Hunza Valley Archives

March 20, 2023March 22, 2023

Gilgit Baltistan Spring Blossoms: A Breathtaking Natural Wonder.

Gilgit Baltistan, a region situated in the north of Pakistan, is home to some of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders. Its majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and picturesque valleys attract tourists from all over the world. However, there’s one thing that sets Gilgit Baltistan apart in spring, and that is its blossoming flowers. The Gilgit Baltistan spring blossoms are a breathtaking natural wonder that transforms the region into a colorful paradise.

Why You Must Visit Gilgit Baltistan During Spring Blossoms Season?

Spring is a magical time of the year when nature awakens from its slumber and blossoms into a beautiful canvas of colors. In Gilgit Baltistan, a mountainous region of Pakistan, spring is an especially mesmerizing season as it brings with it a unique display of spring blossoms. From the vivid pink of cherry blossoms to the vibrant hues of tulips, Gilgit Baltistan is home to a breathtaking natural wonder that attracts visitors from all over the world. In this article, we will explore the beauty of Gilgit Baltistan’s spring blossoms and why it is a must-see destination for nature lovers.

Apricot Blossoms at Chunda Valley Skardu. Photo By Abrar Khawaja.

Introduction to Gilgit Baltistan.

Gilgit Baltistan is a mountainous region located in the northernmost part of Pakistan. It is bordered by Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Gilgit Baltistan is home to some of the world’s highest mountain ranges, including the Karakoram, the Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush. The region is also known for its diverse culture, heritage, and stunning landscapes.

The Beauty of Spring Blossoms in Gilgit Baltistan.

The spring blossoms in Gilgit Baltistan are a sight to behold. As the snow melts away and the temperature rises, the valleys and mountains come alive with a colorful display of flowers. The most popular spring blossoms in the region are cherry blossoms, apricot blossoms, tulips, and poppies. The colors are so vivid and bright that they appear almost surreal against the stark landscape of the mountains.

The Best Spring Blossoms Time to Visit Gilgit Baltistan.

The best time to witness the beauty of spring blossoms in Gilgit Baltistan is from late March to early May. This is when the valleys are covered in a blanket of flowers, and the air is fragrant with their sweet scent. It is advisable to plan your visit well in advance, as this is also the peak tourist season in the region.

The Best Places to Witness Gilgit Baltistan Spring Blossoms.

If you’re planning to witness the Gilgit Baltistan spring blossoms, there are a few places that you should definitely visit. These places offer the best views of the blooming flowers and are sure to leave you mesmerized.

Chunda Valley Skardu Baltistan.

The Chunda Valley stands out as a remarkable destination due to its late onset of spring blossoms compared to other regions in Gilgit Baltistan. During this time, travelers do not experience excessive coldness, making it a pleasant experience. Besides the favorable timing, Chunda Valley’s beauty is also noteworthy. In addition to the stunning spring scenery, Chunda Valley offers visitors a plethora of activities to enjoy. Trekking, camping, and picnicking are popular options in the area, allowing travelers to immerse themselves in the valley’s natural beauty. The valley’s rich cultural heritage is also a draw for many visitors, with opportunities to experience local traditions and cuisine. Chunda Valley’s welcoming and hospitable residents add to its charm, making it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Gilgit Baltistan.

Spring Blossoms at Chunda Valley, Photo by: Imtiaz Hussain.

Hunza Valley

Hunza Valley is the most popular destination for spring blossom viewing in Gilgit Baltistan. The valley is located at an altitude of 2,438 meters above sea level and is known for its scenic beauty and unique culture. The cherry blossoms in Hunza Valley are especially famous and draw visitors from all over the world.

Skardu Valley

Skardu Valley is another popular destination for spring blossom viewing in Gilgit Baltistan. The valley is located at an altitude of 2,438 meters above sea level and is known for its stunning landscapes and rich history. The tulips in Skardu Valley are a sight to behold, and the valley is also home to several historical sites, including the Kharpocho Fort.

