Road trip from Karachi-Gilgit in Oct '09

[Scorpianman]

I had always wanted to visit Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza as I have seen most of the other places but every time whenever the plan was made, it was either cancelled or postponed. It was finally decided that HQ, kullit and myself will leave on 4th day of Eid for Islamabad and after reaching Islamabad will decide where to go and when.





25.9.09: HQ and kullit reached my house early morning and we finally left @ 4:30am.... all excited . Stopped at the PSO fuel station on highway right after Sohrab Goth to fill the tank. Odometer was reset to zero. Our goal was to reach Islamabad without stopping (only for fuel, food and nature's call) but at the same time not to cross the speed limits which usually were b/w 100-110kms.




Had our breakfast at 60am at one of the roadside truck hotels. We had Aaloo ki tarkari with parathas and something called churi with hot tea. It was really refreshing having breakfast in the open at 60am as it was slightly chilly.


Stopped at Sadiqabad @ 10pm for fuel top up. Odometer reading was 620 kms. Said our Juma prayers on our way and had lunch at a nice rest. near Sadiqabad.


The great thing was that I was able to check my emails on my notebook through out from Karachi to Islamabad using Mobilink GPRS through GPRS modem


Stopped at Lahore @ 9:30pm for fuel top up. Odometer reading was 1208 kms. Reached Islamabad at 10am.


26.9.09: It was decided that we should leave on Saturday afternoon for Bisham and spend the night there instead of leaving on Sunday morning and wasting a day. Had a brunch at KFC and left for Bisham at 10pm via Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram.


Reached Abbottabad at 3:30pm and topped up fuel. Odometer reading was 1720 kms. Had our lunch @ 40pm near Batal. Kara Koram Highway (KKH) was a mess after Battagram. It took us 3 hours to cover 40 kms !! Reached Bisham at 90pm. Stayed at the new wing of PTDC. Must say that the new wing is very well made and maintained with marble flooring, clean beds and sparkling toilets. Rooms don't have ACs and it was pretty warm in the night. From the PTDC porch, you can see a dam being built on top of the mountain opposite PTDC by chinese engineers and work was ON day and night.


27.9.09: When we got up in the morning, saw a beautiful river flowing calmly behind the PTDC. In the pitch darkness of night when we arrived at PTDC, we didn't had the faintest idea that a river is flowing just few meters from our room. The view was great from our room


Left Bisham for Gilgit at 90am. Stopped at few places to have tea and lunch. Did quite a few stunts and offroading which everyone enjoyed on our way. Topped up fuel at Diamer @ 80pm. Odometer reading was 2140 kms. Reached PTDC Gilgit around 10:30 pm. Had dinner at PTDC and went to bed as all were dead tired.


28.9.09: Had breakfast at PTDC and left for a day trip to Hunza at 90 am. Reached Hunza around noon. Went to see the 800 years old Baltit Fort. After the visit to the fort, did some shopping of famous gems/stones which are locally cut and polished. After shopping, went to a view point called Eagles's Nest. The name Eagle's Nest is of a hotel there. They have some very nice rooms with breath taking views from them. From there, you can have a clear view of the beautiful Hunza valley and at your back and across the valley, there's a range of snow topped mountains. There's a mountain with a razor sharp cliff and its called Lady Finger, don't know why ?? Left Hunza for Gilgit at sunset. On our way back, we missed a turn and had to travel few extra hours before reaching PTDC Gilgit


29.9.09: Left hotel at 80am for Naltar valley and plains. Had tea/biscuits at a roadside hotel and there we came to know that there is no fuel station on way to Naltar and we had to purchase loose diesel from a shop. The few kilometers of the road to the Naltar was excellent but after that..... there was no road. Its a Jeep track with dust and stones......of all types and sizes. Had to apply 4x4 on the way and because of that, Surf got heat up. Reached valley around 11:30am. Didn't stopped there and drove onward toward the plains and a lake. Apart from the track, the view was beautiful. Did some offroading on the plains there too. Reached the lake at 10pm. It's a beautiful lake and seems like a painting on canvas. Stayed at the lake for a while and then start our journey back to Gilgit. Reached Gilgit around 3:30pm. After freshening up at PTDC, left for Skardu at 4:30pm




Topped up fuel at Gilgit @ 4:45pm. Odometer reading was 2543 kms. The road to Skardu is pretty narrow but in a much much better condition than KKH. Had dinner at a dhaba on the way. Reached PTDC, Skardu around 10am. Tried to stay at Shangrilla but some "goras" were staying there and Army jawans were guarding the gates and had closed the resort for guests.




