Pakistan: Your Travel destination in 2019 - Part XI: Borith Lake and Ghulkin Glacier (Gilgit Baltistan)

Many years ago I watched the film Beyond the Last Mountain for the mere name fascinated me. But those who dare and go on adventure tour to the northern areas of Pakistan and wander between the mountains valleys, they often find a fascinating world hidden beyond these mountains. And the the mountains are never ending, for when one thinks that this is the last mountain, there is yet another mountain behind ever mountain and yet another wonderland awaiting to be explored and loved forever.

However, the journey in quest to see what lies beyond the last mountain is not easy.  The moment one leaves the spectacular Karakoram Highway, there commences a nerve breaking endless journey on narrow mountains tracks studded with rocky stones, the shock of which can be felt no matter which vehicle you are sitting in. And that is where sturdy 4x4 age tested Jeeps come handy. In fact tourists, trekkers and adventurists hire these Jeeps right at the Road Head from where the mountain tracks branch off from the last metaled road. The drivers of these Jeeps are locals who can handle the toughness of the stony tracks and negotiate hair raising turns and bends.

I am always for look out for place unheard so that my readers get to see these beautiful otherwise hidden places to show to the world the beauty that awaits them to explore. And the video that I have shared below is one such effort to show to my readers the less heard Borith Lake and Passu Glacier.

Borith Lake, located approximately 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) above sea level,  is a lake in Gulmit, Hunza Valley in Gilgit–Baltistan, northwest of Husseini, a village near Gulmit, Gojal, in the upper Hunza. The crystal clear water of the lake is so far unpolluted and clean as it is watched by its snow covered protectors from behind the rocky ridges.

In order to reach the lake, one has to leave the Karakoram Highway at village Husseini and then has to travel on an unpaved jeep track for about 2 kilometers over watched by rugged stony mountains. The Lake is a sanctuary for migrating birds and is often visited by bird-watchers and nature lovers. From March to June, the lake is home to ducks of many species who rest here on their way northwards to the cooler waters of central Asia. The birds revisit from September–November with the onset of winter towards the north.

Before reaching the Borith Lake, one skirts the Ghulkin Glacier which feeds the Borith Lake. A longer walk to Passu Gar Glacier is another attraction, crossing both Ghulkin Glacier and Borith Lake. Having crossed Ghulkin Glacier by the same route, hikers can continue on the southern side of Borith Lake past the settlement of Borith Bala and the now deserted settlement of Shahabad. 

Passu Glacier as seen from KKH [Photo: Waqas Salim Jami/Facebook]

Watch the video below by a group of adventures who dared to tap the unbeaten tracks and reach beyond the mountains:

After watching the video, you too would realize that Pakistan is a sure destination to visit to cherish its memories forever !!
Photo | References | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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Pakistan: Your Travel Destination 2019 - Part VII - Pir Ghaib (Bolan), Balochistan

Balochistan province, that is the largest province of Pakistan as far land mass is concerned, is mostly an arid desert and mountainous. There are large tracts of treeless in most of the province due to lack of rainfall. But wherever there is water available we see lush green orchards, apple gardens and water falls. 

Pir Ghaib is one such place which located amid barren rocky mountains is a cool refreshing place with a waterfall and blue green water pond, surrounded by tall palm trees and lush green bushes. This serves an attractive tourist resort, specially in summers, when the area around is baked by strong sun rays. Pir Ghaib waterfalls is in fact a beautiful cascade located some 70 kilometers away from the province's capital Quetta.

Pir Ghaib literary means a pious man who disappeared or an invisible saint. No one is really sure why the place is so called but folklore legends relate that a saint and his sister had come to the area to convince the locals who worshiped fire to convert to the true faith of Islam. When the local king came to know of the presence of these two "dis-tractors" he dispatched a contingent to catch or kill the duo. When being persuaded in a gorge, the two decided to split lest being caught together.

[Photo: Facebook/Hunza]

While the sister followed the gorge, the saint fled into this arid landscape with the army in hot pursuit. And found his way up the Bolan mountain but reached a dead end. It is said that he started clawing at the mountain and when soldier almost reached him, the saint vanished inside the rock. And from that point a stream sprang in a form of waterfall that cascaded down into the area and filled it up and formed a pond. Due to presence of water, vegetation started to grow and soon became an oasis. Since that day, this oasis is called Pir Ghaib - the Invisible Saint.