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Nagar Valley

Nagar Valley is a lesser-known destination for spring blossom viewing in Gilgit Baltistan, but it is equally stunning. The valley is located at an altitude of 2,438 meters above sea level and is known for its lush greenery and crystal-clear waters. The apricot blossoms in Nagar Valley are a must-see sight for nature lovers.

Khaplu Valley

Khaplu Valley is a hidden gem in the northern region of Pakistan, renowned for its magnificent beauty and pristine natural landscapes. In the spring season, the valley is transformed into a wonderland with blooming flowers and lush greenery, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. The valley is surrounded by towering peaks, including the majestic Karakoram Range, and is adorned with orchards and fields of apricot, apple, and cherry trees. Visitors can explore the quaint village of Khaplu, which is home to an ancient fort and several historic sites. The valley also offers numerous trekking trails that lead to breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. In addition to natural beauty, the valley is also known for its warm hospitality and delicious cuisine, featuring local specialties such as apricot jam, dried apricots, and yak cheese.

Spring Blossoms at Khaplu Fort Skardu Baltistan, Photo By: Abrar Khawaja.

Kachura Valley

Kachura Valley in Skardu is a picturesque destination that offers visitors a chance to explore natural wonders and breathtaking views. Among the top attractions are the Shangrila Lake and Resort and Upper Kachura Lake, which boast stunning scenery, particularly during the spring blossom season. These two lakes are perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and adventure seekers alike, with a range of activities such as boating, fishing, and hiking available. For those looking for even more adventure, trekking to the Socq Valley in Kachura is a must-try experience. The valley is adorned with beautiful almond trees, which are laden with white and pinkish blossoms, creating a serene and magical atmosphere. With so much to explore and enjoy, Kachura Valley is truly a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the great spring blossoms and natural beauty of Pakistan.

Spring Blossoms at Shangrila Kachura — Shangrila Lake and Resort Skardu Baltistan during Cheery Blossoms.

Shigar Valley

Shigar Valley is a captivating destination situated in the northern region of Pakistan, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in nature’s beauty and tranquility. In the spring season, the valley is transformed into a paradise of colors, with blooming flowers and lush greenery blanketing the landscape. Visitors can explore the valley’s picturesque villages, which are home to historic sites such as the 17th-century Shigar Fort. The valley is also famous for its fruit orchards, particularly apricot trees, which are laden with beautiful flowers during the spring season. For those seeking adventure, Shigar Valley offers numerous trekking trails, ranging from easy walks to challenging hikes that lead to stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Visitors can also indulge in local cuisine, which features delicious dishes such as Shigar trout and apricot soup. With its breathtaking scenery and serene atmosphere, Shigar Valley is a must-visit destination.

Tips for Planning Your memorable spring blossoms Trip in Gilgit Baltistan:

Timing is Key

To see the spring blossoms in Gilgit Baltistan, you need to plan your trip carefully. The best time to visit is from mid-March to late April, depending on the altitude of the area you want to visit. The higher the altitude, the later the flowers will bloom.

Dress Appropriately

Gilgit Baltistan can be cold and windy, even in the spring. Make sure to bring warm clothing and a windbreaker, as well as sturdy walking shoes or boots.

Take Your Time

Don’t rush your trip to Gilgit Baltistan. Take your time to explore the different valleys and plateaus and soak in the natural beauty of the region. There are plenty of hiking trails and scenic drives to enjoy.

FAQs

What is the Best Time to Visit for spring blossoms in Gilgit Baltistan?

The best time to witness the Gilgit Baltistan spring blossoms is from mid-March to mid-April. During this time, the weather is pleasant, and the flowers are in full bloom. However, the blooming season can vary depending on the weather conditions, so it’s always best to check before planning your trip.

What is the Best Way to Reach Gilgit Baltistan?

Gilgit Baltistan is accessible by air and road. The most convenient way to reach Gilgit Baltistan is by air, as there are regular flights from Islamabad to Gilgit. However, if you’re up for an adventure, you can also take the road from Islamabad, which offers stunning views of the mountains and valleys along the way.

