July 1-7 2007: KKH, Astore, Skardu, Khaplu, Hunza Trip

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

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aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 15:44:33 +0500 #81

Indus river just before Gunar town. Cloud shades making it more beautiful

Gunar is around 30-40 min drive from Chillas and is a small town with some rare greenery in Kohistan. There is a bridge just after Gunar that was broken in our 2006 visit to Fairy Meadows and we had to leave our jeep in Gunar and had to cross the nalah on foot to take another jeep to go to Raikot Bridge from where hardcore jeep track goes to Fairy Meadows. I will share the Fairy Meadows trip also in future inshallah.

We stopped in Gunar to get some drinks and biscuits and confirmed that the road to Astore was open for traffic.

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 16:53:15 +0500 #82

A view back after crossing the bridge i just mentioned in previous post

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 16:54:57 +0500 #83

On our way to Raikot bridge

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 16:57:21 +0500 #84

A naturally built gorge ahead on other side of Indus

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 16:58:54 +0500 #85

More pics of same spot

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:00:45 +0500 #86

Looking back ... Kohistan in cool cloudy mood

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:02:19 +0500 #87

Indus river near Raikot Bridge

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:03:32 +0500 #88

Another view

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:06:58 +0500 #89

Approaching the famous Raikot Bridge

This place is famous for the point from where very dangerous hardcore jeep track goes to Fairy Meadows which is a breathtaking green plain looking at north face of Nanga Parbat The Killer Mountain. There is a Shangrilla Hut also but it was closed. The jeep track is towards right side of KKH near the bridge.

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:08:52 +0500 #90

Crossing Raikot Bridge

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:10:18 +0500 #91

A view back after crossing Raikot Bridge

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:18:30 +0500 #92

It took us 30 min after crossing Raikot Bridge to reach the turning point towards Ramghat Bridge and from this point we left KKH and turned towards Astore.

Before crossing the bridge we stopped and took a little break. Also, tried to have a look at Nanga Parbat but no luck.

The biggest surprise was newly carpeted road for Astore

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:22:52 +0500 #93

The Group enjoying the weather and treeless ungreeeeeen beauty of the surroundings

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:23:53 +0500 #94

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:25:03 +0500 #95

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:26:15 +0500 #96

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:29:05 +0500 #97

Some interesting views of the surroundings

Some clouds building up towards Astore valley and the road we will be travelling on visible in the distance

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:30:46 +0500 #98

Another view

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:32:51 +0500 #99

Rocks all the way

aesiege (aesiege) 2010-08-04 17:34:20 +0500 #100

Rain starting in the distance