Introduction
Astore, a valley 120km long with a region of 5,000km2, is situated in the north of Pakistan, in Gilgit-Baltistan state. The valley is at the eastern substance of Nanga Parbat, a pinnacle 8,125 high, regularly called the Killer Mountain, as it is viewed as one of the riskiest mountains on the planet to ascend.
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Rainbow Lake – Astore Valley
The scene that makes up the valley isn’t just of a titanic wonder but on the other hand is, made out of enormous geographic assortment and differences, offering the audacious voyager unending traveling alternatives, just as the occasion to get submerged in a culture which relatively few vacationers have ever gotten the opportunity to encounter.
Heritage and Culture
That being stated, as an autonomous voyager and an admirer of real encounters, as I would like to think, the exchanging course that associated Gilgit-Baltistan with the Indian subcontinent is, by a wide margin, the schedule that offers the most intriguing point of view.
For quite a long time, this course was utilized as a business association among Gilgit and the district of Kashmir. The Gibians used to go to Srinagar (the principal city in Kashmir) to examine, just as bringing in a wide assortment of items, for example, the renowned Kashmiri textures.
The three red markers have a place with Rupal, Rama Lake, and Deosai Plains, the most touristic places in the valley. The blue markers have a place with the exchanging course that prompts Kashmir.
Check out Astore Valley Tour Packages
Since, down the ages, a few gatherings have gone through Astore, today the valley appreciates an enormous semantic and social variety, Shina* being the most well-known language, including a huge number of Kashmiri individuals, who chose to settle down in these mountains.
This large development of individuals is, presumably, one reason why the Astore Valley is one of only a handful few places in Gilgit-Baltistan where Sunni Muslims are the larger part, having a place with the Wahhabi branch, the most moderate wing of Islam.
How to travel to the Astore Valley?
The ways of travelling to the Astore Valley are mentioned below:
1. Getting a jeep
The valley is just and solely open by four-wheel-drive vehicles. If you can manage the cost of it, your most ideal alternative would lease a Jeep. The cost will rely upon your exchange aptitudes however you wont be paying under $50 or $60 per day.
2. Public transport
On the off chance that time isnt an issue for you, public transportation is a plausible alternative. From Gilgit city, some old 4×4 pickups are leaving for the city of Astore, the purpose of admittance to the valley. The excursion takes 4-5 hours and knows that youll go by twenty others on the rear of the vehicle, in addition to every one of their assets.
There are no pre-characterized plans. Simply attempt to go one day before to the bus stop and request inexact timings. Notwithstanding, because of my insight, be readied that they may surrender to 3 hours late. From the city of Astore, other 4×4 pickups follow the way to Kashmir. Once more, timings are questionable and, to be straightforward, I feel that catching a ride is a lot simpler.
Where to travel in the Astore Valley?
Luckily, to like the valley, you dont need to go far away from the essential road. All pictures can be taken from the road, as this is the bonafide course you need to follow.
There are dazzling valleys, unfathomably serious campgrounds, journey going from a day to about fourteen days with differing trouble, and grand streams. Moreover, there are uncommon creatures, ice sheets, pines, and pinnacles.
Eighteen of the worlds most elevated mountains are found in the Gilgit area. A large number of these can be seen, or if courses of action are made, traveled to, from Astore and the close by town of Tarashing. It likewise has the Rama polo celebration and offers food that is a significant change from the common Pakistani sense of taste.
From Astore, you can go to Dar Lay lake, discovered 5 or 6 hours towards Kashmir. I used that place as a base and, starting there, I did day walks around different ways. Right when I got back to Astore, I ended in those spots that had all the earmarks of being charming.
1. Rama Lake
The Rama fields and Lake can be designated as the most entrancing piece of Astore Valley. Under the statures of Nanga Parbat massif, this high height summer field is remarkably rich in greenery. Rama Valley is thickly forested with cosmically massive pine, cedar, fir, and juniper trees. The Rama Lake is a greenish lake at an elevation of 3400 meters 4KM from the Rama backwoods.
At a height of 2900 meters, the Tarishing is a dazzling town at the feet of Nanga Parbat massif. It very well may be a decent jeep safari to Tarishing for perspectives on Chongra Peak (part of Nanga Parbat massif) and the Tarishing Glacier. The beauteously developed town among the high mountains itself is an incredible spot to visit. Tarishing is withal a fundamental base for some travelers and climbers heading up for Nanga Parbat, Rupal, and Mazeeno pass.
2. Deosai Plateau
This is the most needed jeep safari for the travelers of Astore Valley. It very well may be a difficult days get back from the worlds most elevated level and the renowned Shausar (Shaucer) Lake. A few travelers want to drop at Skardu by intersection the Deosai from Astore.
3. Skardu Valley
Skardu Valley is 7,500 feet above ocean level in Baltistan. Skardu Valley is an extraordinary spot to mountain journey and an anglers little glimpse of heaven with a plentiful supply of wild freshwater trout to get with a set of the incredible pinnacles of the Karakoram mountain reach to savor.
Read Also: Best Places to Visit in Skardu
PIA gives standard trips into Skardu Valley from Islamabad following a similar course which associates Gilgit with Islamabad yet to arrive at Skardu Valley the plane takes a go to one side and flies directly over the Indus River gorge with cyclopean stone faces that hoist on one or the other side and now and again it feels as though the wingtips will proximately brush them, obviously they never do.
