Skardu Gilgit–Baltistan Pakistan

Skardu District is part of Baltistan and currently constitutes one of the seven districts of the Gilgit–Baltistan territory of Pakistan. It is bounded on the southeast by Kargil district in the Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir, on the east by Ghanche District, on the northeast by Xinjiang (China), on the south by Baramulla and Kargil District, on the west by district Astore and on the north by Gilgit District.

Skardu town is the capital of Skardu District. 

Skardu district is located at the confluence of river Indus and the Shyok river and makes the base camp for leading tourist destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan including K-2. 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.

The Skardu region has the four of the world's fourteen Eight-thousander peaks (8,000 m and above) this makes it a heaven for trekkers expeditions enthusiasts and mountain climbers. The main tourist season is from April to October Askole and Hushe Valleys are the main gateways to the snow covered 8,000 m peaks including Mashabum, K2, the Gasherbrums, Broad Peak and the Trango Towers, and also to the huge glaciers of Baltoro, Biafo and Trango. 

Adventure tours and jeep safaris to the Deosai Plains, the second highest in the world (at 4,100 m or 13,500 feet) after the Chang Tang in Tibet, either start from or end at Skardu. In local Balti language, Deosai is called Byarsa, meaning 'summer place'. With an area of approximately 3,000 square kilometres, the plains extend all the way to Ladakh and provide habitat for snow leopards, ibex, Tibetan brown bears and wild horses.

Skardu is accessible by two methods, road or air. The normal road route into Skardu is via the Karakorum Highway and a linkroad into the Skardu Valley from it. There are also four or five other road links to Kashmir and Ladakh. Alternatively, there are normally one or two flights daily between Skardu Airport and Islamabad. The high cost of air travel means that road travel via the Karakorum Highway and the link road onward to the Skardu Valley is often the preferred option of locals and tourists alike.

A famous all-weather road, the Kargil-Skardu road linked Skardu with Kargil, a city in Ladakh. Since the annexation of Gilgit Baltistan by Pakistan, the road has been closed. Whilst the Indian Government has been interested in opening the road as a humanitarian gesture, this initiative has been refused by the Pakistani Government.

The climate can have adverse effects on transport in and out of the Skardu Valley, as Skardu becomes snowbound during the winter months. Often the roads in and out of Skardu (and otherNorthern Areas locations) can be blocked for weeks at a time depending on conditions (though two to five days is more normal), sometimes leaving air travel as the only feasible alternative. However, air travel in winter is also subject to disruption due to the unreliable Skardu weather and flights can occasionally be delayed by several days.

Kachura Lake

There are two Kachura Lakes—the less well known Upper Kachura lake and the more famous Lower Kachura Lake, better known as Shangrila Lake. Lower Katsura 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 Pakistan. The resort has a unique style of restaurant, set up inside the fuselage of an aircraft that crashed nearby. Kachura lake 18m from Skardu. Kachura Lake is famous for its deep blue waters. There are numerous places to visit and things to do near Kachura Lake, situated near Skardu in the northern area.

 Satpara Lake

Satpara Lake is Skardu Valley's main lake. In 2002, the Government of Pakistan decided to build a dam on the Satpara Lake allocating $10 million to the Satpara Dam project, two years later in 2004. Progress on the project 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 also the source of Skardu's drinking water.

SATPARA DAM PROJECT on the Satpara Lake:- is a project is 7 km away from Skardu city and its altitude is 8,700 feet (2,700 m) moreover it will also pond the water about 90,000 acre feet (110,000,000 m3). The main source of water is melting ice of the Deosai plains during the summer season.

It is a multipurpose project, which will produce 13 Megawatts hydro generation, irrigate 15,000 acres (61 km2) of land and also provide 13 cusecis drinking water daily to Skardu city. On 29 August 2009, the

Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009, was passed by the Pakistani cabinet and later signed by the President Asif Ali Zardari. It granted self-rule to the people of the former Northern Areas, now renamed "Gilgit-Baltistan," by creating, among other things, an elected legislative assembly.On the other hand there has been criticism and opposition to this move by Pakistan inside Pakistan, India, and the Gilgit-Baltistan region itself 

Shigar: Shigar is a beautiful village just a few miles North of Skardu its picturesque village with beautiful terraced fields growing all sorts of crops. Shigar was once a small kingdom and the Shigar fort was once residential fort of the local ruler. Recently the Aga Khan shown interest in the fort which has now been renovated and is open for tourists. The Shigar fort has been renovated and converted into a hotel or residential fort.

Skardu to Hushe
This is a transfer by Jeep takes about 6 hours to Hushe  village which is starting point for trekking at different treks.

Skardu to Askole
Askole is an other village which takes trekkers to treks in different directions it is about 5 hours drive by Jeep.

Skardu to Shigar
2 hours drive from Skardu by jeep or by car

Skardu to Khaplu
A 4 hours drive from Skardu by jeep or car the asphalt road is in good shape.

Skardu to Rama
Drive to Rama the point in Deosai planes there is a PTDC motel for you to stay here. It takes about 6 hours by jeep.

  

Shigar Fort

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

Skardu Fort (Kharphocho Fort)

Skardu Fort or Kharphocho Fort lies on the eastern face of the Khardrong or Mindoq-Khar ("Castle of Queen Mindoq") hill 15 metres or 40 feet (12 m) 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. The fort was built by Rmakpon dynasty rulers of Baltistan and it was a seven storey building.[citation needed]

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.

Nearest Air port : Gilgit Airport
Nearest Railway NO Railway Station
Local transport: Bus Taxi Jeep also available 
Mobile Networks: UFONE , WARID , ZONG, MOBILINK
Inter net provider : PTCL Some local   

Hotels

 SKARDU Motel PTDC K-2 Motel, Skardu, Baltistan (NA) Tel: (05815) 450291-2  Fax:450293

Shangrila Resort SKARDU
Phone:	+(92) 5815 454941-2 +(92) 5815 458501-2
Mobile:	+(92) 304 5659052 +(92) 304 5659054
Email:	reservations@shangrilaresorts.com.pk

Snowland Guest House

Radio Pakistan Chowk, Skardu

Gilgit-Baltistan
Cell:+92-346-4555626

Satpara Lake Inn

Satpara Lake Skardu

Gilgit-Baltistan

ISB Cell: +92-345-9602504