Shangrila Resort Skardu, also known as “Heaven on Earth”, is nestled amongst some of the world’s highest peaks. It encircles the heart shaped “Kachura Lake” and is surrou-nded by fruit laden orchards and flower filled gardens.

A vacation spent at Shangrila Resort is a once in a lifetime experience that one would want to relive again and again. Located at a height of 2500 meters, this area is more commonly known as “The Roof of the World”. Due to its natural beauty, the first impression of Shangrila is of a Fairyland.

Shangrila was established in 1983 with the opening of the first Resort Hotel in Skardu, Baltistan.It was named”HEAVEN ON EARTH” because of its spectacular beauty,and breathtaking view and peaceful atmosphere. Shangrila Resort Hotel was founded by the late Brig.(Retd) Muhammad Aslam Khan, the first commander of the Northern Scouts who liberated the Northern areas in 1948.

Shangrila was named after a book titled “LOST HORIZON” by James Hilton. In the book, the author narrates a fictious tale in which an aeroplane crash landed near a riverbed, in the early 1920′s. The surviving passengers came across some Buddhist monks from a nearby temple and sought their help. They were taken to a beautiful lamasery filled with a variety of fruits and flowers. The monks looked quite young, although they claimed to be hundreds of years old. The idyllic place was called Shangrila,a Chinese word meaning ” HEAVEN ON EARTH”.

Seasons in Shangrila

Shangrila In Spring (March- April)
Following the Indus River we enter Skardu. From spring to autumn the valley is more attractive, the field and orchards come alive with blossoms of different natural colours in all the villages around .

Shangrila In Summer (May- September)

During the summer, Skardu attracts a large number of trekkers and mountaineers from all parts of the world. The climate is ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors, and the scenery only adds to the sense of adventure..

Shangrila In Autumn (October- November)

The rolling grassland here supports no trees or shrubs and the area is snow covered for four months of the year. Spring comes to Deosai in August when millions of wild flowers begin to bloom all over the lush green grassland. This is a time when Deosai looks like a paradise with a landscape full of wild flowers on green rolling hills while crystal clear water streams flow freely, all framed beautifully by the snow covered peaks in the background.

Shangrila In Winter (December- February)

The Skardu valley is snowbound during the winter months. Often the road blocks at Karakoram Highway cut the road link (Karakoram Highway) of areas like Gilgit, Skardu and Hunza from the rest of the country. Although Baltistan is connected with Ladakh and Kashmir with four or five routes, it has only one road connection with Pakistan. Once this road is blocked, you are cut off from rest of the world. Sometimes blockades are for weeks, but more often, are opened within 2 – 5 days time. The local people are demanding Pakistani officials to open roads towards India so tourists do not remain stuck. The air travel is also disturbed by the unreliable weather of Skardu and on some occasions flights are be delayed by several days because of weather.

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