Attractions for Families (Hunza, Khunjrab Trip)

Road conditions: Any car can reach khunjreb pass. Only it has to be in good working condition.its metalled road from raikot & beyond.

   Routes:

1)Isb/Rwp -Abbottabad -Manshera -Balakot -Kaghan-Naran-Babusar Top-Chillas
⌚ Taken : 12 hours

Or

2)Isb/Rwp -Abbottabad -Manshera -Batagram -Besham-Pattan-Dassu-Chillas (called kkh)

⌚Taken : 15 hours minimum

From Chillas -Gilgit -Hunza-Passu-Sost-Khunjreb

⌚ Taken:

*Chillas -Gilgit = 3hrs
*Gilgit -Hunza = 2 to 2 & 1/2 hrs
*Hunza-Khunjreb = 4hrs

Important attractions to see beyond Chillas :

●Chillas to Gilgit:
1)Sulphur Springs / Tatta Pani
2)Nanga parbat view point on kkh near Bunji
3)Junction of 3 mountain ranges kkh near Jaglot

●Gilgit to Hunza:
1) Rakaposhi view point
2) Old silk route seen on kkh
3) Collision point of  continental plates
4) Chapshoro (local dish ) at Thol

●Hunza:
1)Altit fort..
2)Baltit fort..
3)Duikar (eagles nest)..
4)Bublimotin /Lady Finger Peak view point @Duikar..
5)Ganesh settlements..
6)Sacred Rocks..
7)Walnut cake of Hunza de Cafe..
8)Chapshoro & local food @ Hidden Paradise..

●Hunza to Sost:
1)Attabad lake n boating in it..
2)Passu cones..
3)Hussaini suspension bridge
4)Passu glacier..
5)Borith lake..
6)Apricot cake by glacier breeze hotel in passu..

●Sost to Khunjreb:

Look out for golden marmots near khunjreb ascend..

●Naltar Valley:

Route: Gilgit-Nomal-Naltar

⌚Time taken : 2 & 1/2 hr.
 Road condition: Any car can reach nomal but beyond that its a 4×4  track.

 DONT TRY THE TRACK WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE.

Naltar has 5 lakes. 3 of them can be reached on jeep ,For rest trekking is required..

Collision Point of Continental Plates

 

Old Silk Route

Rakaposhi View Point

Rakaposhi View Point

My beautiful daughter posing infront of Diran Hotel - Minapin

Duikar - Famous for Eagle Nest

Duikar - Eagle Nest

Lady Finger Peak

Local Dish Chupshoro at Hidden Paradise Hotel

Ganish Village - 1000 Years Old Settlements

Attabad Lake

Passu Glacier

My Brother posing infront of Khunjrab Pass

My Mother and Brother during their visit to Khunjrab in early Aug 

Satrangi Lake Naltar

DARBAR MAHAL , Bahawalpur.

The beautiful royal DARBAR MAHAL , Bahawalpur..

Darbar Mahal

PC: Afnan's Photography

It was build in 1905 for the wife of Nawab Bahawal .After independence this princely palace was used as offices for govt officials. for sometime it served as court room & assembly hall.Now it is under army .

As awe-inspiring as any Mughal fort & Palace, build in red brick.

Colorful Glass Mosaic - Darbar Mahal

Picure by Author

Regal interior decore. Elegant furniture. Decorous drapes .Posh lamp & chandeliers .Mosaic roof.Marble floors.Stuffed Deers.

The big gallery adjacent to Main Hall was once used as art gallery displaying rare art work.

Pelican Bird Roaming

Picture by Author

Pelican birds roaming in lawns are cherry on top. Pelican was national bird of Bahawalpur state.

Darbar Mahal Mosque

PC: Maliha Iqbal

It has equally magnificent Mosque & Bara Dari. Bara Dari is a building  with 12 doors designed to allow free flow of air.

Nishat mahal, Gulzar Mahal & Farukh Mahal are in same compound near it.

Total area: 75acres

Entry Gate Darbar Mahal

PC: Afnan's Photography

Location: Near Islamia university on Darbar road.Bahawalpur City, South Punjab, Pakistan.

✔ you require army permission for entry.

A soul stirring palace. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Darbar Mahal at Sunset

PC: Aziz Khan

Marvelous Illumination of Darbar Mahal

PC: Aziz Khan

Chap shoro (local dish Hunza Nagar)

Chopsoro - Photo by Author

Pakistan is not only rich in landscape but also has vast variety of foods. Gilgit baltistan too has toothsome dishes to offer.

One of the most famous & mouth watering dish is Chap shoro.

It is basically a local dish of Hunza nagar.It is cooked on weddings & special occasions.

I loved the one made in chicken flavour , ate it from Hidden paradise Hotel near Baltit fort.

You can also have it in mutton & yak meat. But they will be a half done as locals like to eat it that way & dont fry meat much.

Picture of Author enjoying Chopsoro at Hidden Paradise Hotel Karimabad

You can also try it at home..

RECIPE:

Serving: 2 chopsoro

☆INGREDIENTS :

■Dough:

•300g flour

 •1/2 tsp salt

      •1cup of water

•2table spoon of cooking oil

■Filling:

•½ kg mince (chicken/mutton/beef)

•2 medium sized chopped onions

•2 chopped green chillies 

•few chopped coriander leaves

•pinch of black pepper

•pinch of white pepper

•salt to taste

☆Procedure

■Dough

Take a large bowl, add in it flour ,salt & cooking oil & some water. Knead dough thoroughly for 15 mins & set it aside for some time. Then divide the dough in to 4 equal parts & form them into balls. Flat them with help of rolling pin in shape of round disk.

