Upper Kachura Lake

Upper Kachura Lake sits a short hike or drive above its far more famous sibling, Lower Kachura Lake (Shangrila), yet sees a fraction of the visitors. The water carries a striking crystal-turquoise colour, framed by granite peaks, and a traditional wooden boat ride across it is one of the most peaceful experiences near Skardu city.

Getting There

A short, well-marked hike — roughly 20-30 minutes — or a rough jeep track connects Upper Kachura to the Shangrila/Lower Kachura area below, making it an easy pairing on the same outing rather than a separate trip. The path climbs gently through the same general terrain as the more famous lake below, with the change in atmosphere becoming noticeable as the crowds thin out the higher you climb.

Why It’s Worth the Extra Stop

Where Shangrila draws crowds for its resort, restaurant and general fame, Upper Kachura is valued specifically for its comparative solitude — a better choice for photographers and anyone wanting a quieter lake experience without giving up the same striking colour and mountain backdrop that made Shangrila famous in the first place. Many repeat visitors to Skardu cite Upper Kachura as a “better version” of the more famous lake below, precisely because it offers similar visual drama with a fraction of the visitor traffic.

Boating and the Lake Experience

Traditional wooden boats operate on Upper Kachura much as they do at Lower Kachura, offering a similarly peaceful circuit across the water — though typically with a shorter wait and less commercial atmosphere than the busier operation at Shangrila. The stillness of the water here, particularly in early morning, produces excellent reflections of the surrounding granite peaks.

Best Time for Photography

Sunrise is genuinely the best time to visit Upper Kachura specifically — the light is soft, the water is at its calmest before any wind develops, and you’re likely to have significant stretches of the shoreline to yourself, a genuine rarity for a lake this photogenic in the Skardu region.