Skardu
Skardu isn’t just a destination, it’s a feeling. A quiet, slow-moving world tucked high in the Gilgit-Baltistan region where time feels irrelevant and nature takes the lead. When I first stepped out of the van after a 22-hour road journey from Islamabad, I was exhausted. But the moment I looked up and saw those massive snow-capped peaks standing still under a deep blue sky — I forgot everything.
You don’t visit Skardu for luxury. You come for peace, for soul-soothing silence, and for views that make you stop mid-sentence. From the mirror-like surface of Shangrila Lake to the ancient mystery of Shigar Fort, everything felt untouched and raw. The locals? Warm-hearted, simple, and always ready with a smile or a cup of chai.
It was in Skardu that I experienced what real stillness feels like. Mornings would start with the cold biting my fingertips and end with bonfire chats under a sky crowded with stars. No filters, no noise — just me and the mountains. And trust me, they do talk… you just have to stay long enough to listen.