And the amazing part of the folklore is that till date no one has been able to locate the source of water that oozed out of the rocks !!

There is a grave downstream the gorge there is a grave which is said to be the that of invisible Saint’s sister, known as Bibi Nani, located under a bridge by the rocky bank of a seasonal stream.

There are no details available as to how and when did Bibi Nani die or how was she buried at this place. Although not a saint herself, her grave is revered as such. In mid October, 1986, a huge flood struck the area and destroyed much of the habitats, roads and bridges not even spared. But astonishingly the grave of Bibi Nani was spared. Due to this fact, the grave of the Bibi assumes much reverence by the people of the area.

Many tourists from adjoining areas and as far away as Quetta visit this place, specially in summers to enjoy the cold water of the oasis, take a dip or just walk around or sit under the shade of the palm trees. Unfortunately there are no facilities available except for a small shop selling eatables and chips. Tourists normally carry their meals or cook here in the absence of an eatery.

You may like to watch this informative video below which describes the history and tourist facilities available around the place and how to get to this oasis from Quetta:

If you happen to be in Quetta, do take a time out and visit Pir Ghaib - it is something that you will really love it. 
Photo: Pir Ghaib (Screenshot) - Photo Grave Bibi Nani | References |  1 |  2 | 3 | 4 | 

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Fascinating Pakistan - Shimshal Pass

I just started writing a series of posts yesterday to introduce to the world the fascinating,beautiful and awe inspiring beauty and landscape of Pakistan. This post today is the second in the series of many more yet to come.

Shimshal Village

Now my readers ma ask why Shimshal Pass - a place rather unknown in the tourism annals of Pakistan. Well I picked up this place for four reasons:

• The photo above was the main motivating factor as the composition is so captivating that I was awe stricken for a while. It looked as if I saw something from another world. Just look above again - doesn't it instantly attracts you - specially the bunch of yaks running at the foothills of mighty mountain? Well it did for me and I instantly thought of writing about Shimshal Pass and the Shimshal Valley. 
• Secondly the motivation of the people of Shimshal village to come out of the obscurity from an otherwise obscured small village surrounded by rugged stony mountains, cutting them completely from the Hunza Valley just next to the Shimshal Valley, but inaccessible except for foot or mule mode of transportation. They thus started cutting the mountains and made a jeep able track to reach the Karakoram Highway (KKH) near the Passu - it took them Eighteen years (1985-2003) to build this track completely relying on their muscle power without any outside help.
• And lastly the trekking on the Shimshal Pass - from the Shimshal village located at 3,100 metres above sea level to Shimshal Pass at 4,735 metres. The invincibility of the trek at places almost vertical climbs, wading through gushing mountain gorges and fast flowing streams.
• And lastly, the entire Shimshal village has electricity - yes don't be surprised and thanks to the solar technology. All houses have solar panels to provide them uninterrupted power supply and watch TV through satellite receivers/dish antennas. This initiative on the part of locals should serve as any eye opener for many villages of northern areas to follow suit.

Now back to the Shimshal village, which is the jump off point for the Shimshal Pass. The village is part of the Gojal Tehsil of Hunza District, in the Gilgit–Baltistan province of Pakistan. At 3,100 m above sea level, it is the highest settlement in Hunza Valley. The village is closest to China. As are typical helmets of high altitude, it has just over 200 houses with a population of approximately two thousand.

With the development of the over 60 kilometers long jeep-able track from the Passu to Shimshal, due courtesy the Agha Khan foundation, the Government of Pakistan and the sheer hard work of the locals, it now takes 2-3 hours to reach this beautiful village perched in the  lush green Shimshal Valley with yaks and goats roaming freely and even racing. The track is one of the dangerous as described by the blog Dangerousroads:

The Shimshal Valley Road is a spectacular and terrific curvy mountainous road which rarely permit speeds over 10km/h. Located in Gojal, Hunza–Nagar District in the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan formerly known as Northern Areas of Pakistan, the journey is extremely dangerous.

Beside very healthy goats and sheep, the main attraction of Shimshal is the Yak, a fierce looking shaggy creature, also found in other higher planes of northern areas of Pakistan. These typically local animals are used as a source of milk, beef, wools and carrying the loads to the mountains in the high pastures and also for crossing through fast current streams and rivers.