■Filling:

In a pan add little oil , add mince in it. Add salt, black pepper,white pepper.Fry it until almost cooked. Add chopped onions, green chillies & coriander leaves.

Now take baking tray ,spray a little oil & flour. Put dough disk on it. Spread half filling , leaving the edges. Put second disk on top of it. Press them together & fold over small rim.

You can bake it or cook it in skillet.

Phander Valley , Gilgit Baltistan

Phander is in Ghizer district of Gilgit Baltistan.
Phander is known as "little kashmir."
N Mustansar Hussain says ,"One who hasn't seen Phandar, hasn't seen the real beauty of Gilgit".

Local people are very friendly & hardworking .

I am a strong believer of enjoying the journey as much as destination. So journey from Gilgit to Phander offers scenic beauty, with river travelling with you side by side the whole time & fruit trees laden with fruits..

We made a game to guess the fruit tree n then stopping over to check n asking locals to eat the fruit fresh from gardens...

Apricots , peaches , almonds & apples...

⏰time taken : 5 to 6 hours from Gilgit city

 Route : Gilgit -Gakuch-Gupis-Phander-Chitral

 Road Condition : it is like any other normal road in Pakistan but has few rough patches. Any vehicle with good ground clearance can go there.
You can get local bus n Natco  for Phander from punial terminal in Gilgit city.

 Place for night stay : The PTDC hotel & Phander rest house.

 Things to do :

-sight seeing Phander lake.
-Fishing n dining of Trouts.

Phander Lake

Photo by Author during her visit in May 2016

Phander Valley in Summers

PC: Ali Chugtai

What Lake are you ?OR What Lake you want to date ?

A different take on some of the beautiful lakes of Pakistan..

A) you are beautiful n you know that , but you want your popularity to be sky high , for that you are becoming interactive to every stranger n welcoming them with open arms..

You are lake SAIF UL MALOOK, near naran, kaghan valley, KPK

B) you are artificial to the core,but you are groomed n carries yourself with an air of arrogance...
Kim Kardashian of her kind...

You are none other than SHANGRILA,Skardu , GB

C) you are the momina mustehsan of your kind, the new pakistani crush ... not many can reach you but every one will oogle on your photos...

You are SHEOSAR LAKE deosai, skardu, GB

D) you are lonely n unheard by many.. you enjoy your own company or of those who like to speak only with heart..

You are PHANDER LAKE,Ghizer,GB

E) you are  Chameleon..baat ba baat rang badalna... many among us are two faced.. you have 7 faces n moods..

You are NALTAR SATRANGI LAKE, (bashkiri 1) naltar valley , GB

F) you came into being out of necessity n love ..thats why you have a protective daddy... one has to ask daddy to fix date with you...

You are RAINBOW LAKE , domail, astore, GB

G) you are like cindrella, simple n beautiful n genuine but is ignored for the lavish fake step sister...
You are homely n welcoming n has few tricks up your sleeve..

You are UPPER KACHURA LAKE , skardu, GB

H) you were once apple of every eye.. but now you are victim of defamation by your own old admirers..
You are poor soul , that people used for their benefit n now blames you...

You are BANJOSA LAKE, Poonch, azad kashmir..

I) you are pretty picture with piercing blue eyes ,but you have a deep sad story written all over your face...
You are diana.. the peoples queen...

You are our very own ATTABAD LAKE , Hunza, GB..

J) you are almost virgin to the eyes of strangers... you live in a far off place in a territory of terror ... eventhough you are beautiful but beautifully ignored...

You are WALI TANGI LAKE, Urak valley, balouchistan..

K) you are unique than your peers... you belong to a different family , a unique tribe... you have red rosy cheeks n have pepper gray hairs...
One has to turn his back to the rest of world n seek you high up the north,

You are our strawberry sweet RATTI GALI LAKE , alpine glaciel lake, neelum valley, azad kashmir..

L) you are jallali n send invitation to only special ones ... you meet only those who have met many cousins of yours n still yearns for more...you offer serene solitude.. n when in mood , shower extra blessings...

You are ,KAROMBER LAKE ,Broghil along Wakhan Corridor, Chitral Valley, KPk..

M) you are exceptional beauty that persuade her desirous to explore her. N they come running towards you ignoring all the hurdles of way...

You are MAHUDAND LAKE , ushu , swat valley , kpk.. another alpine glacial lake..

N) you have a pure soul reflected through your crystal clear eyes.. you have a mystic touch to you.. n one has to sweat hard to  reach you,to meet you...

You are CHITTA KITHA LAKE  ,Shounter valley, azad kashmir..

Thats all for now , ENJOY reading ...

PC:

Lake Saiful Malook-Minhaj Qazi Photography
Shangrila lake-Usman Zia Photography
Sheosar lake-Rushan Raza
Phander lake- Azhar ali chaudary
Satrangi naltar lake-Ghalib hasnain
Rainbow lake domail- Hassan awan
Upper kachura lake-Zia ul haq
Banjosa lake-Usman ghani
Attabad lake-Ja jameel ahmed
Walitangi lake-Hunzukutz kahn
Ratti gali lake-Usman shafqat
Karomber lake-Mobeen mazhar
Mahodand lake-M.Ali
Chitta katha lake-Sher ali saafi