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Drive from Gilgit to Chitral over Shandur Pass (3,743) m

Going through North Pakistan is a heart-touching moment of life for nature lovers. Some of the parts have a unique beauty and exciting parallels to any other place on the globe. I am going to write about Ghizer where travelers have great opportunities to lose themselves in the hidden treasures. It is not far from the road to see diversity from the seat of the cars to see and add to the joys of the holidays. In some parts, you to walk to reach the viewpoints to distances. The journey takes you to Gilgit-Baltistan to the Chitral of the Khyber PukhtoonKhaw Province formerly NWFP.

The mind-blowing highlights of the Ghizer Valley while traveling on the road

Ghizer to the west of Gilgit-Baltistan is called the Land of Lakes has contrast from the valley to valley and village to village with mind-blowing highlights. The picturesque Ghizer Valley has numerous points where nature lovers to stop take pictures take a rest and enjoy the natural beauty to add to the joys of their holidays. There is history, culture, archaeology, and spectacular snowing covering mountains above the charming villages where visitors can enjoy with. During the summer along the streets variety of fruits are found in the shops nearby the road.

View points on the Shandur Road along with the crystal clear Ghizer River

Your journey begins from Gilgit City towards the west on Shandur visit Kargah Buddha a rock carving beside the Kargah Nullah (steam) 6km west of Gilgit along the old road to Punial, is the most popular short outing from Gilgit. The Buddha figure is about 3m tall and looks down protectively over Gilgit. It was carved in the 7th century and its workmanship reveals a talented master and has an interesting story you will be told by your guide or can see on the signage below if you are without a guide. After 5 km on the road, you will come across Hanzal Buddhist The stupa which will give the amazing story of the Buddhist era in the north of Pakistan.

·        The viewPoint of Sher Qila

Sher Qila the largest villages in Ghizer great view about 36 km from Gilgit has an attraction for visitors to stop taking pictures and enjoy the beauty of the village. It was once the center of the kingdom of Punial during the Kingdom system in Gilgit-Baltistan. It is the village of current members of the legislative council of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Gahkuch viewpoint

Gahkuch View Point has the great attraction of the Ghizer River and the junction of the Karakoram and Hindukush Mountains that signs the division of Ishkoman and Gupis/Yasin Valleys that is great picture point. The Ghizer river spreads here in different parts here that give an attraction with blue-sky color and the Chinese built the long bridge, the magnificent view of upper and lower Gahkuch is also an amazing highlight of this viewpoint. Upper Gahkuch has great attraction about the history of Punial and Ghizer the two forts remains of the ancient fort and old fort tell the history Punial with their amazing architecture. You can visit them while staying in Gahkuch by car or a great walk to the viewpoints above the hills. You can interact with history-telling communities in the village. It is worth visiting there if you are in Ghizer.

Musharaf Memorial and Junction of Hanisari and Ghizer Rivers

Crossing the Damas Village there is a point which is called Musharraf Point has a great view of Golodass, Hattoon, Karakorum International University Ghizer Campus across the river especially the meeting point of Hanisari and Ghizer Rivers along with an eye-catching view of Ishkoman Valley from here. It is called Mushraf Memorial because the former president of Pakistan Pervaiz Musharaf visited here during their reign and addressed the people of Ghizer Districted and awarded numerous development projects for the whole district unlike any other leaders of Pakistan.

·        Hopper Garden

Hoper is a small beautiful village on the road with a picnic point the owner of this picnic point is a smiling man you will enjoy his extraordinary hospitality telling the story of Hopper Garden with rooms on the large trees here are a unique culture. You would have tea climbing the trees’ rooms and romantic view of Hopper waterfall a unique place on this journey.  

Junction of Yasin and Phander Valleys Hammer Dass Gupis

This point has a great view of the junction of Phundar and Yasin Valleys with the meeting point of Phundar and Yasin Rivers both have different colors, the Phundar River is crystal clear and Yasin River muddy meet each other and the picture here has a unique attraction. The story of Charitoi Fairy Lady is one of the highlights where you will see blood on a rock where people use to slaughter a hen/animal during the travel of wedding party who are going to cross this place. It is a long story about this place in the past all those used to slaughter a hen/animal while the cross this for the first time while traveling to Gilgit or any other place passing through here.

·        Khalti Lake View Point

Khalti Lake a 3km long lake by the road was formed in a flood in 1978 is an eye-catching spot where it gets full of trout fish during the whole. It is completely frozen during the winter covers with hard ice winter sports are played on it in the month of January every along with different cultural events of the Ghizer District. Thousands of participating in the event. The lake is a great attraction for boating apart from the winter. During the months of March to November, you would be able to enjoy fishing in the lake and have fish in the picnic points and small restaurants nearby the lake. From here you are heading to the most beautiful parts of North Pakistan that are least known of the Gilgit-Baltistan is worth visiting to enjoy the real natural beauty with its site walks highlights multi-days hikes.

·        Phunder Valley

Moving further to the Phunder Valley is an amazing experience of the journey passing through antique cultural villages and land of unspoiled farmlands, lush green meadows, crystal clear river, waterfalls and blue sky lakes are the lifelong memories of your journey. Once you reach to proper Phunder the panoramic views of the surrounding and sky-touching white-headed mountains of Hindukush Range are unforgettable moments of life. On the way you will come across some of the scenic viewpoints that take your attraction shoot and spend more time looking at sceneries. Phunder valley has numerous day hikes and long trekking circular walks crossing passes to its connecting valleys to the northeast from Shamaran Village, a charismatic trek leads to Yasin Valley over Nazbar Pass 4,970 m along the Ano Gol, from the way there is another Zagar Pass 5,008 leads to Mastuj Upper Chitral. From Barsat a two days trek leads to Mastuj over Chumarkhand Pass 4,344 m you can also hire horses for this trek and enjoy horse riding if you are interested in it.

To the south Phundar Valley connects with Darel and Tangir and from further up with Kalam of Swat Valley. From Chashi Village a three days easy trek leads to Darel and Tangir which is still unexplored by anyone except the locals who use to go often to see their relatives across the two valleys. From Handarap Village a six days trek leads Kalam of Swat Valley over Dadereli Pass 5,030m all these sidewalks are passing through panoramic views. On the way, Khukhish Lake is one of the largest lakes in the valley come across where you can camp and enjoy fishing in the lake and have the taste of Trout on your trek.

·        Shandur Pass 3,734m

On this journey, Shandur Pass between Gilgit-Baltistan is the top highlight which is famous for its Shandur Polo event which played in the month of July every year with cultural activities of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. A three days colorful event is celebrated here at the highest Polo Ground in the world. The final Polo match is played between the top teams of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. This match becomes like a battlefield and very interesting. Shandur Polo fills with thousands of people a silent high place becomes like a large busy overcrowded city these days. It is worth it during this festival to enjoy your holidays. Usually, this festival holds in the second week of July meanwhile sometimes the dates could change you can look for updates on the internet and the social media hits about the event you will know about the festival in those days.

Leading to Chitral from here is another exciting journey along with the charming villages of Chitral. There are facilities to stay and eat on the roads on both sides.

In the near future, more posts will be posted on this blog with all the required information for a traveler on this route. Stays connected and post your feedback and queries in the comment section.  Visit www.hkttreks.com for more information and choosing a trip anywhere in Pakistan.