Yak Safari - Photo Courtesy Travel Blog

Those who are not avid trekkers, yaks provide them a fantastic opportunity for yak safari to close by areas on the Shimshal Pass. The best time for yak safari is from  June to October but the best is in September to October. The yak safari commences from Shimshal village to  Zardgarben, 3,810 m taking 5-6 hours. You may continue to resume the safari next day to Purien-e-ben, 3,322 m taking hours. Still going higher, one may resume the safari next day to Shuijerab, 4,080 m for 6-7 hours and camping and returning to Shimshal the next day.  

The yak race is another attraction of the area, which is an annual feature when one can see the locals mounted on yaks wading through river streams and lush green fields. This annual feature is held in the last week of July or the first week of August.

As for Shimshal Pass, it lies on the watershed between the Indus River and Tarim River basins, and leads to the valley of the Shimshal Braldu River, a tributary of the Shaksgam River on the border with China. Francis Younghusband was probably the first Englishman to reach the pass (1889).

Trekking from Shimshal  village to the Shimshal  Pass trek is treacherous and deadly, yet adventurous. The trek becomes unsteady with falling rocks and lose stones under your feet. Sometimes one slides on the lose stones, which may become dangerous as the stones once set into motion continue to trigger down from behind too.

It is the sheer determination of the young men of Pakistan and even abroad who venture into this otherwise unspoiled area and take up trekking through Shimshal Pass. Amid howling winds cutting through one's body and loneliness of the mountain trek makes the trekking more difficult - and rather scary.

Words alone cannot explain the toughness of trekking  - Watch video of trekking up to the Shimshal Pass and commend the efforts of these trekkers who opt to reach the Shimshal top disregarding dangers and invincibility of the trek. En route one has to wade through fast mountainous streams with water so clod that cuts through one's skin.

The video above was made when the Atta-abad Lakes had to be crossed through ferries as the KKH was submerged underneath. Now an alternate route has been made to connect the two missing ends of KKH and one can move on the road. However, for adventure sake, one can still opt for a ferry ride in the lake.

I am sure this post will made you make an endeavour to go trekking in the Shimshal Pass and enjoy the experience for many years to come. And you would love to explore more of the fascinating Pakistan. I will help you explore more.

Read more about Yak Safari Photo Shimshal Pass/Village courtesy Mobeen Mazhar | References: Wikipedia |

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Healing Hot Springs of Garam Chashma - Chitral, Pakistan

Natural springs with hot water oozing out of sulfur rich mountains are famous the world over for healing skin diseases. While visiting Ramsar, Iran, I visited one of the springs and saw the fuming hot sulfur rich water and people taking bath. The Northern Areas of Pakistan too are rich in such hot springs where more than tourists patients abound for healing their skin related diseases.

One of the hot spring rich areas is Garam Chashma - or the Hot Springs as its is exactly translated into English. It is a small place some 45 kilometers north-west of Chitral, located at 1859 meters (6,100 feet) above mean sea level, overlooked by the famous Trichmir, the 7,700 meters high peak. Going exactly by its name, the place has hot water springs mixed with sulfur that have water as hot as above the boiling point.  

The sulfur springs are famous for healing a number of skin and joint diseases. This is what people of the area believe and thus attract a large number of tourists and patients to this scenic place for treatment. For the convenience of tourists special bathrooms have been constructed around the springs.

From Chitral, a narrow metaled road travels up north and then turns north-west along thr the Lotkuh River and on to Garam Chashma. The road is at most places washed off due to falling rocks and stones of the stony and muddy mountains due to rains and melting snow. Thus it is better to hire a jeep from Chitral or use a sturdy vehicle. 

Lotkuh River (seen in photo above), which passes through Garam Chashma, is famous for its brown trout fish. For anglers fishing is allowed from April to September for which permit has to be obtained from local fishery department.

Ali, a sturdy young man from Garam Chashma, who works as a helper with us, recently showed a number of photos of his village on his mobile that in fact urged me to write this post. All photos shared in this post, except for the Markhor and Murgh-e-Zareen (for which source are give) all photos have been taken by Ali.

Ali posing during spring but snow has still not melted

The mountain slopes on both sides of the Lotkuh valley abound in pine, ‘deodar’ and fir trees. In the valley, one comes across vast stretches of cherries, mulberry, apricot, apple pear, grape, pomegranate and melons gardens, besides Chinar and walnut trees. The pomegranates of Garam Chashma taste heavenly sweet and tourists take loads of pomegranates when departing this beautiful land - and I have already requested Ali to get me box full of these !!.

