Skardu

Skardu (Hindi: स्कर्दू, Urdu: سکردو ), is the capital of Baltistan and the capital of Skardu District, one of the districts from which the special territory of Gilgit- Baltistan (until 2009: Northern Areas ) composed in Kashmir.

Skardu is located in a 10 km wide and 40 km long Skardu Valley, at the confluence of the Indus river ( flowing from the previously Kailash in Tibet by the neighboring Ladakh before reaching Baltistan ) and the Shigar. Skardu is situated on a plateau nearly 2,500 m above sea level and is surrounded by gray - brown colored mountains, which hide the nearby eight-thousanders of the Karakoram.

Tourism, trekking and mountain expedition base

Skardu is next to Gilgit, one of the two centers of tourism, trekking and expeditions in Gilgit -Baltistan. The mountainous terrain of the area, including four eight-thousanders, attract tourists, trekkers and mountaineers from all over the world. The main tourist season extends from April to October, outside this time can be cut off for an extended period of time through the snowy, freezing winter weather of the outside world the area.

Skardu, the nearby Askole and Hushe Valley are the main gates through which carried the journey to the snow-covered eight-thousanders K2, the Gasherbrum group and Broad Peak as well as the huge glaciers of Baltoro, Biafo and Trango. This fact helped Skardu into the most important tourist and mountaineers to develop base in the entire area, which has a comprehensive travel infrastructure including many shops and hotels. Skardu has its own airport to Skardu Airport.

Treks to the Deosai plateau ( 4,100 m), the second highest in the world is to start or end at Skardu after the Chang Tang in Tibet. In the local language Balti Deosai is called " Byarsa ", which means as much as the summer place. With an area of ​​approximately 3,000 square kilometers, the plains extend up to Ladakh and provide habitat for snow leopards, ibex, Tibetan brown bears and wild horses.

City and residents

The town has developed along the main road leading through it. On both sides of the street is the New Bazaar ( Naya Bazaar ), with hundreds of shops where the trekking needs to local goods, everything is for sale. Behind the Naya Bazaar district is the older Purana Bazaar, and if you follow the main road to the west to get to the polo field and the adjacent Kazmi Bazaar.

At first glance, Skardu seems to be a distant, dusty provincial town, but it is a colorful melting pot of different ethnicities and nationalities. The crowded streets are mainly populated by Balti Tibetans, which is also reflected in the name reflects (ie Khache - drong, Khar - drong, Olding, Kushu - bagh, Pakora, Thsethang, Sher -thang, Nagholi - spang etc.). Because of their large share Skardu is sometimes called the little Tibet of Pakistan.

However, there are also many other ethnic groups in Skardu including Pashtuns, Panjaber, Hunzukuc and Uyghur. Since the founding of the country's various ethnic groups from all areas of Pakistan emigrated in this area.

All the above ethnic groups are Muslims. Including the Balti - Tibetans, who converted from Tibetan Buddhism in the 16th century to Islam. Shia Islam has a large following in Skardu.

Weather and Climate

Skardu has because of its location in the mountains in summer a temperate climate, the usual in Pakistan's lowlands intense heat does not prevail here. The mountains also defend most of the monsoon from so that the precipitation in summer be rather low. However, the mountains of the region bring long harsh winter. During the peak tourist season from April to October, the temperatures during the day up to 27 ° C fall (April) on daily values ​​not greater than 8 ° C (October). Between December and January, temperatures below -10 ° C normal, with minimum values ​​can be obtained from -25 ° C.

Check-in

The normal road route to Skardu runs over a road branches off from the Karakoram Highway through the Skardu valley. There are also four or five other road links to Kashmir and Ladakh. There is also the possibility of Skardu with one of the daily scheduled flights between Islamabad to Skardu Airport to reach. The high cost of air travel make the road connection to locals and tourists alike preferred option.

During the winter months Skardu is partially a few days up to several weeks off from the outside world, as the streets of avalanches spilling. Then, the air connection, the only way to reach the city.

Fort Skardu

The Fort Skardu, Kharpochhe or Kharphocho ( Tibetan: mkhar po che " Large Castle " ) called, lies on the eastern flank of the Khardong Hill ( Tibetan: mkhar gdong "castle" ), about 50 meters above the city. It was built around 1600 by Ali Sher Khan, the then ruler of Makpon family of Skardu and contains an old, largely dilapidated mosque. From the fort you can see the whole city and the surrounding valley. In the 19th century, the fort was destroyed by the Dogra from Jammu in the conquest of Baltistan.

Skardu Road

Cricklewoods north - south link road has its name from the fort

Lakes in Skardu

There are three lakes near Skardu. In the language of the indigenous Balti a lake thso or tso is called.

Kachura lakes

There are two Kachura lakes, the little-known upper Kachura lake and the famous lower Kachura Lake, better known as Shangrila Lake. In addition to the lower Kachura lake there is the built in Chinese style Shangrila Resort hotel complex is a famous destination for tourists.

Satparasee

Satpara Thso Lake or Sadpara Lake is the main lake of Skardu valley and important water source for the city. In 2002, the Government of Pakistan decided the lake with a dam to share.

Swell

• Jettmar, Karl et al. (1985 ): Between Gandhara and the Silk Roads: petroglyphs on Karakoram Highway: Discoveries German - Pakistani expedition 1979-1984. In 1985. Mainz am Rhein, Philip of Saverne.
• Jettmar. Karl ( 1980): Bolor & Dardistan. Karl Jettmar. Islamabad, National Institute of Folk Heritage.