Kaghan Valley: Latest Updates for 2012 season

[incognito59]

Some from my side:)

[incognito59]

Some more

[incognito59]

beautiful water fall.

[Hue1]

Excellent thread. How much time does it take to reach Chillas from Naran via Babusar top? Are there any restaurants or toilets available on the way? I get conflicting info from guides. Some say it takes 4 hours while others say that it takes 9 hours.

Is it safe now for families to travel on this route? Planning to go to Skardu with family. Will be riding a 2004 Toyota Surf.

[aesiege]

Excellent thread. How much time does it take to reach Chillas from Naran via Babusar top? Are there any restaurants or toilets available on the way? I get conflicting info from guides. Some say it takes 4 hours while others say that it takes 9 hours.

Is it safe now for families to travel on this route? Planning to go to Skardu with family. Will be riding a 2004 Toyota Surf.

It takes 2.5-3 hours from Naran to Babusar Pass and further 2.5 hours till Chilas if road is open till KKH otherwise 30-45 min extra drive is required to reach upper Chilas town due to blocked road near KKH as result of landslide. I don't know whether that section is repaired or not. Anyhow if u go non-stop then it will take around 6-7 hours but definitely people do stay at Jalkhad, Lulusar and Babusar so it may take upto 8-9 hours with few stays.

Lately, quite a few travellers have passed through the area and thousands of poeple visit the valley these days. Pakwheels community may not be even 5% of those and majority even does not know about these incidents. Reason to mention this is that these days there is lots of traffic on this route and it should not be a problem in day time. Rest may Allah Almighty protect us all from such bad incidents.

[syedbhai]

is that our hi ace can go up to babusar or not plz update it
and also update the road condition and if you have some pics of road to share us

[asmile79]

I have recently visited Naran (29th june to 1st July) , Trekking to Sat Sar Mala Lakes but manage to see only first 2 lakes, Fairy Lake (complete frozen) and 2nd lake. The trekking condition was very tough. I witness a snow fall at 2nd lake of sat sar mala lakes. I will post complete trip in new thread in coming days.
For now the video of first 2 lakes of sat sar mala lakes is

//youtu.be/ Sat Sar Mala Lakes 1 & 2, Naran (30th June 2012) - YouTube

[aesiege]

I have recently visited Naran (29th june to 1st July) , Trekking to Sat Sar Mala Lakes but manage to see only first 2 lakes, Fairy Lake (complete frozen) and 2nd lake. The trekking condition was very tough. I witness a snow fall at 2nd lake of sat sar mala lakes. I will post complete trip in new thread in coming days.
For now the video of first 2 lakes of sat sar mala lakes is Sat Sar Mala Lakes 1 & 2, Naran (30th June 2012) - YouTube

WOW !!!!

Great effort asmile79

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-t593hDgOfo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[taimur76]

is that our hi ace can go up to babusar or not plz update it
and also update the road condition and if you have some pics of road to share us

I am just back from the same road. Hiace can easily go till Babusar and onward to Chilas. I have seen few Hiace going on the route. even two oil tankers crossed Babusar from Chilas side.

[taimur76]

Excellent thread. How much time does it take to reach Chillas from Naran via Babusar top? Are there any restaurants or toilets available on the way? I get conflicting info from guides. Some say it takes 4 hours while others say that it takes 9 hours.

Is it safe now for families to travel on this route? Planning to go to Skardu with family. Will be riding a 2004 Toyota Surf.

Yes, road is open. I just have crossed it from Chilas side. safety is a concern. In Chilas, people asked me not to stop unless I reach Babusar top. incidents of decioties happened in the area. Gilgit Baltistan Police has establised a check point around 2 KM before top. on the other side at Naran when I told local people about my travel, they also shown concern and said I took a risk.
But on positive side, I have seen around 20+ vehicle on the road even a Civiv reborn reached top though I will not recommend travelling on cars on this road.

[taimur76]

I am just back from the same road. Hiace can easily go till Babusar and onward to Chilas. I have seen few Hiace going on the route. even two oil tankers crossed Babusar from Chilas side.

one more thing to add. I dont know how this road behaves in case of rain. I think there will be slippery especially when descending from Babu sar top (First few Kilometers).