Ripe cherries of the season

Beside growing food orchards and trees, the locals till the rugged mountain patches with hard labour and assistance of animal drive plough to grow food for them. Mostly wheat and barley is cultivated.

Ploughing with snow clad mountains 

For those interested in wild life, the place is a bliss and one can spot by luck the near extinct snow leopards and Pakistan's national animal markhor besides ibex, urial, wolves and black bear. For hunters, however, there is a caution as these wild animals are protected by the wildlife department. 

The mighty Markhor (Photo Source)

Ali posing with the mighty horns of a Markhor

The beautiful multi coloured Murgh-e-Zareen (Photo Source)

Garam Chashma and surrounding areas also have majestic birds like Murgh e Zareen and various species of Chikor including the Ram Chikor or the snow partridge which clucks and whistles high on the stony steppes. Murgh e Zareen or surkhaab is a species of pheasant and is also known as the Himalayan Monal and is hunted for its crest feathers. 

Ali's father in his last days before he expired of illness six months ago

Ali posing with a Chitral Scout

I could not find a video on YouTube showing the exact hot springs of Garam Chashma except the one below which show pools of sulfured water coming from the springs.

There is much more to Pakistan and its scenic beauty hidden in the mountains and plains of the country. Do scroll through my blog for some very interesting and beautiful places of my country - Pakistan.

Video courtesy Faheed Iqbal
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The Glass Bridge that would take your breath away

Do you suffer from Acrophobia? Well if you do not know what Acrophobia is, you may still be suffering from it. Acrophobia is an extreme or irrational fear or phobia of heights, especially when one is not particularly high up. So whether you know it or not, many people in the world do suffer from looking down from heights and have their legs trampling when looking down from a tall building or Eiffel Tower.

OK suppose, we take it that you do not suffer from  Acrophobia - but here is your acid test. Walk over this hanging glass bridge in China and you would know. Many people are simply resistant to walk over this glass bridge over a 590 feet crevice. At 948 feet, it is the longest bridge of its kind anywhere else in the world.

As they say, it is a Brave Man's bridge as people can barely make it across without freaking out. The glass is one inch thick and there is nothing below it - so if it cracks, God forbids, you are on your own to .......

Watch the video below, I came across on Facebook, and decide whether you would take a stroll over it to know if you suffer from Acrophobia - it will simply take your breath away!

Would you walk across this bridge???
Posted by DJ Reminise on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

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Top Ten Smallest Countries of the World

When we were kids, one of the most asked question was: Which is the smallest country of the world? And the answer was unanimous: Vatican City. Well, Vatican City continues to be the smallest country of the world with an area of just.44 square kilometres, perched in the Italian capital city of Rome.

Leaving aside Vatican City, which is a symbolic sovereign country, you will amazed to find nine other beautiful countries that despite being very small  in mass are considered most thriving economies of the world and favourite tourist destinations.

The video below is a run down of these top ten smallest countries of the world and one is amazed to see the sate of their development and economy, which makes some of these as the preferred tourist destinations of many.

Watch the video below:

10 Smallest Countries In The World
10 Smallest Countries In The World
Posted by Wonderful Engineering on Sunday, November 22, 2015

Which country fascinated you? Have you ever visited one of these? Well I skirted Liechtenstein in October 2014 on my way to Lichtensteig, near Zurich Switzerland. I wish I had time to have passed through it.

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New Year Celebrations at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, Germany

We have seen the new year celebrations the world over since the dawn of 2016 on night 31 December 2015 and 1 january 2016. Some of the fireworks were really spectacular and awe inspiring. One could not resist the aesthetics of those who designed the fireworks to welcome the new year - 2016.

Like all countries, Germany too celebrated the new year in almost all its major cities - Berlin being one of these. The venue for the new year celebrations was the famous Brandenburg Gate - the 18th-century neoclassical triumphal arch and one of the well known landmarks of Berlin. 

My son, seen in photo above (a screen shot from the video) who is studying in Kiel, Germany also took a double decker bus to Berlin on the morning of 31 December and was there at Brandenburg Gate to enjoy the show.

Words  alone cannot express the fiesta and the fireworks when the new year 2016 dawned. My son made a short video to save the event for us to see. 

