Breathtaking Baltistan
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A week ago, I traveled with my family to Baltistan and witnessed some breathtaking places.
Our first stop was Skardu, a town that is surrounded by grey-brown coloured mountains, which hide the 8,000 metre peaks of the nearby Karakorum Range. Then we drove up two hours and reached Khaplu. The people of Khaplu are the most beautiful, friendly and spiritual people I have ever met!
We traveled further to Seling, Shigar and the Deosai Plateau which is the second highest plateau in the world after the Chang Tang in Tibet. In local Balti language, Deosai is called Byarsa, meaning ‘summer place’. The plateau is located at the boundary of the Karakorum and the western Himalayas.
Huge old trees, fresh air, bright blue sky surround you, while water runs from the streams, and awe-inspiring mountains dominate the horizon. To me, it was these sights and surreal surroundings that characterised breathtaking Baltistan. - Text and photos by Hira Zuberi
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Comments (22) Closed
Jul 15, 2011 07:09pm
Beautiful !! Alas can probably never see this paradisein my lifetime
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Jul 15, 2011 08:16pm
Insha ALLAH, one day very soon Pakistan and India will have better relations we will visit India and you can visit Pakistan! Lets pray, Aameen!
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Jul 15, 2011 08:23pm
This is awsome protography.
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Jul 15, 2011 09:09pm
These photographs depict exactly what the text describes, surreal surroundings and friendly people! Would love to visit someday.
Great job with the photography Hira!
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Jul 15, 2011 09:11pm
Beautiful photos specially photo no 9, very expressive!
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Jul 15, 2011 09:17pm
really breathtaking.....
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Jul 15, 2011 11:06pm
Its my place
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Jul 16, 2011 12:21am
Beautiful scenery - great pics. Thanks for sharing. It has been my longstanding wish to explore Northern Pakistan - so far I have only been to Naran / Kaghan (also worth visiting). I plan to visit Chitral, Baltistan, Gulgit and Hunza, hopefully in the near future. Pakistan has so much to offer especially in terms of tourism -- hoping such write ups will encourage us to explore our country without any security fears.
Indians are always welcome to visit ! ...please spend freely when you visit ! ;-)
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Jul 16, 2011 12:29am
Khaplu Palace is for sure missing here.A pic of Khaplu would ve added some further charm to these awesome pics:).
Wajahat Khaplu
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Jul 16, 2011 03:40am
Dear Hira!
the junction point of karakorum and western himaliya is the second platue , a beautiful place with the dashing mountains but unfortunately you forget to mention the existence of Marmots (a mix breed of Rat and Rabbit, usually found in the planes of deosai).
overall your experience to this place is very attractive gor others to visit this place.
Shot of the scene is very perfect and attractive to produce aesthetic sense .
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Jul 16, 2011 05:28am
Pakistan is paradise on earth, mesmerizing places, mesmerizing people and beauty. Thanks for posting beautiful photos. One can read Mustansar Hussain Tarar's writings when he had visited these places, really awesome.
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Jul 16, 2011 10:47am
Beautiful.
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Jul 16, 2011 10:47am
i have visited these areas,,,believe me they are much more beautiful than snaps.
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Jul 16, 2011 11:57am
Dear Hira,
Great pictures!
These made me quite nostalgic as these brought back memories of my travels in the Kargil area. I used to take a lot of pictures myself.
Many thanks!
Raesh Tiku
NOIDA
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Jul 16, 2011 12:11pm
Very beautiful. Definitely plan on visiting here Inshallah !
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Jul 16, 2011 01:48pm
Looks as beautiful as when Iwas there in 1966 with no change ,as pristine as ever
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Jul 16, 2011 04:43pm
Very well said by Abdul Mughis Rana
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Jul 16, 2011 11:23pm
best complement was friendly people, beauti is all over, wonderful pictures.
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Jul 17, 2011 02:11am
Well done Hira.
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Jul 17, 2011 03:02pm
Hi Thanks for the inviatation. Will give my Right arm for a visa !!!
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Jul 17, 2011 04:53pm
Dear, i ev there so many times specialy this balti belt, these pics cant show d real beauti out there .. if you get chance must go and watch you will never forget for sure.. we should give chance to our lives out of our hectic routines to breath easy and enjoy God's nature
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Jul 19, 2011 04:07am
Absolutely stunning landscapes and thanks for sharing with us such beauty !
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