The Deosai Plains lie within the heart of Pakistan, a hidden gem. These plains are situated at an incredible altitude of over 4,000 meters, making them an untouched wilderness paradise. Awe-inspiring landscapes, rolling meadows, crystal-clear lakes, and snow-capped peaks render Deosai Plains a truly spectacular destination.
The village of Deosai is 30 kilometers from Skardu city, 562 kilometers from Islamabad, and accessible from a number of Gilgit Baltistan valleys. There are several ways to reach Deosai, including Skardu in the north and Astore in the west, along with Galtari-Kharmang in the southeast.
If you’re negotiating well, you might get the up-model Prado to Deosai Plains for 15,000 to Rs.20,000 a round trip from Skardu.
There are many things to do at Attabad Lake at affordable prices. Some of the activities are:
The 70-kilometer route from Astore Valley to Chilum takes 4-5 hours due to the rough road conditions. The narrow gorges, however, are pleasant to drive through in a jeep.
Deosai is usually covered with heavy snow during most of the year. Summer season (July to September) is the best time to visit this picturesque highest plain.
The Deosai Plain or its surroundings do not have a restaurant or a proper hotel. Food and snacks should be taken from Skardu City. There is only one Glamp Resort available at Bara Pani, which offers camping and glamping.
The Deosai Plains are also home to the Siberian ibex, Snow Leopard, Kashmir Musk Deer, Himalayan wolf, Brown Bear, Himalayan marmot and over 125 species of resident and migratory birds.
It is a place of outstanding beauty and ecological value. 358,400 ha are covered by the plateau, which sits between 3500 and 5200 meters above sea level. It consists of flat, but undulating plains interrupted by gently rolling hills and enclosed on all sides by mountains. Contrary to its surroundings, which consist of narrow valleys between cliffs, it stands out starkly.
Due to its geographical location facing the monsoon-affected outer Himalayas, the Deosai plain receives more rainfall than the neighboring northern and northeastern valleys of Baltistan. A typical year brings 350 to 550 millimeters of precipitation, most of which is received as snow in the winter months.
Deosai National Park is at the confluence of two biogeographical regions, the Himalayas and the Karakorum-Pamir highlands. As a result, it has a vibrant biodiversity, as species are channeled through the Karakorum range, the Himalayan crest, the Zanskar range, the Ladakh range, and the Indus valley.
In the Himalaya, Hindukush, and Karakoram mountain cordilleras, these factors combine to create high-altitude wetlands characterized by Sheosar Lake, at 4,250m. Snow melt from surrounding high snow-capped peaks feeds the wetlands, which are drained by several fast-moving rivers and streams. The Shigar River, an important tributary of the Indus, originates from three important river systems at Deosai National Park: Shatung, Bara Pani, and Kala Pani.
A diversity of species is found in the park, a part of the Conservation International Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot, including Tibetan wolves, Himalayan ibexes, Tibetan red foxes, and Golden marmots. Throughout the Deosai plateau, there is a large population of snow trout that reach enormous sizes. There are many rare butterflies and wildflowers in the Spring season.