What are the Accommodation Options in Gilgit Baltistan?

There are plenty of accommodation options available in Gilgit Baltistan, ranging from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxury hotels. Some of the popular places to stay include Serena Hotels, Shangrila Resorts, and PTDC Motels. However, if you’re on a budget, you can also find affordable guesthouses and homestays in the area.

Are the Gilgit Baltistan spring blossoms accessible to everyone?

Yes, the Gilgit Baltistan spring blossoms are accessible to everyone. However, some of the areas might require permission.

What are the top destinations for spring blossom viewing in Gilgit Baltistan?

The top destinations for spring blossom viewing in Gilgit Baltistan are Chunda valley, Hunza Valley, Skardu Valley, Shigar Valley, Khaplu Valley, and Nagar Valley.

Is it safe to visit Gilgit Baltistan?

Yes, Gilgit Baltistan is a safe region to visit. However, it is always advisable to check the current situation before planning your trip.

July 18, 2022February 27, 2023

10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit Hunza Valley, Gilgit Baltistan.

Well, Pakistan is loaded with a boom nature, especially in our northern areas. They are damn beautiful and Hunza valley is the queen of all northern areas. It is located at the Pakistan-China border in Gilgit Baltistan. Hunza, “A Paradise on Earth” is covered with snowy mountains & beautiful crystal-clear lakes. Hunza Valley is a dizzying mix of stunning and high landscapes, historical forts, and orchid farms rich in organic food. So, we’ve rounded up the top tourist attraction places for adventure lovers in Hunza Gilgit Baltistan. Here is the list of top places to visit Hunza Valley.

Attabad Lake.
Altit Fort Hunza.
Rakaposhi Peak.
Baltit Fort Hunza.
Hussaini Suspension Bridge Hunza.
Passu Cones Hunza.
Eagle Nest View Point.
Khunjarab Pass Sost Border.
Borith Lake Hunza.
Hopar Valley.

Attabad Lake.

Attabad Lake is the result of a massive land-sliding accident in Hunza. But now it is a popular tourist point in Hunza Valley. Tourists visit it and enjoy boating there. Attabad Lake is one of the most beautiful sites in Hunza Valley. It attracts a large number of tourists every year. In addition, the lake’s length is 13 miles and its depth is over 358 feet. Because of its breathtaking beauty, the lake is also considered one of Pakistan’s finest lakes.

Attabad Lake also has several high-end hotels. Attabad Lake has luxury glamping resorts and Luxus Hunza. This makes it convenient for families to visit and stay in a pleasant environment. This lake is one of the best places to visit Hunza. Read more about Attabad Lake in detail here. Attabad Lake, an amazing lake formed due to landsliding.

Altit Fort Hunza.

The word Altit means “Lower Side”. Like other Forts in Gilgit Baltistan, this is also made of strong stones and wood. Below it, the Hunza river looks like bowing in front of Fort. It has a magnificent view over the Hunza valley. The Hunza Valley’s Altit Fort is an old fort located above Karimabad. It was the residence of the Hunza state’s hereditary rulers, who were given the title Mir. Around 1100 years ago, Altit Fort was the home of a former prince. It now functions as a museum. The fort is a work of art and architecture. The Aga Khan Culture Trust rebuilt the exquisite architecture, preserving it for future generations.

Read more about the fort: Altit Fort Hunza – Discover the Hidden Gem of Northern Pakistan.

This fort is well-known for its royal garden and the surrounding settlements. Altit Fort is more than just a location; it is a living legacy that is continually evolving. In the winter, a swimming pool can be used as a skating rink. The views from the Altit fort are breathtaking and hypnotic.

Rakaposhi Peak.

The vision of Rakaposhi is first and foremost. No matter where you stay in Hunza, the massive mountain of Rakaposhi is visible. Furthermore, the mountain is 7,788 meters high and is part of the Karakoram Mountain Range. Rakaposhi is Japanese for “Shining Wall.” Rakaposhi’s dawn and dusk views are simply breathtaking.

