Astonishing, Fascinating, Marvellous, Fantastic, Superb ....
Every above mentioned word partially owns ability to portray the stunning splendour of Nature and versatility of this Land of Ultimate Beauty with Mighty Hard Rocks, Lush Green Valleys, Rivers, Desert, Glaciers, Giant Mountains and Incredible Deosai. Exceptionally unbelievable and unexplainable beauty, wao, where we were in every minute falling more and more in love with this great land.
I think words I am counting on to write this piece of gratitude can't describe every thing that we saw and felt in its full. The words can?t show the adorable feelings on KKH, they can't explain the relaxing atmosphere of "Hushe". They even can't speak about the sand slipping under our feet in desert of "Shigar". And I swear they are all fail to describe mesmerizing Tershing, dazzling Rama and Naltar. I also unable to find the right words that can show the charm and passion we felt and how we were spellbound while exploring Deomalai Deosai.
While writing these memories every thing of this tour is floating in my sight, every scene is playing like a movie in my eyes, I feel great sensation when I think about this Land of Ultimate Beauty. Like the same great feelings that I still can't forget about Neelam Valley.
Although we cant forget the evening and night spent in Hushe, we cant forget the moments we lived in Shighar valley, the very fascinating Tershing and Rama. But the Deosai Plains part is dominating. Deomalai Deosai is most influencing and overwhelming in all respects in our tour. Thats why this tour is dedicated to Deomalai Deosai.
As usual we finalized sketch of our tour in guidance of Pakwheel experts specially Brother Sofian @Xoofi and all other who helped me for all required information. I also was in contact with another helping hand @baltistan Brother Saif Ullah (0346-4678926) basically from Sakardu and living in Lahore. Another very very informative person, Mr. Afzal of Deosai Travels (0346-8484855) whom I contacted on daily basis regarding Deosai. And we were able to cross Deosai on his information while (I think ) our jeeps were amongst starting fewer to cross the plains completely from Sakardu side to Chilum.
The story remains uncompleted without mentioning another very nice person Mr Ameer Hamza Jeep Driver (0312-9337484) from Gilgit for our whole tour days. He is indeed very good and cooperative person and real expert driver for all types of tracks. Recommended for family trips also.
(Another group from Karachi of Mansoor Bhai aka @versitian were also on the same track and days in Sakardu. They had reached in GB before us and had visited Hunza before coming to Sakardu)
Tour itinerary
Day 1 - 19.06.2014[INDENT=4]Departure from Mansehra (7.AM) [/INDENT]
[INDENT=4]Reached Chillas (6.30PM)
Reached Gilgit (10.PM)[/INDENT]
Day 2 - 20.06.2014
[INDENT=4]Departure from Gilgit (10.AM)[/INDENT]
[INDENT=4]
The jeep we had hired was from Gilgit to Gilgit, so we parked our car under custody and responsibility of the jeep driver and started our Jeep Safari from Gilgit. First day while going to Sakardu, we visited Shangila, Upper Katchura then reached Sakardu (7.30 PM)
(Night Stay in Sakardu)[/INDENT]
Day 3 - 21.06.2014
[INDENT=4]Departure from Sakardu (10 AM)
Reached Khaplu (1 PM)
Reached Hushe (6 PM) (Night Stay in Hushe)[/INDENT]
Day 4 - 22.06.2014
.[INDENT=4]Departure from Hushe (9 AM)
Reached Shigar (2 PM)
Visited Desert and reached Sakardu also visited Old Trekking Stuff Market (6PM)
Night Stay in Sakardu[/INDENT]
Day 5 - 23.06.2014 [INDENT=4]Departure from Sakardu (9AM)
Visited Satpara, then 1 Hour in Snowfall near Ali Malik, Barapani, Kalapani, Sheosar Lake, wondering in this wonderland of Deosai and
reached Chillum (6.30 PM)
Initially according to plan we were supposed to stay at Bara Pani for 1 night and the next day to reach Tershing for night stay. But due to unavailability of proper camping facility at that time at Barapani and another misfortune that our sleepig bags and stove that was packed in other jeep, and they left Bara Pani before us while we were taking snaps. Alas we were unable to stay at Bara Pani.
So Change was made to go to Tershing for night stay (that was also on our plan). But ALLAH PAK has made HIS ALMIGHTY decisions and on reaching Chilum it was confirmed that there is a glacier on road to Tershing Village and it was not possible to cross by jeep. Another change of plan due to circumstances and we had to stay in Gori Kot at night.[/INDENT]
Day 6 - 24.06.2014[INDENT=4]Departure from Gori Kot to tershing at 8AM
Reached near Glacier and started trekking towards Tershing. We were agreed to go to very first clear view point of the Nangaperbat where we can make a break near Tershing or Till Tershing but not further. Because we had planned to go to Rama and trek to Rama Lake in the same day in this changing situations. (Because when we were unable to stay at tershing the next day plan to visit Rupal and Nanga Parbat BC was also dropped). That?s why after trekking less then an hour and very near to Tershing village we spotted a point and after 1 hour break we returned back to glacier where jeep was awaiting us.
(11AM). We now started our journey towards Rama. And we reahed Rama about 1 PM almost. After break of lunch at rama and getting a tent to stay,
We started trekking towards Rama Lake 3 PM. We reached the lake almost 4.30 PM and started trekking back almost 6.30 PM.
(Night Stay at Rama, a very lovely place to stay.)[/INDENT]
Day 7 - 25.06.2014[INDENT=4](As we had parked our car in Gilgit, and Jeep had to drop us in Gilgit. So having a day left vacant Due to unavailing stay at Bara Pani and unfortunate hurdle of Glacier on the road to Tershing and that made us unable to stay at night in Tershing and further next day exploring Rupal was vanished, that's way a whole day became vacant).
As per changes in plan we had planned to utilize this free day to visit Naltar Valley and Naltar Lakes. We left Rama approx 9 AM and Reached Naltar Lake (Satrangi Lake) almost 2 PM. Stayed there for 3 Hours, also visited upper naltar lake. We Strated our journey back to Gilgit near 5.PM and reached Gilgit almost 8 PM. (Night Stay in Gilgit)[/INDENT]
Day 8 - 26.06.2014[INDENT=4] We started our Journey back to home from Gilgit. And we had 2 options via KKH till Mansehra or from Babusar Top, Naran, Balakot, Mansehra. We discussed the route of Babusar Top with many drivers due to the road conditions from Babusar Top to Lulusar. And at last we finalized to use Babusar Top route although we had many doubts.
(And choosing this route is, I think, a horrible mistake while you want to save your sedan/car from damages, scratches bla bla). The Chillas side is almost good in position. But after Babusar Top you have to drive like participating in mud rally and have to cross many mud pools, water flows due to glaciers with rocks underneath and unmanageable depth for a sedan, till Jalkhad.
Unfortunately there were many glaciers still on the road near Naran and after Naran till Kiwai and road condition was not good as compared to last year. But we had managed by the grace of ALLAH PAK to reach Balakot to stay at night.[/INDENT]
Day 9 - 27.06.2014[INDENT=4] That was last day of our incredible journey and we were very relaxed. We started towards Mansehra, Haripur Hassanabdal and M1/M2 Till Lillah Interchange (We also dropped one of our team member at kalarKahar Interchnage to avail bus for Sargodha) and reached Jauharabad - Khushab safe and sound by the Grace of Almighty ALLAH Subhanwatala.[/INDENT]
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