Mountains Of Travel Photos
Home | K2 Main | K2 References | Contact 

K2 Photo Gallery - Skardu

Skardu: The Indus River, Khardong Hill, Lake Satpara, Buddhist Rock Carvings, Kachura Lake, Sand Dunes

01 From Skardu Airport Our Jeep Was Refuelled Before Driving Down The Main Skardu Street Towards Our Hotel After landing at Skardu, our jeep stopped at a gas station to refuel and then we drove down the main streets of Skardu to the Concordia Hotel.

01 From Skardu Airport Our Jeep Was Refuelled Before Driving Down The Main Skardu Street Towards Our Hotel

02 Concordia Hotel In Skardu Next To The Indus River The Concordia Hotel in Skardu is beautifully situated above the banks of the Indus River.

02 Concordia Hotel In Skardu Next To The Indus River

03 Jerome Ryan Descends From Skardu Concordia Hotel To Indus River It was stinking hot (38C) when I go to the Concordia Hotel, so Jerome Ryan enjoyed a cold Pepsi before descending from the hotel to the Indus River, where I skipped flat stones on the calm waters of the Indus.

03 Jerome Ryan Descends From Skardu Concordia Hotel To Indus River

04 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Above The Indus River At Sunrise From Concordia Hotel The Indus River snakes around Khardong Hill with the Kharpocho Fort, seen at sunrise from the Concordia Hotel in Skardu.

04 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Above The Indus River At Sunrise From Concordia Hotel

05 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Above The Indus River From Concordia Hotel The Indus River snakes around Khardong Hill with the Kharpocho Fort, seen from the Concordia Hotel in Skardu. Skardu (population 100,000) is the district headquarters of Baltistan. It is situated on the banks of the mighty Indus River, just 8 km (5 miles) above its confluence with the Shigar River. Perched at a height of 2286 metres, Skardu sits below magnificent mountains. The Indus barely seems to move across the immense, flat Skardu valley, 40km long, 10 km wide and carpeted with sand dunes. There are several beautiful blue lakes nearby, including Satpara, and Upper and Lower Kachura.

05 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Above The Indus River From Concordia Hotel

06 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Close Up From Concordia Hotel The Khardong Hill with the Kharpocho Fort close-up, seen from the Concordia Hotel in Skardu.

06 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Close Up From Concordia Hotel

07 Indus River Snakes Above The Skardu Valley Looking To The East From Concordia Hotel I looked to the east from near the Concordia Hotel in Skardu and looked at the Indus River snaking through the Skardu Valley.

07 Indus River Snakes Above The Skardu Valley Looking To The East From Concordia Hotel

08 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Reflected In The Indus River The Khardong Hill with the Kharpocho Fort is beautifully reflected in the calm Indus River in Skardu.

08 Skardu Khardong Hill And Kharpocho Fort Reflected In The Indus River

09 Skardu House In Chumik Below Khardong Hill I walked through the Chumik area of Skardu village below Khardong Hill, waving at the kids who asked me for 'pen, pen'. I wonder if they teach Tourism 101 in primary schools in third world countries. Teacher:

09 Skardu House In Chumik Below Khardong Hill

10 Skardu House In Chumik Below Khardong Hill I walked through the Chumik area of Skardu village below Khardong Hill, waving at the kids who asked me for 'pen, pen'. Teacher:

10 Skardu House In Chumik Below Khardong Hill

11 Skardu With View Towards Satpara Lake From Khardong Hill I climbed a little up the Khardong Hill to get a view overlooking Skardu, with the way to Satpara Lake behind.

11 Skardu With View Towards Satpara Lake From Khardong Hill

12 Skardu Main Street I walked back down the main street of Skardu to the Concordia Hotel.

12 Skardu Main Street

13 Lake Satpara Above Skardu We drove for about 20 minutes from Skardu up to see the beautiful crystal clear water of Lake Satpara.

13 Lake Satpara Above Skardu

14 Jerome Ryan, Cook Muhammed Ali, Guide Muhammed Iqbal At Lake Satpara Above Skardu Jerome Ryan, Cook Muhammad Ali, Guide Muhammad Iqbal At Lake Satpara Above Skardu. Muhammad Ali was the cook on the K2 trek. He is 22 from near Gilgit. He speaks English, six of the Pakistani languages, and is studying Japanese in University. He chose Japanese because 60% of the tourists to Pakistan are Japanese. He is friendly, very funny and a bit of a kidder, and a great cook. My guide Iqbal is a 23-year-old Balti from Skardu. We went to Iqbal's house. They have six rooms, and are building an addition for two more rooms. There are 24 people living there, including the extended family. They have a large backyard, with flowers and vegetables. I also met a man who Iqbal explained is not a family member.

14 Jerome Ryan, Cook Muhammed Ali, Guide Muhammed Iqbal At Lake Satpara Above Skardu

15 Buddhist Rock Carvings Near Skardu On the drive back to Skardu, the driver took a rough side road for 15-20 minutes to see 7C-8C Buddha reliefs carved on a large rock. This historical monument is unguarded with just a little barbed wire.

15 Buddhist Rock Carvings Near Skardu

16 Buddhist Rock Carving Of Buddha Close Up Near Skardu Here is a close-up of a 7C-8C relief of Buddha carved on a large rock near Skardu

16 Buddhist Rock Carving Of Buddha Close Up Near Skardu

17 Clear Water Of Upper Kachura Lake Near Skardu We drove about two hours from Skardu to see the shimmering, amazingly clear waters of Upper Kachura Lake.

17 Clear Water Of Upper Kachura Lake Near Skardu

18 Chinese Pagoda Style Buildings Of Shangri-La Resort On Lower Kachura Lake Near Skardu Lower Kachura Lake near Skardu is also called Shangrila lake because of the Chinese pagoda style buildings of the Shangi-La Resort built next to the lake.

18 Chinese Pagoda Style Buildings Of Shangri-La Resort On Lower Kachura Lake Near Skardu

19 Silvery Grey Sand Dunes Near Skardu On our way back to Skardu in the late afternoon, we stopped to view the sand dunes that are near Skardu.

19 Silvery Grey Sand Dunes Near Skardu

20 Sand Dunes Near Skardu There are beautiful, silvery-grey sand dunes near Skardu.

20 Sand Dunes Near Skardu

21 Sand Dunes Near Skardu There are beautiful, silvery-grey sand dunes near Skardu.

21 Sand Dunes Near Skardu

22 Jerome Ryan Enjoys The Garden At The Concordia Hotel In Skardu, Watches An Army Helicopter When I got back to the Concordia Hotel in Skardu, Jerome Ryan enjoyed the garden and could see a constant companion on the trek ahead – an army helicopter flew past me. I then had dinner in the dining room and sat in the garden again, relaxing before leaving in the morning for the trek.

22 Jerome Ryan Enjoys The Garden At The Concordia Hotel In Skardu, Watches An Army Helicopter


This album has 22 items in total    |    Album was updated 2011-04-23 13:57    |    Generated by jAlbum 9, custom skin ExhibitPlus 1.4a