30.9.09: Left PTDC @ 120pm for a waterfall at a place called Mintoka. It was a 1.5hr drive. Waterfall is a beautiful place. Did some stunts there too and tested the maximum engine power and 4x4 of Surf. From Mintoka, went to Shagrilla but the resort was still closed, went to another lake further up at Upper Kachura. Had lunch at a rest. at the lake and enjoyed, Daal Maash, Chicken Karahi and Trout. On our way back to Skardu, stopped at a Handi craft shop.


1.10.09: Left Skardu for Dosai Plains @ 7:30am. Topped up fuel at Skardu @ 7:45am. Odometer reading was 2948 kms. On the way crossed a beautiful lake called Satpara Lake. Had chaey/paratha at Dosai plains at the 'only' dhaba @ 9:40am. Dosai Mountains and plains are beautiful and magneficient. Had to cross a wooden bridge over Bara Pani and through the water at Kala Pani. Reached Chilas around 60pm. We were planning to stay at Chilas over night but decided to head for Naran.


Topped up fuel at Chilas @ 6:35pm. Odometer reading was 3205 kms. We were planning to had food at Babusar as we had breakfast only. The road was again perfect but just for few kilometers and after that it was a jeepable track. We started ascending and by 8:45pm we were at an altitude of 16500ft and missed Babusar and had reached Babusar Top. It was extremely cold there and the temp. was 2 degrees Celsius. Due to low oxygen level at this altitude, the engine wasn't performing to the mark and had to apply 4x4 in order to reach on top of the mountain. After that we started our descend towards Naran and at about 100pm we all were shouting in jubilation to see a road side truck hotel where they were cooking the food on wood. We had delicious Daal Mash with hot rotis and then chaey. Due to the sudden drop in altitude and low oxygen level, Kullit felt drowsy but a local tribesman told him to eat raw onion. Kullit just ate few onion slices and was back on his feet within no time. We reached PTDC Naran around midnight.


2.10.09: Left PTDC at 9:40am. Had breakfast at a rest. in Naran and went to the only fuel station of Naran for topping up but there was no diesel available and we were told that the refuelling truck is on its way and will reach Naran by 120 noon. We decided to leave for Saiful Maluk Lake and will get fuel on our way back. Reached Saiful Maluk at 110am. The lake was ever beautiful.


Started our journey towards Islamabad at 12:20pm from Saiful Maluk. The fuel truck hadn't reached Naran by the time we crossed it and saw the truck outside Naran on its way. We had enough diesel to reach Balakot. Topped up the fuel at Balakot @ 4:30pm. Odometer reading was 3423kms. From Abbottabad, instead of going straight to Islamabad, we decided to go to Murree. Reached Muree around 80pm and had dinner there and did some shopping. Reached Islamabad around midnight.


3.10.09: Left Islamabad for Karachi around 7:30pm. We were packing the stuff in the Surf when suddenly a dust storm came followed by thunder and rain. We left immediately. As HQ is based in Islamabad, we departed without him and thanked him for his company and hospitality during the stay in Islamabad. Topped up the fuel before Motorway and had dinner at one of the service areas @ motorway. Kullit drove for few hours at the motorway and past Lahore till Sahiwal. Got the fuel topped up again at Sahiwal and from there I took the driving seat. Kullit went asleep on the back seat. At about 60am, it was getting difficult for me to continue driving as my eyes were getting heavier so I pulled at a fuel station, turned off the engine, opened the sun roof and windows and took a nap for about 30 minutes. When I got up, it was Fajr time, said my prayers at the small mosque at the fuel station, freshen up and again started the journey towards Karachi. Kullit woke up around 80am and then went back to sleep a little while later. From Sadiqabad to Sukkhur there was dust in the air due to low pressure and at some places, dust storms were blowing and visibility was reduced to few meters and I had to turn ON the fog lights.