Watch the video below and see the enthusiasm of the crowd which stood there for hours, some even as long as six hours to watch the new year to dawn amid a massive display of fireworks:

Stood there non-stop...for more than "6" hours just for this moment! Happy new year everybody! :)
Posted by Wahaab Jalal Bhatti on Friday, January 1, 2016

So that is it - Happy New Year 2016 to all of you. May this new year brings peace and hope for the future. Ameen

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Visit to Pakistan Army Museum, Rawalpindi

Museums all around the world attract a large number of visitors and tourists for here in the museums one can see history compressed and preserved in a few halls and galleries. But unlike ordinary museums, army museums always attract visitors to see weapons from very close quarters otherwise only seen in movies and war documentaries and documents.

Rawalpindi in Pakistan has always been a military city and a garrison - or I would say it because of the the Rawalpindi garrison that the city thrived and became one of the important cities of Pakistan - located next to its capital Islamabad. 

And it is here, just a few hundred meters from the main entrance of Pakistan Army General Headquarters, is the Army Museum situated. Although the museum in its present location was established in 1961, but it is only recently that it has become one of the largest museums of Pakistan equipped with tons of military equipments and weapons dating back to centuries after centuries. 

Very recently, a friend of mine Major Imran along with his children visited the museum and I am sharing his photos after seeking his consent to present to my readers with a pictorial tour of his visit.

Depicting the address by Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, at a colour presentation ceremony of an army unit

The staff car used by General Muhammad Ayub Khan (later president of Pakistan) as first native commander in chief of the armed forces

Posing in front of the gallery of Chiefs of the Army Staff of Pakistan Army

The bows and arrows and armour of soldiers

The people of Pakitan - the Pakistan Army defends

A depiction of life of soldiers  at Siachen fighting at the highest battle of the world

Motorcyclists or the despatch riders (DR) play an important role in taking messages in the battlefield. With the passage of time, their role has somewhat been restricted due to more secure and speedier electronic means. Nevertheless, these still continue to play their important role even today. 

Motorcycles also give faster mobility to the military police personnel for traffic control and supervision of convoys and coordination of moves of large bodies of troops using the same axis or roads. 

My friend being from the air defence branch of the army seems to have spent more time in the army air defence pavilion - and his children too seem to interested in weapons and other pieces of information and historical value.

Imran's son posing in front of a painting depicting the Dacca airfield at Kurmitola, where one of the air defence regiments of Pakistan shot down 23 enemy aircraft and created a world record - the unit is known as The Glorious for its extraordinary performance

The junior crew of the artillery gun

Amid the arsenal

Imran's younger daughter posing in front of the uniforms of cadets of Pakistan Military Academy, specially that of a female cadet - may be one day she too gets the honour to wear the complete uniform, peak-cap already worn. 

It may be added that recently Pakistan Army, and Air Force and Navy as well, have opened doors for the females to join the forces and defend the country along with their brethren. Previously females were inducted only as doctors - now females are serving even fighter pilots. Recently, a brave daughter of the soil Flying Officer Mukhtiar perished in an air crash while on a training mission in a F-7P fighter aircraft.

Playing the trumpet

The artillery and armoured corps pavilion also include the Muzzle Loader Gun of Sher Shah Suri dated 16th century which was used by Sher Shah Suri against Ghakars of Punjab

Mules are very important means of transportation in the mountains and hilly areas. Despite the advancement in mobility means, mules continue to play an important part in supplying rations and ammunition to posts otherwise inaccessible by all mechanical means. Mules have the capability to hold ground and once they put their feet on ground, they stick to it and thus play as a very reliable means of transportation.

Outside the museum, a large number tanks, self propelled artillery, anti aircraft guns, vehicles and helicopters are displayed. Besides, emergency bridges for river crossing of tanks and statues of some warriors are displayed - prominent among these is the statue of Subedar Khuda Dad Khan: the first Indian, South Asian who got Victoria Cross at Holay Becks Belgium in 1914. The tanks also include Sherman Tank captured in Indo-Pak war of 1965 at Chamb Jaurian.

Imran with his daughter - could not select any of the three motorcycles/scooter 

The clock of the Khem Karan Railway station captured by Pakistan Army during 1965 Indo-Pakistan war

Should you want to visit the army Museum, here are the essential details:

Address: Iftikhar Khan Janjua Road , Rawalpindi, Pakistan , Rawalpindi , 46000 , Pakistan

(Located next to the Army Library - behind the Pearl Continental Hotel) 

Hours: 09:00-15:00 Wed-Mon, 09:00-12:00 Tue

Phone: 00-92-51-56132608, 00-92-51-56131449

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