Baltit Fort Hunza.

Baltit fort is located at the top of the mountain like a Crown on the Valley. The old one but still the most wonderful style of this fort. The Baltit Fort built on a solid foundation of strong stones and wood was the palace of the rulers of Hunza. The fort’s foundations are thought to date back roughly 600 years. Over the centuries, however, there have been rebuilds and adjustments. Today, the fort functions as the top of the Bazaar, from which you can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding area.

Hussaini Suspension Bridge Hunza.

Hussaini bridge is another adventurous tourist spot. It is located about 30 minutes drive from Attabad lake. It consists of a 400 steps long bridge with some scare & thrill. The bridge is stable and safe, but some people find it frightening. The most dangerous and highest suspension bridge in Pakistan is also the oldest bridge in Pakistan.

Passu Cones Hunza.

The cone-shaped group of mountains on the Karakoram highway is just mind-blowing. The cones are known as Passu Cones. The highest point among them is 6,106 m. A huge number of local and foreign tourists visit this attractive place, especially in the summer. The Passu Cones are found in a small village called Passu in Pakistan’s Gojal valley of the Hunza district. Visiting the Passu Cones will undoubtedly be a memorable experience.

Eagle Nest View Point.

It is the highest point of Hunza valley, also an adventure place, and one of the best places to visit Hunza, where you can enjoy the gorgeous view of snow-covered peaks. Hunza Valley is also one of the places where eagles make nests, referred to as eagles nests, which gives you all the reasons to visit this place. The best thing to do in Hunza is to watch the sunrise and sunset over the magnificent peaks of Lady Finger and Rakaposhi from the legendary eagle nest in Dukair. You can enjoy a panoramic view of Hunza Valley from this location.

Khunjarab Pass Sost Border.

It is a border between Pakistan and China. The beginning point of the economic corridor. This corridor will be beneficial for both countries in many aspects. It’s also a unique place for visiting Gilgit. It is regarded as one of the world’s few high-altitude parks. Many endangered and threatened animal species, such as the Snow leopard, Marco Polo sheep, and Himalayan Ibex, call this place home. It’s just a few kilometers from the Pakistani border town of Sost, and it’s in the middle of no man’s land between China and Pakistan. The park takes its name from the Khunjerab Pass, the world’s highest paved road border checkpoint at 16000 feet above sea level.

Borith Lake Hunza.

Next comes Borith Lake, one of the best places for camping in Hunza. A go-to spot for the bird-watching community, the migration of thousands of ducks will be witnessed from this glorious view after visiting this adventurous place. The lake is lovely, and it is surrounded by large plains in Gulmit Valley.

Hopar Valley.

Hopar is the most picturesque valley in the Nagar district and is located near Nagar. The Valley is a collection of towns centered on a natural bowl at the Bualtar Glacier’s curve. Hopper Glacier is a glacier that can be reached via a short hike from Karimabad. From Karimabad, it takes about 40 to 45 minutes to reach this glacier.

How to Get to Hunza Valley Pakistan?

It will take 320 kilometers to drive from Islamabad to Hunza Valley. You have 2 options for getting to Hunza Valley once you arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital.

By Air
The first option is to fly directly to Gilgit Airport and then drive to Hunza Valley for a short 2-3 hour journey. The distance between Gilgit and Hunza is around 100 kilometers. You can choose from several rental vehicle providers to get from Gilgit to Hunza.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates daily flights between Gilgit and Islamabad; however, all flights are subject to weather delays. This choice is less complicated, but it is also less fascinating than the other.

By Road
Taking a 24-hour bus from Islamabad to Hunza Valley is the most scenic choice. On the route, take in the sights of the Karakoram, Skardu, and Kaghan valleys. There is no direct bus service between Lahore and Hunza Valley.

April 10, 2016January 30, 2023

Attabad Lake, an amazing lake formed due to landsliding.