4.10.09: Reached Karachi around 80pm. Odometer reading was 5336kms. A long awaited trip came to an end. Thanked Allah that we all came back without any accident, injury or illness.


Sharing few photographs (from the hundreds of memories we captured) with all to show and prove that our Pakistan is a heaven on earth and second to none.


Will be planning another trip soon. InshAllah
































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125325,
Well dis is my 1st topic on PW..although i visit PWs regulary for gathering info but havent shared anything yet...so dez cars are from malaysia...owned by my brother's friend...hope u'll lyk 'em..

[mohash_1]

![endif]--


@Scorpianman



All the way from Karachi, this is indeed something extraordinary I must say great adventure and marvelous photography all the pictures are really amazing, if you would have captioned them it would have been as icing on the cake.




spanTimes New Roman","serif";"Thanks for sharing Haris Bhai

[Scorpianman]

Thanks for the comments and appreciation. I wanted to add naration to the pictures but at the time of loading them, I didn't knew how to do that but figured out afterwards


Any ways will be uploading few videos too...... soon


rgds

[Scorpianman]

[Scorpianman]

Mintoka waterfall, Skardu







Offroading @ Chilas/Astore near Golgit







Eagle's Nest, Hunza

[irfansiddique]

Wonderful - awesome.

[Dolphin]

Good Job


Please mention few detail about Karachi Lhr journey 1200 km.


Comments my be added on the top of images by enter key when you upload you images .


pl add more pictures.

[Scorpianman]

Naltar valley







Upper Kachura, Shangrilla







Crossing 'Bara Pani' at Dosai Plains







Offroading @ Naltar Plains

[Scorpianman]

Crossing Kala Pani at Dosai Plains

[Scorpianman]

[khanmomar]

Wearing Tshirts on Deosai planes and that also in October? Wow!


Great pics

[smartcancer]

awesome pictures and great tour. After watching your thread, I am sure no. of ppl will plan their tours to Gilgit-Baltistan next year. Hats off to you guys...

[Scorpianman]

Dear All,


Thank you and appreciate the comments and the feedback I have received so far which is really heartning.


After receiving such positive feedback, I am seriously thinking of organizing a tour in March-April where all interested parties can join in.


Do let me have your thoughts and advice on how should we do it ?


BTW, I might make a trip in winter b/w Karachi-Islamabad in my RX8 and go up Murree/Nathiagali hills to check the anti traction and other systems how they perform in snow !!





Cheers

[Dawar]

magical--- simply... expert photography and lions heart doing it all in single vehicle.. with no other vehicle to company.. god forbid something happens with the surf... it was middle of no where and no signals too...


great expedition--- nice info...

[baigaqeel]

Excellent Trip but looks very hectic.


Were u people testing the worthiness of SUV.


Can u tell the road condition from Chilas to Naran.


Is trek wide enough to drive by self .


I am talking about Skardu to Deosai, was there in 2008. It is wide enough & not risky.


Some one told me that now HIACE goes from Naran to Chilas. Is it so


Pl reply

[Scorpianman]

Hahaha ....
Yes, we tested the Surf to its and bro, Surf is proper 4x4 and not a SUV
Road from Chilas to Naran ? Which road are you talking about ? There's no road, just jeep tracks and too in very bad condition.
You're right, we did saw a Hiace coming from Naran towards Chilas
Track from Skardu and Dosai is wide enough and one can drive himself if he has driven in such terrain before. For first timers, I won't recommend driving in any of these places.
Cheers !!

[Scorpianman]

Few more pics .....

[Scorpianman]

[spectra]

A great trip and great camera work. Keep it up

[Scorpianman]

[Scorpianman]

lalita