SKARDU – Commercial center of Baltistan

SKARDU

Skardu, the regional headquarters and commercial center of Baltistan, situated on the bank of the River Indus at the height of 7500 feet above sea level. It offers a cool and bracing climate and in summer, it attracts a large number of tourists from all around the world.

Skardu links with Islamabad by Pakistan International Airlines flights besides the all seasonal Skardu- Gilgit Road and the Karakuram Highway. Operation of PIA flights still depends upon weather condition but necessary measures are being adopted by Government of Pakistan for instrumental landing of flights in near future. Some importants sites in Skardu include Kharpocho Fort, Mindoq Khar, Sadpara Dame, Kachura Lakes, Deosais, Plateau and Buddha rock Manthal, whereas Sundus, Katpana, Hussainabad, Nangsoq, Basho, Shigri Bala, Tandal and Chunda villages are also tourists spots in summer. In the middle of Skardu Bazar stands a monument, which is known as Yadgar, dedicated to the memories of martyrs of the war of independence 1948.

RONDU

Rondu or Rongyul, stretching from Sassi to Baicha along the River Indus with its administrative center Thowar, is relatively un-explored. Crossing the villages of Sassi and Thowar and a little further on is village Mendi across of former small kingdom of Rongyul during the reign of local rulers.

Rondu Valley is famous for Polo and having the winner team throughout Baltistan for the last many decades. This place is known for the beautiful narration of the world famous Kesor epic which is about King Kesor. It is the famous epic in Baltistan, Ladakh and Tibet which relates to pre-historic period.

GULTARI

This is an isolated valley consisting of 7-8 hamlets. Difficult roads connect this valley with Deosai plain and Astore for only two months in summer and it remains disconnected from the rest of the world for ten months. It is sharing the borders with Dras sector of India, thus prohibited for foreigners.