Deosai Plains (Gilgit Baltistan)
Deosai Plains, also known as Deosai National Park, is located at the distance of 30 km from Skardu between Astore and Skardu District. Its average elevation is 13,497 feet above sea level and is considered the second-highest plateaus in the world. Due to its height, there is no tree in the Deosai Plains but full of lush green grass and flowing plants. It is also famous for wildlife and different kind of flora and fauna in the Karakoram Range. In the spring season, it becomes colorful due to those wildflowers and a variety of butterflies.
Due to heavy snowfall in winter, it is only accessible in the summer season, from Skardu as well as the Astore District. Weather conditions in Deosai are highly unpredictable, so a rise or decrease in temperature can be at any time in Deosai. Sun and clouds always play with each other in Deosai, which means if the sun is there, it becomes difficult to bear the clear sun, and if clouds are there, then a heavy thunderstorm can be expected. So tourists must have warm clothes with them and waterproof tents to avoid rain in the area. Due to the wilderness in Deosai Plains, it is difficult to do camping in Deosai Plains, but camping can be possible at the provided locations such as Sheosar Lake.
The Deosai Plains is home to different wild animals such as Himalayan Ibex, Golden Marmot, Red Fox, Grey Wolf, Snow Lepard, Ladakh Urial, and Brown Bear. Different kinds of birds such as Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Laggar Falcon, Snowcock, etc. There are also more than fifty kinds of flowers and a number of medicinal plants in Deosai Plains.
About Astore
Astore is district in the Gilgit-Baltistan and located at an altitude of 8,500 feet on the eastern side of Mount Nanga Parbat, at the distance of 60 km from Gilgit main city. Astore region ascends from the Indus River from Jaglot in Diamer district. The valley is famous for different kinds of important medicinal plants and herbs. In summer, the colors of the valley become very much attractive due to various kinds of colorful flowers.
It is connected with Gilgit, Skardu, Rondu, Diamer, and Kharmang district. It also has its boundary with the Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir and Bandipore district in Indian-occupied Jumma & Kashmir.
Astore valley lies on the foot of the famous peaks of Nanga Parbat, Chongra Peak, and Rupal Peak. It also includes different lush green valleys and lakes which are the main attraction for tourists in the Astore Valley. It is accessible through Gilgit as well as from Skardu through Deosai Plains. From Skardu through Deosai Plain is an adventurous four-wheel drive within the colorful and attractive plains of Deosai. From Astore Valley, You can also accessed Minimerg that is a lush green hill station in the extreme side of the Neelum Valley Azad Kashmir.
There are number of glaciers in the Astore Valley, in which Harcho Glacier and Siachen Glacier are famous. The Harcho Glacier is located as enter in the Astore Valley from the Gilgit side, whereas the Siachin Glacier is located on its other extreme end.
Rama meadows is one of the lush green meadow in the Astore Valley. It can be accessed from Eidgah Astore. You can see grazing animals on the greenish layout of the meadows.
Rama Lake is glacier lake in the Rama meadows in the Astore Valley. It is an attractive and scenic location for the tourists. Most of the time, you can see melting glaciers on its sides. You can also visit three other lakes on the way of Rama Lake. If you wan to stay for a night there, then you can also camp there.
Deosai is the World second highest plateau between Astore, Kharmang, and Skardu district. It is homeland of large number of different important medicinal herbs and plants. In winter season, it completely covers with snow, so it becomes much difficult to access it that season. But in summer season, it shows colorful appearance with wildflowers and different variety of butterflies. It can be accessed from the Astore district as well as from Skardu district. Exploring the Deosai Plains is a four-wheel jeep tour, but you must have camps to explore it in more depth due to its large size and number of attractive and scenic locations in it.
Sheosar Lake is located in Deosai Plains in the Astore district. It is a wide size lake within the plains of the Deosai Plains. It will be accessed via Chillum Chowki on Astore Valley Road.
Minimarg is a small village located on the bank of the Burzil Nala in the Neelum Valley Azad Kashmir, but it is easily accessed via Astore valley by passing the Burzil Pass after crossing Chillum Chowki.
