Blind Lake

Blind Lake — locally known as Zharba Tso or Jarba Zhou Lake — is one of Skardu’s most distinctive small lakes, earning its unusual English name because it appears to have no visible inlet or outlet. Unlike Satpara or the Kachura Lakes, where a stream or river connection is obvious, Blind Lake’s water simply sits, still and mirror-like, with no apparent source feeding it and no visible drainage — hence “blind.”

The Mystery of Its Water Source

Geologically, Blind Lake is almost certainly fed by underground seepage from the neighbouring Indus and Shigar Rivers, which flow past on either side of the small landmass the lake occupies. Because this connection isn’t visible at the surface, local tradition and casual visitors alike have long treated the lake as a small natural curiosity — a body of water that seems to exist independently of the rivers surrounding it. This quality is precisely what makes it such an effective subject for photography: with no current or visible flow disturbing the surface, Blind Lake produces some of the cleanest, most mirror-like reflections of any lake in the region, doubling the surrounding mountains and sky in its still water on a calm day.

Getting There

Blind Lake is located roughly 25-30km from Skardu on the way toward Shigar Valley. From Skardu, take the Shigar road; after crossing the Sarfaranga/Katpana Cold Desert, a turn at Lamsa Chowk leads toward the lake. From the turn, it’s a short off-road drive followed by a 20-30 minute walk to reach the water itself, since the final approach isn’t suitable for vehicles. A local guide familiar with the turn-off is genuinely useful here, since the lake isn’t signposted in the way major attractions are, and the access route crosses open desert terrain that can be disorienting for first-time visitors navigating independently.

A Stop on the Historic K2 Route

Blind Lake sits along what was historically part of the overland approach route toward K2 and the Baltoro Glacier region, before modern road access to Askole made the journey considerably shorter. While today’s K2 expeditions no longer pass this way, the lake’s position on this old route adds a layer of mountaineering history to what might otherwise be treated as a purely scenic stop — a quiet echo of the era when reaching the world’s second-highest mountain required a much longer overland approach through exactly this stretch of Baltistan. Early European expeditions in the first half of the 20th century would likely have passed close to this exact spot on their way toward the Baltoro.

Camping and Stargazing

Overnight camping by the lake is popular among travelers in summer, and for good reason: the combination of still water, minimal light pollution, and genuinely dark night skies makes Blind Lake one of the better informal stargazing spots near Skardu. Basic food stalls and toilet facilities operate near the parking area during the main season, though there are no hotels directly at the lake itself — Shigar town or Skardu city serve as your accommodation base, with Blind Lake visited as a day trip or overnight camping excursion rather than a multi-night stay. A clear, moonless summer night here offers Milky Way visibility that’s difficult to find anywhere near a Western city, thanks to the combination of altitude, dry air and negligible light pollution.

Photography Tips Specific to Blind Lake

Because Blind Lake’s defining feature is its mirror-like stillness, timing matters more here than at almost any other lake in the region — even a light breeze can break the reflection that makes the lake distinctive. Early morning, before thermal winds develop over the surrounding desert, offers the best chance of a genuinely glass-like surface. Wide-angle shots that capture both the reflected peaks and the surrounding desert terrain tend to convey the lake’s unusual setting more effectively than tightly cropped shots of the water alone.

Practical Notes

Some visitors do swim in Blind Lake’s calm water, but its depth varies unpredictably in different sections and hasn’t been comprehensively mapped for public safety purposes, so caution — and checking with your guide before entering the water — is genuinely advisable rather than a routine formality. The lake is best visited May through October; parts of the surrounding terrain can be difficult to access in winter months. Bring your own water and snacks if planning an extended visit, since the food stalls near the parking area operate seasonally and aren’t guaranteed to be open outside peak months.