Shangrila Resort-"A Place that Will Take Your Breath Away!"

 

A crystal ice lake with cozy huts and cherry orchards all around! What else would someone want if it has this view. Yes, the Upper Kachura lake in Skardu, also known as Shangrilla Lake is situated some 45 minutes away from Skardu International Airport. Two weekly flights connect Skardu and Islamabad. The plane would land you in the vast cold desert of Skardu and then a little uphill drive will take you to Shangrilla. It has a serene environment with lots of guest houses around the lake. Each having a unique variety of fruit orchards and lush green lawns. The hotels there provide you a luxurious accommodation. During the Spring and summers, the lake exhibits its crystal blue depth of few feet and naturally bred fish. In winters, complete pond is filled with layers of snow and presents a good ring for the ice skating. The lake is naturally provided with the springs from upper kachura and the water flows into trout farms beneath the lake. An orient airways airliner made a forced landing here some decades ago after which the captain himself made this place into a theme hotel which offers fine dining in the same plane. All around the area, cherries of different kinds are produced, majority of what is of export quality. Some locals of the area also offer you a boat ride in the lake which is one of the best experiences when you see yourself surrounded by huge rocky peaks and a heaven in between. Mostly the tourists visit during spring and summers due to availability of flights and also the rooms at the hotels. Shangrilla has a lot of attractions such as Skardu city, Sadpara lake and Shigar Fort. You might also get the mirror view of the lake early in the morning when the sunrise reflects exact valley into the lake and changing colors of the lake. With the sunset you would see the lights in valley blending with the twilight sky and the steam from the chimneys would make you fly to the aromatic cuisines made by the locals as the sun sets. At night the mystic peaks exhibit through a bright night sky full of stars and constellations, you would not surely need a telescope. One would see countless stars and a sky free of city pollution. In spring, the fireflies form a boundary over the lake giving it a look from a fairy tale. People there are very friendly and even offer you a stay at their places. They are very forthcoming, and the area is generally very safe and friendly. The road leading to Shangrilla is well paved and the local cabs are easily available at the airport to pick you up. So, whenever you plan to hit North of Pakistan, put Shangrilla in your bucket so you don’t miss this part of heaven on Earth. The tall pine trees with apples and cherries, the crystal pond, grilled trout on the pit and mystic snowy peaks are all waiting for you!