Famous Lakes in Pakistan

Pakistan, a wonderful country filled with humongous glaciers, vast plains, famous deserts, and breathtaking landscapes, is considered one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Hundreds of international tourists visit the country yearly due to its rich culture, friendly people, and delicious food.

Apart from scenic views and lush green regions, Pakistan is famous for its lakes. In this blog, we bring famous lakes in Pakistan like Karamber Lake and Phander Lake that you should visit at least once. There are around 60 lakes in Pakistan, all known for their distinctive location and natural beauty. 

List of Lakes in Pakistan

Attabad Lake

The first lake on our list is the ‘Attabad Lake’ in Gojal Hunza Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. The lake came into existence in 2010 due to the Attabad disaster; ever since the lake has become one of the Top Spots For Family Vacations in Pakistan.

Apart from the scenic view, the lake offers many recreational activities, including boating, jet skiing, and fishing. The lake reached 21 kilometers (13 mi) long and over 100 meters (330 ft) in depth by the first week of June 2010. The water content continued to rise over time, causing a significant difference in the outflow and inflow of the new lake.

Borith Lake

The next lake on our list is the famous Borith Lake in Gojal, Hunza Valley, Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. The residents use the land adjoining the lake for irrigation. The altitude of Borith is roughly 2,600 meters (8,500 ft) above sea level.

The lake is situated 2km to the north of Gulmit. You can easily reach the lake by a 2 km unpaved jeep route from Husseini village. You can also reach the lake by trekking for 2-3 hours through the Gulmit village. 

The lake is also a natural habitat for migrating animals and birds. That is why birdwatchers and wildlife photographers visit the lake throughout the year. If you want to see many ducks flocking from southern Pakistan, you should visit the lake during March and June.

The lake gets its water from the Ghulkin Glacier. Rivers in Pakistan are economically important for the country and tourism, power generation, and the agricultural industry.

Handarap Lake

Handarap Lake is a high-altitude lake at the heart of the Shandur Valley in the Gupis-Yasin District. Apart from its natural beauty, the lake is a tourist attraction and a freshwater reservoir.

The lake is located in Handarap Nallah, in the Handarap Valley or other Tehsil Phander Ghizer District valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The lake has an elevation of 3285 meters or 10777.6 ft above sea level.

You can reach this beautiful lake by taking the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad to Gilgit. The final journey starts with a four-hour hike from the village of Handarp Valley. Once you are at the lake, you can see the glorious snow-covered mountains. 

Khalti Lake

Khalti Lake is again a great lake you should see once in your lifetime. Khalti Lake is located in the Gupis-Yasin District, on the west side of Gilgit–the Baltistan region and the northernmost territory of Pakistan. 

The lake is a freshwater source known for its trout stock. The lake receives its water contents from the neighboring glaciers. During winter, the water freezes, and people enjoy local skiing on the lake’s surface.

The exact location of the lake is near Khalti Village of Gupis-Yasin District (Gilgit-Baltistan), Pakistan at about 2,217 meters (7,274 ft) from sea level. 

Naltar Lakes

Naltar Lakes combines three lakes: Bashkiri Lakes and Naltar Lakes. The lakes have altitudes ranging from 3,050–3,150 meters (10,010–10,330 ft). One of the most interesting facts about the lakes is their colors. Out of three lakes, one lake is green due to the grass and algae present at the bottom of the lake.

The second lake is blue, again due to the presence of water plants. The third lake is azure in color. Thick pine forests enclose all the lakes. The best time to visit the place is from May to October. Visiting the lakes during winter is not advisable due to heavy snowfall in the Naltar Valley.

Lower Kachura Lake

Lower Kachura Lake, famously known as Shangrila Lake among the masses, is located in Kachura village in Skardu city at 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). In 1983, Shangrila Resort was constructed on the bank of the lake, one of the region’s most famous resorts. It is also the first Resort Hotel in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. 

If you are looking for a place to spend peaceful and serene vacations with your family, look no further and visit this heaven on earth for sure.

Rama Lake

Rama Lake is a beautiful lake located near Astore in Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan. If you want to explore hidden gems in Pakistan, you must visit these gorgeous lakes. On your way to Rama Lake, you will come across three more lakes known as Sarot in the local Shina language.

The region near Rama Lake is heavily populated. More than 50 small villages surround the area in Astore, such as Chilm, Bubin, Gorikot, Eidgah, Fena, Bulen, Choungrah, and Parishing.

The region also has humongous pine tree forests, which add more beauty and mystic aura to the place. The valley is about 3300 meters (10800 feet) above sea level and thus is snow-covered for 7–8 months of the year.

Lake Saiful Muluk

Last but not least comes Lake Saiful Muluk. It is a breathtaking natural beauty situated at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley, near Naran in the Saiful Muluk National Park.

Saiful Muluk is located in the Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) north of Naran, in the northern part of Kaghan Valley. Malika Parbat, the highest peak of the valley, is also situated near Saiful Muluk. 

You can easily reach the lake by taking the town of Naran during summer. Water parks are perfect for getting rid of blistering heat and blazing sun.

The lake came into existence through the surrounding glaciers. The lake has a very diverse range of flora and fauna. It has many species of blue-green algae, brown trout, and around 26 species of vascular plants. Other species include Ranunculaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Gramineae, Apiaceae, Leguminosae, Scrophulariaceae, and Polygonaceae.

Much folklore is famous about the lake as well. People claim that supernatural entities, including fairies, possess the lake. So, these are some of the famous lakes in Pakistan that you should visit once, especially if you have a knack for natural places and traveling. 

Read this blog, and let us know about your favorite lake in Pakistan like Namal Lake and Banjosa Lake. For further queries, leave a message in the comment section below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

FAQs

How many lakes are in Pakistan?

Pakistan has several natural and man-made lakes.

As per the available data, there are more than 50 natural and man-made lakes in Pakistan, with varying sizes and depths.

Which is the largest lake of Pakistan?

The largest lake in Pakistan is Manchar Lake, located in the Jamshoro District of Sindh province. It is also the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan, with a surface area of approximately 100 square miles.

What are the two lakes in Pakistan?

Two famous lakes in Pakistan are the Manchar Lake and the Saif-ul-Muluk Lake, located in the Kaghan Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Saif-ul-Muluk Lake is known for its natural beauty and popular tourist attraction.

Which is the deepest lake in Pakistan?

With a maximum and mean depth of 55 meters and 17.08 meters, respectively, Karambar Lake is the deepest lake. It has a surface size of 263.44 hectares (2,634,400 m2) and empties into Ishkoman Valley, District Ghizer, Gilgit Baltistan.

What is the highest lake in Pakistan?

The highest lake in Pakistan is Sheosar Lake, located in the Deosai National Park in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. It is located at an elevation of approximately 13,589 feet (4,142 meters) above sea level.

Read More:
A Tourist Guide to Phander Lake