Panoramic View of Attabad Lake
“Attabad
Lake”, in the valley of Gojal, is created because of water blockage of
river Hunza caused by massive land sliding in January 2010. More than 20
people were killed and part of Karakorum Highway was submerged due to
this landslide and 6,000 people are displaced from upstream villages.
The lake created in this result it is 24 km long, 100meters deep and is
at an altitude of 2700 meters, surrounded on all sides by 6000-7000
meter high peaks and glaciers.
We were
traveling on the well-built and well maintained Karakorum Highway with
warning signs for expected land sliding at some places. Karakorum
Highway is constructed in such a terrain that there are mountains on one
side and deep valleys on the other and due to its high elevation and
difficult conditions in which it was constructed, no wonder it is
regarded as the Eighth Wonder of the World. And these mountains
frequently cause land sliding and damaging the highway at different
locations, but this highway is constantly monitored and is reconstructed
on an immediate basis. Watching scenic views with Hunza River flowing
in parallel along the left-side of the highway we reached Attabad Lake
in nearly one and half hours.
After
traveling about 20 KM from Karimabad, on the left side of Karakorum
Highway before the Attabad Tunnel, there is a rough and dirt road going
down to the lake. Driving half a kilometer along this route we hit a
terrific place with a vast lake filled with stunning blue color water,
the color we have never witnessed in our life and mighty mountains
surrounding the lake. We jumped out of the jeep and sit along the bank
of river dipping our hands and foot in the clear and cold water. The
semblance of water is amazingly beautiful, the blue color of water we
have never seen before, and so clear that for some distances the bed of
the lake is clearly visible, this smoothness of water make it appear
like a big mirror in which one can clearly see the reflection of the
surrounding mountains.
The calmness
of the surrounding creates such a spiritual phenomenon that one will
find his body so light that makes you feels like being adrift in the
air. There were few boats moored up at the lakeside, these boats were
used to transport goods and passengers from one side of the lake to the
other side before the Attabad Tunnel was constructed few months back. We
chose to have a ride on the boat and tour the lake. The boat was motor
driven and the sailor was the expert, the tour began and our boat
started moving toward Gulmit on the other side of the lake. We were
completely excited and enjoying the ride, our boat was sailing along a
most exquisite water and fenced by mighty mountains. At a distance we
can see part of the Attabad tunnel up high on the mountain, some
construction work was still going on in the tunnel and the huge
machinery can be seen engaged.
After a
spectacular boat ride of half an hour, we return back to the bank of the
lake. Capturing the stunning vista of the area in our camera, we hopped
back again into our jeep and started our journey toward our next
destination “The Hoper Glacier”.
Part from my blog:
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