[taimur76]

It takes 2.5-3 hours from Naran to Babusar Pass and further 2.5 hours till Chilas if road is open till KKH otherwise 30-45 min extra drive is required to reach upper Chilas town due to blocked road near KKH as result of landslide. I don't know whether that section is repaired or not. Anyhow if u go non-stop then it will take around 6-7 hours but definitely people do stay at Jalkhad, Lulusar and Babusar so it may take upto 8-9 hours with few stays.

Lately, quite a few travellers have passed through the area and thousands of poeple visit the valley these days. Pakwheels community may not be even 5% of those and majority even does not know about these incidents. Reason to mention this is that these days there is lots of traffic on this route and it should not be a problem in day time. Rest may Allah Almighty protect us all from such bad incidents.

Road section is not repaired. you have to cross it through upper Chilas town

[pakistanibandah786]

I have recently visited Naran (29th june to 1st July) , Trekking to Sat Sar Mala Lakes but manage to see only first 2 lakes, Fairy Lake (complete frozen) and 2nd lake. The trekking condition was very tough. I witness a snow fall at 2nd lake of sat sar mala lakes. I will post complete trip in new thread in coming days.
For now the video of first 2 lakes of sat sar mala lakes is

//youtu.be/ Sat Sar Mala Lakes 1 & 2, Naran (30th June 2012) - YouTube

Wow...fantastic!!! I really envy you and may Allah give you more strength to do all seven next time...very good report and video...keep it up!

[pakistanibandah786]

Yes, road is open. I just have crossed it from Chilas side. safety is a concern. In Chilas, people asked me not to stop unless I reach Babusar top. incidents of decioties happened in the area. Gilgit Baltistan Police has establised a check point around 2 KM before top. on the other side at Naran when I told local people about my travel, they also shown concern and said I took a risk.
But on positive side, I have seen around 20+ vehicle on the road even a Civiv reborn reached top though I will not recommend travelling on cars on this road.

Guys....I think the best thing to do would be to be part of a convoy..and make sure that the caravan is NOT too far apart...this way one can look after the vehicles in front and at the back...keep heavier trucks/jeeps in the back and light cars in front...keep the family vehicles in the center..Very good update...I would love to go with my loaded weapon and be the leading part of this convoy..inshaAllah I will do Babusar this year!!! I missed it on the 22nd June!!

[taimur76]

Guys....I think the best thing to do would be to be part of a convoy..and make sure that the caravan is NOT too far apart...this way one can look after the vehicles in front and at the back...keep heavier trucks/jeeps in the back and light cars in front...keep the family vehicles in the center..Very good update...I would love to go with my loaded weapon and be the leading part of this convoy..inshaAllah I will do Babusar this year!!! I missed it on the 22nd June!!

Yes this is the right idea. most importantly dont stop unnecessarily while descending from top to Chilas. Try to reach Chilas in daylight ideally by 6:00 pm. whereas weapon is concerned, keep it with you as precaution and concealed. dont show it to anyone as they may rob you to get your expensive handgun. pray to Allah it comes back unused like mine. those people in Kohistan has a lot of automatic weapons so a pistol or shotgun is of no use.

[saqib84]

Planning to vizit naran...can any one tell abut road conditions ??cars can go till babusir pass??what are the hotel rent at naran and shogran??if possible share therw cntct number thankz

[finediesel]

Guys I want to a request to all pak wheeler that any body who will go naran specially on lakes please avoid put their garbage and also pick up other garbage and trying too keep clean our natural beauty and heirloom.

[faisalirshad]

I would say dont try to take coaster from babusar pass. We Tried to cross babusar pass on coaster from chilas side. we were told that coasters are going through that way and you will reach in 5-6 hours but that was not the case. it took us 10 hours approximatley becuase the track isnt suitable for coaster and also we were a little late so night fell on and some FC guys stopped us from going onward to Naran but we manage to pass away after some requests but they took undertaking from us that we will be resposible if something happens onward. And it was a serious risk that we took onward. so be careful while going forward...

[MultaniTraveler]

Planning to vizit naran...can any one tell abut road conditions ??cars can go till babusir pass??what are the hotel rent at naran and shogran??if possible share therw cntct number thankz

Please keep the nature clean.

[conflicted]

logo,, what abt noori top.............????????????