Ansoo Lake

This tear shaped lake is situated at an altitude of 16490 feet(5027m) in the vicinity of Malika-e-Parbat (Queen of mountains) in the Himalayan range. (In Urdu “Ansoo” means tear). Nature kept this beauty hidden from the eyes of humans until 1993 when a pilot of Pakistan Air Force reported it's existence during a low flight over it. Earlier, even the local people did not know that it existed.

It can be reached via a difficult trek from the Saif-ul-Maluk lake which is itself a marvelous place. The journey takes about one day and one night. One must be a good hiker if he wants to reach Ansoo lake because no jeep or car can reach there. Mules or horses can be hired but still one has to travel at least 50% of the path on foot. There are a number of streams in way but it is highly recommended that you take plenty of fresh water and juices with you. The ideal time for the visit is from July to August because in the end of August heavy snow fall begins.

So, first reach Lake Saiful-Malook. Do spend some time there and enjoy. From there, I suggest hire a guide who should be a local of these areas. The Path to Ansoo Lake is straightly passing from the base camp of Malka-e-Parbat, the most beautiful peak near Saiful-ul-Malook. You can hire mules along with guide to carry your camps and heavy utensils. And it would be a good exercise if you carry your bags yourself and take pity upon poor animals :) It should take not more than 2 or 3 hours to reach Base Camp of Malka-e-Parbat. If you happened to stay at base camp, then don't forget to enjoy the beautiful scenes of Malka-e-parbat during the evening time.

Let me specify that this whole track is full of very beautiful and marvelous scenes of mountain peaks covered with snow, so with the difficulty of climbing you will really enjoy the scenes!!

Ansoo Lake

Hike to the Ansoo Lake

Lake Saif-ul-Maluk

Located near the valley of Naran, at an altitude of 3,224 m (10,578 feet) Lake Saif-ul-Maluk is undoubtedly the most enchanting place in the world. The place casts such an immense impact on the onlooker that for a moment he considers himself in heaven. The famous Sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh wrote a legendary fairy tale which revolves around the lake. It tells the story of a Persian prince who came across a fairy at the lake and fell in love with her. Even now some people believe that, in full moon, fairies descend from there home in the sky, to take the a bath in the lake.

A breath taking view of the lake

Lake Saif-ul-Maluk is regarded as one of the top tourist attractions in Pakistan. The lake is accessible from Naran by a 14km long road. It can also be visited on foot from Naran which takes almost 4-5 hours. During the journey one witnesses some of the most beautiful sights and sounds of nature. The water source of this lake are the towering glaciers around it which provide it with fresh water and help to keep it clear. Although after the earth quake of 2005 in the northern areas of Pakistan, and the government's recent war against terrorism, their was a sharp decline in the number of tourists visiting the region but now the tourism industry is flourishing again. One needs a strong sense of adventure to enjoy this marvel. But believe me it is totally worth it!!

A recently built bridge