Up in the mountains (Part-2)
Col (r) Ikram Ullah Khan
On 28 June we left for Skardu from Gilgit at 10 am which is situated 180 km away from Gilgit city. It was a treat to drive on Gilgit-Skardu road. The moment we took diversion from KKH at Jaglot towards the left on Skardu axis and crossed the bridge, our joyride started on this gorgeous road which provides a smooth and unhindered drive of an Expressway, and It wouldn’t be hyperbolic utterance to call this beautiful road a mini-Expressway. We had a smooth and comfortable ride right up to Skardu.
On the way, we stopped at different picnic spots for sightseeing, and after a 4-hour exciting ride we reached GB Scouts Officers’ Mess, Shangrila located on the edge of the famous Shangrila lake and right opposite Shangrila Resort Hotel, Skardu generally known as Shangrila Hotel, Skardu.
In the afternoon, we went across the lake on a boat and climbed the steep height of Lower Kachura located on a commanding height overlooking the Shangrila Hotel, Shangrila Lake and surrounding area, and had a bird-eye view of the entire valley offering a paradisal scene.
In the evening, sitting on the lush green lawn beside the Shangrila lake with the trees whirling in the calm air behind the lake and the gentle breeze whispering across it, and duly buoyed up by an aura of celestial-like bliss, we enjoyed its awe-inspiring view presenting a serene and romantic ambiance. It was an experience pronouncedly different from what we routinely undergo during our mundane life deeply steeped in urban monotony. After dinner, we had a comfortable night stay.
Shangrila Hotel Skardu was founded by Brig Muhammad Aslam Khan (late), younger brother of Air Marshall Asghar Khan (late) way back in 1983. He had the singular honour of being the first commander of Northern Scouts later on renamed as GB Scouts. He is the recipient of Military Cross (MC) and Hilal Jura’t (HJ). It was the first Resort Hotel of its kind in Northern Areas established with a view to promoting tourism in the gorgeous mountainous region.
Establishment of this hotel with a heart-shaped lake adding to its beauty and attraction speaks volumes about the vision and futuristic thinking of Brig Muhammad Aslam Khan (late). The initiative taken in early eighties by Brig Aslam exemplifies green development and eco-friendly measures adopted to protect the environment from the deadly impact of the ongoing climate change and man-induced ecological disaster. He died in 1994 and was buried on the top of Lower Kachura height overlooking both the Shangrila Hotel and Shangrila lake.
On 29 June at 10 am we left for Shigar to visit the historic Shigar Fort which is around 35 km away from Skardu city. It’s a 400 years old Fort initially built on a rock and is located in the town of Shigar. The Fort is now called Serena Shigar Fort after its restoration by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
After restoration, the Fort has been converted into a museum and luxury hotel managed by Serena Hotels’ management. On our arrival at Shigar Fort, we were conducted and briefed by the Fort’s incharge/ guide. The Fort was donated to the Public by its owner Raja Azam in 1999, and the same year, work on its restoration/rehabilitation was started by Aga Khan Trust & Culture (AKTC). According to the Fort’s incharge/guide, a hefty amount to the tune of 1.4 million US dollars was spent on its restoration.
According to the guide, the Fort was virtually on the precipice of collapse before AKTC undertook the work of restoration. The restoration work took five years and was completed in 2004. After the restoration work was completed, it was opened for the public and was made available to both the domestic and foreign tourists. We saw a swarm of tourists visiting the Fort in droves on the day of our visit.
We arrived back at Shangrila in the afternoon and had lunch in GB Scouts Officers’ Mess. After Asr payers, we visited other historical sites including Upper Kachura lake, the famous Soq Nullah and a few other tourist spots. We came back to the Officers’ Mess in the evening and stayed for another night. In the evening, while sitting in the lush-green lawn of the Mess located right on the edge of Shangrila lake, feasted our eyes on the spell-binding sight of the lake and enjoyed B.B.Q. It was virtually a paradisiacal experience on this terrestrial planet.
On 30 June at around twelve noon, we left for Gilgit, had a joyride, stopped at different tourist spots, did sightseeing and reached Gilgit at around 4 pm. (Cont…)