Do you want to visit several tourist attractions at the same time in order to save time and money while having a great time? If so, you will find all of the beauty in Nalter Valley, which is the main tourist site in the Gilgit Baltistan Region. Every place has its own attracting features due to which its popularity is seen all over the world, but Nalter Valley has all the features collectively, which attract people from around the world to its beauty. It is rich in natural beauty, with five different lakes to explore, three of which are much more famous, and a skiing opportunity for visitors in the winter.
Nalter Valley is a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains with lovely people. It’s approximately 34 kilometers from the city of Gilgit in the northern areas of Pakistan, with an elevation of 15,348 feet. Nalter Highway connects Nalter Valley to the city of Gilgit, and it roughly takes two hours to reach the valley from the city. The valley is surrounded by snowcapped mountains, lush greenery, and captivated lakes, which attest to the beauty of the area. Although the road is dangerous and uncomfortable in places, the outcome of your journey will outweigh all of your difficulties. You will get an amazing picture of nature on reaching the valley, so amazing that you will never believe your eyes. You have an off-road drive with a narrow road. A river is falling along with you on one side of the road, and you will face many difficulties as the road has many twists and turns and is also steep at some points. But it never resists travelers despite the large number of people who arrive to explore the region, and there is no doubt that this is what adventure means. It’s truly amazing and is the entire year tourist spot as it offers summer and winter activities both.
Your journey starts in Gilgit, and you can go through jeeps, motorcycles, or other 4-by-4 vehicles that can bear the bumpy and rocky path. You need a skilled driver who knows the situation of the area well because there is a lack of metalized roads yet. You can find several spots on your way that are truly amazing for your photo shots, and you can take your time to grasp them all.
The valley consists of a protected area that was established on November 22, 1975, and is called the Nalter Wildlife Reservation. The area is a forest with many plant species, mostly coniferous species such as Picea and Junipers. There are several beautiful trees present, namely Salix, Olea, Populous, Pistacia, Fraxinus, and more. There are various animals, and some of them are endangered and need to be preserved. The wildlife includes a snow leopard, brown bear, grey wolf, red fox, beech marten, leopard cat, Astor Markhor, and the wild goat, respectively. You can also see the amazing collection of wild animals here, and this spot is perfect for your wildlife photography as well. Apart from that, this valley is considered to be the home of 35 various birds, which are recorded in the valley, and Brook’s leaf warbler is one of them. As I mentioned, the valley is rich in flora and fauna, so you can discover several groups of plants and animals in similar ways.
The main attraction of this place is the three main lakes of the valley, which are collectively called the Nalter Lakes or Bashkiri Lakes. So let’s experience the beauty of these lakes surrounded by dense pine trees. These lakes are approximately 12 kilometers away from the upper Nalter.
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Satrangi Lake
Satrangi Lake is renowned due to its eye-catching beauty and manifold colors. Satrangi means “seven colors.” The lake shows seven various colors, of which green, blue, and yellow are the most visible, but some other colors may be seen as the sun rises. You can see the rainbow color by concentrating. You can also find boating facilities and camping as well.
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Blue Lake
The next lake adjacent to Satrangi Lake, which roughly takes 10–15 minutes of riding to reach, is Blue Lake, also called Pari Lake. This turquoise lake is bigger than the previous one. The water in the lake is so pure that you can see the base of the Lake clearly. The stones and plants under the lake are clearly visible to you and are so amazing. The blue color is due to the reflection of the color of the sky, which makes it even more amazing. This lake hosts water from an underground source and is motionless. It is surrounded by glaciers and peaks. You can trek to the peak in front of the lake in order to have a spectacular view of the Halima Garden.
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Bodlok Lake
You must trek for hours to reach the third lake, Bodlok Lake, which is surrounded by pine trees, snowcapped mountains, and lush green surroundings. The lake is also called Feroza Lake, and you can reach it after one hour of trekking. The lake contains streams flowing down on each side, which brings a new level of beauty to the whole scenario. This lake is truly amazing and peaceful, allowing you to be alone with yourself away from the monotony of daily life and luxury.
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Winter Sports Festival
Apart from the lakes, the area is well-known for its winter tourism opportunities. Ski competitions are held at Nalter ski resort every year. The Winter sports festival is organized by the Pakistan Air force in collaboration with the Sports Federation of Pakistan which is truly amazing. The ski resort is at an altitude of 10,500 feet. The ski slope is present amongst the beautiful, dense forest of coniferous trees, which creates a magical view. The scenic view in winter is due to the deep green color of the plants with the crystal-colored snow all around, which can’t let you go while leaving this natural beauty. Some other activities also take place, which includes
snowboarding and ice hockey, respectively. The Pakistan Air Force has installed ski chairlifts at Nalter ski resort, through which you can get to the top and start with the sport.
You can visit the valley whenever you want, but you must see the waterfall and Zero Point, which provide a spectacular view of the entire Nalter Valley. You will be stunned upon visiting the valley; it’s beyond your imagination.
So, let’s get ready to visit and explore this incredible area, which has various forms of beauty at each point.
Further for you:-
https://sworld.blog/the_ancient_settlement_of_taxila/