Weather of the Astore Valley is moderate and pleasant in the summer season, whereas there is 2-3 feet snowfall in the winter season. Therefore, all of the roads to access the Astore Valley are closed.
Deosai Plains Map
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Deosai Plains Photo Gallery
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Jeep tracks in Deosai plains
Jeep tracks are available to move in Deosai Plains, driving other vehicles in Deosai Plains is not easy task.
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Chillum Nallah
The Chillum Nallah is comming from Deosai Plains in the Astore District and merges with the Astore River at Chillum. It gives a beautiful views just before Deosai Plains in Astore District.
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Landscape of Gilgit
Gilgit is located at high mountains and has a dry and hot weather, so its landscape is entirely different than others. Valleys in Gilgit are much attractive as having a lush green strucutre with brown and dry mountain tops with snow-capped peak behind them.
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Yaks in Deosai Plains
Local people normally use yaks for different purposes such as milk, meat, etc. in these areas, so you can see grazing yaks in Deosai Plains by local people.
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Village near Deosai Plains
Village in Chillum valley is the last habitant place in Astore District near Deosai Plains, as Deosai Plains is an non-habitant place due to free movement of wild animals such as bear, leapard, etc. in night. The weather conditions of Deosai Plains is also highly uncertain that makes human live at risk in Deosai Plains.
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wildlife in Deosai Plains
Deosai Plains is ideal place for wild animals such as brown bear, snow leopard, ibex, etc. One of the most common is marmot, also called Phia by local people, which can easily be seen in Deosai Plains, and you can listen whistling sounds of them everywhere.
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Endless Deosai Plains
Deosai Plains is the second highest plateau in the world in Karakorum range with an area of 3000 square km, which is normally covered with snow eight month in a year and only accessible in summer season.
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Vast Greenary in Deosai Plains
Deosai Plains is vast endless green place with number of different kind of colorful flower plants over an area of 35 km.
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Vast Deosai Plains
Deosai Plains is vast grazing plain which is popular place for local shephards grazing their animals such as sheeps, goats, yaks, horses, etc.
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Vast Deosai Plains
Deosai Plains is vast endless plain that is second highest plateau in the world, which is famous for its colorful flowers and wildlife.
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Travelling by Bike in Deosai Plains
Number of tourists use bikes to cross Deosai Plain from Astore to Skardu and that is more interesting travelling as feeling the real atmosphere throughout the journey.
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Travelling in Deosai Plains
Most of the tourists normally use four-wheel vehicles to travel in Deosai Plains, it is more save and conformtable as compare to others.
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Travelling by Bike in Deosai Plains
Number of tourists use bikes to cross Deosai Plain from Astore to Skardu and that is more interesting travelling as feeling the real atmosphere throughout the journey.
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Grazing in Deosai Plains
Grazing of herds by local shephards in Deosai Plains. People have different type of animals to graze such as sheep, goats, yaks, horses, etc.
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Snow Covered Tops in Deosai Plains
Deosai Plains normally covered with snow in eight month of the year, and only accessible in summer season. In July and August, snow is melted but still some of patches of snow avialable on the tops of Deosai Plains, which are the sources of the streams in Deosai Plains.
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Streams crossing over Roads
Number of streams are crossing over the roads and treks in Deosai Plains, which make difficult to drive in Deosai Plain.
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Roads on Roof of Earth
Long curly roads in Deosai Plains, give you an experience of fantastic driving on the roof of the world, where sky is just touching the earth. You can feel as everything beneath your vehicle.
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Streams in Deosai Plains
There are number of small and medium sized streams everywhere in Deosai Plains, which are the main reasons of its greenary and wildlife in it.
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Crossing the Stream in Deosai Plains
There are number of streams crossing over the roads in Deosai Plains. Vehicles are used to cross the roads, but that is not easy job sometimes. You have to cross such roads with due care as scrolling stones sometimes burst the tyre of your vehicle.
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Deosai Plains Grazing Place
Deosai Plain is a place for grazing the animals by local shephards, they move their animals on the daily basis in the plains for grazing purpose, then return back at evening.