I arrived back safely from Skardu – Gilgit trip. I planned & tried for the last three years via PIA but the flights were canceled. This time the flight also got canceled and then I decided to go via road. I think nature wanted me to come via road and enjoy utmost beautify and versatility of the area.
Skardu is the capital town of Baltistan . It is 2438 meters above sea level in the backdrop of the great peaks of the Karakuram mountain range. Historically, Baltistan was know as little Tibet , Traditions, music and life style of people here still reflects past glories of the ' Land of Lamas'.
Baltistan is known from its high mountains, broad valleys and huge glaciers. Skardu is the launching pad of all treks and expeditions heading to K2 and route Shigar valley. it is the only place on the planet where 32 high peaks are located within a radius of 40 km .
Trip Details:
Day1:
Left Rwp/ISB via Kashmir Highway @ 2:30 P.M. destined for Battagram. Traveled initial journey on Motorway Peshawar section till Burhan and then joined KKH (KoraKoram High) @ Hasan Abddal.
Corrosed Hari Pur @ 4:00 P.M. Crossed Abbottabad @ 4:35 P.M.
Arrived Mansehra @ 5:10 P.M. Re-filled the fuel tank.
Left Mansehra for Batagram @5:25 P.M Arrived Batagram @ 7:35 P.M
Over night @ Thai Hotel Batagram, NO PTDC Motel there so have to stay there but a nice hotel with friendly staff. Some of UN International staff also staying there, working for re-habilitation projects.
Day 2:
Left Batagram for Besham @ 6:00 A.M. Crossed Besham @ 7:30 A.M.
Left Besham for Pattan @ 7:35 A.M. Crossed Pattan @8:40 A.M
Crossed Dasu @ 9:45 A.M Arrived Chilas @ 12:45 P.M.
Left Chilas for Jaglot @ 2:15 P.M. Arrived Jaglot @ 3:45 P.M
Left Jaglot for Skardu @ 4:00 P.M Arrived Skardu @ 8:06 P.M
Rooms were booked @ Shangrila Resort so straight went there and the lovely thing @ that time was it was a BBQ night, had a great dinner out around bonfire plus perfectly done Trout fish.
Day3:
Early Morning walk around Lower Kachora lake and pix session. Then went for trakking around Sharngrila viewpoint and later Skardu City Tour.
Day4:
Spent most of the day at Saptpara Lake and later afternoon visited upper Kachora Lake.
Day5:
Early morning Left for Gilgit @ 7:00 A.M Arrived Gilgit @ 11:30 A.M
Spent some time in Gilgit City Tour & had nice lunch.
Left Gilgit @ 2:30 P.M destined for Dasu. Crossed Jaglot @ 2:58 P.M.
Crossed Chilas @ 6:00 P.M Arrived Barseen @ 7:45 P.M
I proffered staying at PDTC Motel @ Barseen instead heading towards Dasu. As with family I avoid mostly traveling @ lat nights.
Day6:
Early Morning left Barseen for Dasu @ 5:45 A.M.. Had breakfast on a roadside hotel. Arrived Dasu @ 7:00 A.M Left Dasu & arrived Pattan @ 8:10 P.M
Left Pattan for Besham @ 8:15 A.M Arrived Besham @ 9:25 A.M
Left Besham @ 9:30 P.M for Batagram Arrived @ 11:00 A.M
Had Tea in Batagram & left Batagram for Mansehra @ 11:15 A.M
Arrived Mansehra @ 1:30 P.M. Left Mansehra for Abbottabad @ 1:30 P.M.
Arrived Abbottabad @ 2:00 P.M.
Had Luch @ Usmania and left Abbottabad for Islamabad @ 2:30 P.M.
And arrived Islamabad/RWP 4:15 P.M
City Distance Board:
ISB-Hari Pur 70 KM
Hari Pur-Abbottabad 49 KM
Abbottabad – Mansehra 25 KM
Masehra-Batagram 96 KM
Batagram-Besham 80 KM
Besham-Pattan 39 KM
Pattan to Dasu 36km
Dasu to Chilas 126km
Chilas to Jaglot 60km
Jaglot to Gilgit 45km
Jaglot to Skardu 180km
Total Distance Covered during the trip=1675 KM
Disele Consumed=210 Ltrs
Average 7.98 KM per Ltr