Attabad Lake was formed as a result of a massive landslide that took place on Jan. 4, 2010, in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Hunza river was blocked, gradually taking the shape of a lake, now famous as the Attabad Lake.

Twenty people died in the incident and 25,000 people of Gojal Valley were stranded. Gradually the lake extended up to 21 km in length and 330 ft in depth. More than six thousand people were displaced and around 170 houses and 120 shops were submerged in the lake. Many high profiles visited the region including Prime Minister, Army Chief, and many parliamentarians.

After four years the affectees are still waiting for the commitments made by the Government. Few people managed to rebuild their homes, but the majority are still hoping that their demands would be fulfilled.

Since the lake was formed the only means of crossing was by loading vehicles onto wooden boats. In 2015 the Chinese built a road tunnel that opened in September 2015.

The lake was formed due to a massive landslide at Attabad village in Gilgit-Baltistan, 9 miles (14 km) upstream (east) of Karimabad that occurred on January 4, 2010.The landslide killed twenty people and blocked the flow of the Hunza River for five months. The lake flooding has displaced 6,000 people from upstream villages, stranded (from land transportation routes) a further 25,000, and inundated over 12 miles (19 km) of the Karakoram Highway.The lake reached 13 miles (21 km) long and over 100 meters (330 ft) in depth by the first week of June 2010 when it began flowing over the landslide dam, completely submerging lower Shishkat and partly flooding Gulmit. The subdivision of Gojal has the greatest number of flooded buildings, over 170 houses, and 120 shops. The residents also had shortages of food and other items due to the blockage of the Karakoram Highway. By June 4 water outflow from the lake had increased to 3,700 cu ft/s (100 m3/s).

Water levels continued to rise on June 18, 2010, caused by a difference in the outflow and inflow of the new lake. As bad weather continued, the supply of food, medicine, and other goods was stopped as all forms of transportation including helicopter service to Hunza could not resume.

Read also: 4 Most Beautiful Fresh Water Lakes in The Vicinity of Skardu City.

Victims of the landslide and expansion of the lake staged a sit-in protesting the lack of government action and compensation payments to them.

As a result of the damming of Hunza River, five villages north of the barrier were flooded. One village, Ayeenabad, was completely submerged. Major portions of another village, Shishkat, was also submerged. Around 40% of the village of Gulmit, which also serves as the headquarters of Gojal Valley, was also submerged. Significant portions of land in Hussain and Ghulkin villages of Gojal also got submerged as a result of the surging lake.

The entire population of Gojal valley, up to 25000 individuals, was affected as a result of the lake, due to difficulties of road access and reaching business markets and loss of land, houses, and agricultural products.

Attabad has been visited by both current and former Prime Ministers Yousuf Raza Gillani and Nawaz Sharif, and by the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Sharif announced Rs100 million of aid for the victims of the Punjab government and Rs0.5 million for the relatives of those who died in the landslide.

Areas downstream from the lake remained on alert despite some officials believing that a major flood scenario was less likely as the river began flowing over the landslide dam during the first week of June 2010.Many people have been evacuated to 195 relief camps. Two hospitals downstream, the Kashrote Eye Vision Hospital and the Aga Khan Health Service, evacuated both their staff and equipment Some officials had incorrectly predicted that as soon as the lake began flowing over the landslide dam, a 60 feet (18 m) wave would hit the areas immediately downstream.

As of 14 June 2010, the water level continued to rise. Dawn News reported that “242 houses, 135 shops, four hotels, two schools, four factories, and several hundred acres of agricultural land” had been flooded, and villagers were receiving food and school fee subsidies. They reported that 25 kilometers (16 mi) of the Karakoram Highway and six bridges were destroyed. A special documentary on this issue Hunza Kahani by Waqar Ahmed Malik was on aired on Express news.

Frontier Works Organization blasted the spillway of the lake first on March 27, 2012, and then on May 15, 2012, lowering the lake’s water level by at least 33 feet (10 m). Now it has become one of the most beautiful touristic place & tourism asset for Pakistan.