers of the world are also located in this greatest geo-drama of the nature having no parallel on earth. Summers attract a large number of mountaineers and trekkers from all parts of the world to this valley. In fact, the entire region is known as the mountaineer's/trekker's paradise. The Kharfocho Fort or the King of forts at Skardu attracts tourists in large numbers. The fort is attributed to the famous ruler of Skardu, Maqpon Bugha (1490 - 1515 AD), the great grand father of Ali Sher Khan Anchan (1560 - 1625 AD). However this claim is contradicted by the Moghal historians, who are of the view that the great fort was built by Ali Sher Khan Anchan himself. This view is upheld by European writers such as Cunningham, Foso Marine, G.T. Vagne etc. Some observations about this fort have been made in the Imperial.

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