The vacationer season exudes from April to October. The most extreme temperature is 26.67 °C (80 F) and the lowest (October) 7.22°C.
4. Rush Lake Trek
Public transports day by day leaves PirWadhai for the (Ali Abad) Hunza. Ali Abad to Hopar an hour and a half by open van. Public vans are accessible for Hopar town at Ali Abad.
Hopar to Shishkin 3 hours ice sheets crossing Shishkin to BarpuGiram 2 hours icy mass intersection BarpuGiram to Guttens 4 hours journeying Guttens to Rush Lake 3 hours slanted traveling to 4760 meters Another appeal of this lake is to cross the 5000 meters mark by climbing up on the Rush Peak at 5100 meters.
5. Chitta Katha Lake Trek
Public transports leave Muzaffarabad in advance of 9:00 PM. Public vans are accessible before early afternoon for Atthmuqam from where private jeeps can be employed. Kel to Upper Domel Locally called UtliDomel.
It requires recruiting a private jeep from Atthmuqam or Kel. Upper Domel to ChittaKattha Lake One of the frozen lakes for the vast majority of the year, the ChittaKattha Lake is situated in Shounter valley in Azad Kashmir. A demanding 4 to 8 hours journey is the last obstacle between the Upper Domel and these 4,100 meters (13,500 ft) high lake. Upper Domel is a little far off town in Shounter valley and opens through 4–5 hours peregrinating on a jittery jeep street from Kel in Neelum Valley. It is withal conceivable to arrive at Upper Domel from the Astore valley.
A stay in Upper Domel requires perfect outdoor courses of action as no different choices are accessible. For outdoors search for a consistent spot as the potatoes are developed at every last bit of leveled land. Very fundamental sustenance and tea can be accessible from a 5×5 feet smoky lodge at the initiation of the town. From the town, journeying initiates by moving around out of the town on a similar jeep street which prompted the Upper Domel.
A lofty way leaves the jeep street to the edge of the strepitous stream around 150 meters from the town. A transitory and questionable extension made out of hedges benefits to cross the waterway and reach to one more moment settlement overwhelmed by the potato fields. ChittaKattha Lake a consistent climbing begins at the end of this developed settlement.
An interminable rising on a stony way with various round turns takes around one and a half hours. Once at the highest point of this green edge, the perspectives at both front and rears are great. In the front, a sharp decay is prompting a profound bowl-formed valley with a day off frozen dihydrogen monoxide.
The elusive gelid surface requires care while crossing towards the opposite side of the day off. There are not many Gujjar cabins with not many families dealing with creature groups. Following a couple of moments of a delicate walk, this bowl closes at a thin crevasse with a dihydrogen monoxide stream in the profound. ChittaKattha Lake for the majority of the year a thick front of strong snow keeps this stream covered.
Faithfully moving around on this dangerous and slanted snow it takes approx. thirty minutes to arrive at the end of this crevasse. ChittaKattha Lake the slanted way forward is still consistent. However, the verdant inclines with uncountable blossoms on the two sides make this land parcel an out of world dream place.
Where to stay in the Astore Valley?
Besides in the principal city of Astore, which is the passageway to the valley and a position of little interest, there are no lodgings. A tent is an absolute necessity. In any case, if you attempt to blend with local people, all things considered, they will welcome you to remain in their homes.
1. PTDC Motel
Though there are not many inns in Astore Town and a shining PTDC inn at Rama however the night stay alternatives are nearly not exactly the other mountain towns of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Rama PWD Rest House may also be an extraordinary alternative for individuals who can get approval.
2. Hotel Deewan-e-Khaas
The package is 5100 PKR. It has a romantic budget hotel with kids activities, restaurants and a free Wi-Fi facility.
3. Hotel Mountain Lodge Holiday Home
The package is 7500 PKR. There are city-view rooms in this business-friendly hotel. There is a possibility of a ski-in and ski-out access, a hot tub and a rooftop bar.
4. Graceland Hotel Skardu
The package is 2990 PKR. It is a property offering a free Wi-Fi facility, free breakfast, and kids’ activities.
5. Hotel Himalaya Skardu
The package is 7281 PKR. It has a beautiful garden to enjoy the environmental landscape.
How many days will it take to reach the Astore Valley?
Distances are generally short at the same time, given the street conditions, vehicles dont travel quicker than 10km/h. On the off chance that you travel in your Jeep, you should remain there for in any event 4 days to appreciate the valley at its best. On the off chance that you travel by open transportation, you should add 2 or 3 all the more additional days.
Conclusion
At the point when individuals state there’s no spot like the northern valleys of Pakistan, it’s places like Astore they have as a main priority. Rich greenery and blue skies combined with inconceivably high pinnacles going directly through the mists.
Book this 5 days Astore valley tour package at cheap rates and explore all the majestic places of Astore valley.
This area, effectively got to by street from Gilgit, offers something for everybody. From the fittest stalwart globe-trotters to the family with individuals of all ages hoping to take in certain perspectives and capitalize on their late spring. Make sure you don’t miss out on visiting this historical place in Pakistan.