Day 9: Shigar Fort & Upper Kachura
We woke up early in the morning at the most stunning place of this region, the Kaplu, where we reached yesterday and after touring different places of this marvelous valley, we spend our night at Karakorum Lounges. Karakorum Lounges is a great place to stay and is at a marvelous location too. It is a large hotel with both luxurious and budget rooms. Rooms are well maintained and equipped with television and Wi-Fi. With comfortable beds, neat and clean environment this hotel meets all the benchmarks. Surrounded by famous mountains and the river Shyok flows nearby.
Last night we had a yummylicious dinner prepared by the hotel staff and for the morning, we have placed an order for breakfast. Thither is a large garden in front of the hotel and while we were waiting for breakfast, we moved outside to roam around the garden. While we were roaming around and capturing photographs a person from the hotel approached us and told us that, we can have the marvelous view of the surrounding from the top of the roof. Then we moved upstairs to the roof, the scene from the roof was extremely tempting. In front of us, we can see the magnificent River Shyok and the mighty mountains surrounding the Khaplu city. The person from the hotel told us that we are very near to “Line of Control” a temporary border between Pakistan and India and the famous places of Siachin Glacier, Kargil, Masherbrum and Hushey Valley are just an hour ride from here.
Concluding the mesmerizing view of the area, we went downstairs for the breakfast and then started our journey toward our next destination, The Shigar Valley and Fort. Before we proceed our journey toward Shigar we had a plan to visit Masherbrum and Siachen View Point, but at Sormo we were stopped by the security person there and was told that we would need a written permission from the DC Office to visit Masherbrum and Siachen View Point, as this is a high-security area that goes till Siachen. As we did not have adequate time to get back to Kaplu and bring the permission letter, we decided to return and proceed our journey toward the Shigar Valley.
We travel on the same beautiful road by which we reached Kaplu yesterday from Skardu. The road we were travelling passes through the stunning valley, crosses rivers and water streams with the sight of mighty mountains in the surrounding. Nearly 50 KM before Skardu there is a road going toward the Shigar Valley. We took the right turn and started travelling toward Shigar, suddenly the scenery changes and instead of lush green grounds and trees, barren desert surrounds us with white sand spread all over. This is Shigar Desert part of Katpan Desert, the world’s highest cold desert.
Situated at an elevation of about 7,303 ft. (2,226 meters), Katpana is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions of Gilgit-Baltistan. With a temperature range from 27 °C during summer and -10 °C during winters, it is one of the highest cold deserts in the world. The sand dunes surrounded by snow-covered mountains make this place a mesmerizing and majestic place to visit.
Stopped for some photo shots in the desert, we travel nearly for half an hour before reaching Shigar Viewpoint. We stop at the Shigar View Point for some photographs before proceeding toward Shigar Fort. The view of Shigar Valley from this point is marvelous with Shigar Desert on one side, lush green Shigar Valley on the other and the Shigar River flows in between.
Embracing the beauty of the location, we travelled toward Shigar Fort, crossing the Shigar town we reached Shigar Fort. Shigar Fort, now converted to Serena Shigar Hotel, was built in the 17th century by the Raja of Amacha and means the “Fort of Rock”. The fort houses a museum and represents the cultural heritage of Shigar Valley. Paying the entry fee for the fort, we entered and went exploring the magnificent building. Inside the fort, the equipment, utensils and the items used by the occupant of the fort are kept along the exhibit. Completing the tour of the building, we came in the Baradari, it is a square shaped building surrounded by running water steam and a beautiful garden. In the garden, there is a 400-year-old Chinar (Oriental Plane) Tree, the tree holds a hollow body that catches fire after every 300 years.
There is likewise a large garden next to the fortress building, ending up the trip of Baradari we went into the garden. The garden was well maintained with sitting arrangements at different places and has a restaurant that serves snacks, tea, coffee, lunch and dinner to the visitors as well as to those who resides at Sarena Hotel. We roamed around the garden captured some photographs and then return to our jeep.
