Lower Kachura Lake or Shangrila Lake is located near the city of Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan at a height of 2,500 meters. Famously known for the Shangrila Resort built on its bank in 1983 by Mohammad Aslam Khan Afridi, a Pakistani military officer who served as the first commander of the Northern Scouts of the Pakistani Army.
The name Shangrila comes from Shangri-La, the name of a Himalayan paradise described in the novel Lost Horizon by British writer James Hilton. The novel tells the story of surviving passengers of an early 1920s airplane crash that meet a group of Buddhists who claim to be a hundred years old but are youthful in appearance. The place where they are found is referred to as Shangri-La, a Tibetan word meaning “heaven on Earth.” The location of the resort near a crashed PIA aircraft just like in the novel gives a whole new meaning to the word Shangrila.
The lake is surrounded by stunning beauty and breathtaking views from all sides and provides visitors with a peaceful ambiance, away from the bustling life of Skardu city. The red pagoda styled huts offer a contrasting view with the grey mountains as backdrop and the greenery all around adds to the visual beauty of the place. Whether it’s the summer or winter, each view offers its own magical memories.
Guests staying in Shangrila resort can enjoy different activities such as boating on the natural spring water lake or get a glimpse of an exotic collection of wild birds in the resort’s very own mini zoo. The View Point offers a mesmerizing panoramic view of the mountains and resorts blended together with the vibrant blue lake and it’s a memory you will cherish for a lifetime!
Be sure to book at least a one night stay in the resort and experience the beauty of Shangrila up close and personal on your next trip!
