How deep is Upper Kachura Lake?

Around 70 metres (roughly 230 feet), making it one of the deepest lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Is Upper Kachura the same as Shangrila Lake?

No. Shangrila is Lower Kachura Lake inside a private resort. Upper Kachura is a separate, larger and much deeper lake about 2 km further along the same road.

Is the walk to Upper Kachura Lake difficult?

It is a short, ten-minute unpaved downhill walk from the car park, gentle for most people but with a return climb that can be tiring in midday heat.

Can you fish at Upper Kachura Lake?

Trout from the lake is sold ready-cooked at the lakeside stalls rather than offered as a catch-your-own experience for casual visitors.

What should I carry for a visit to Upper Kachura?

Sturdy shoes for the unpaved path, a light jacket for the afternoon wind, water, and a camera, since there is no shop selling supplies at the lake itself.

Lakes

Upper Kachura Lake

Cold, clear and glacially deep, Skardu's most photogenic water

Altitude: 2,500 m / 8,200 ft
Distance: 22 km from Skardu city
Drive time: 40 minutes plus a 10-minute walk
Best season: May to October
Entry: Small local entry ticket
Category: Lakes

A short walk beyond Shangrila, Upper Kachura is the serious lake of the pair: around 70 metres deep, fed by snowmelt, and so clear that boulders are visible far below the surface.

The approach path drops through willow and apricot trees before opening onto a long stretch of turquoise water hemmed by scree slopes. Wooden boats are available, and the small tea stalls at the head of the lake serve chai and trout.

Because the water stays close to freezing all year, Upper Kachura is a favourite of cold-water swimmers, but it is not a casual swim, the drop-off is immediate and there is no lifeguard.

Come early in the day if you want the water still enough for reflections. By mid-afternoon a valley wind usually picks up.

Highlights

Water clarity that rivals any alpine lake in Asia
Wooden boat rides across the deepest section
Trout served fresh at the lakeside stalls
Quiet walking trail through orchard land from the car park

How to get there

Same road as Shangrila, continue past the resort gate and park at the marked lot, then walk ten minutes downhill to the shore.

Not sure how to reach the region itself? See how to reach Skardu by air and road.

Where to stay nearby

Kachura village guest houses are the closest option; most travellers stay in Skardu city and visit as a half-day trip.

Where to stay near Upper Kachura Lake

Compare hotels, resorts and guest houses in and around Upper Kachura Lake, from budget rooms in the bazaar to heritage forts and lakeside resorts.

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How to spend a morning at Upper Kachura Lake

Park at the marked lot just beyond the Shangrila gate, then walk downhill for around ten minutes through willow and apricot trees to reach the shoreline. The path is unpaved and has a moderate slope, manageable for most fitness levels but not stroller-friendly.

Arrive before 10am if you want the water at its stillest, since a valley wind typically builds through the afternoon and breaks up the reflections that make this lake so photogenic. A wooden boat ride across the deepest stretch takes about 20 minutes.

Walk-in time from the car park: about 10 minutes downhill
Best light and calmest water: before 10am
Boat rides: roughly 20 minutes across the main basin
Return walk uphill takes slightly longer, allow 15 minutes

There are no barriers along most of the shoreline, and the drop-off into deep water is sudden, so keep small children within arm's reach near the edge.

Photography and cold-water swimming at Upper Kachura

The lake's clarity is its main draw for photographers, boulders are visible many metres below the surface on a calm day, and the colour shifts from deep teal near the shore to almost black over the 70-metre deep centre.

Cold-water swimmers use the lake through summer, but this is genuinely icy, snowmelt-fed water with no lifeguard and an immediate drop-off, not a casual paddling spot. Anyone swimming should stay close to shore and never swim alone.

Water temperature stays cold even in July and August
No lifeguard or safety barriers
Best photography window: early morning before the wind rises
Trout is sold fresh at the lakeside tea stalls

Where to eat and stay near Upper Kachura Lake

A small cluster of tea stalls at the head of the lake serves chai, snacks and fried trout caught locally, the only food available on site. There is no full restaurant at Upper Kachura itself, unlike neighbouring Shangrila.

Kachura village, a short drive back towards Shangrila, has simple guest houses for travellers who want to stay close to both lakes rather than commuting from Skardu city each day.

On site: tea stalls and trout snacks only
Nearest full restaurant: the fuselage restaurant at Shangrila
Nearest accommodation: Kachura village guest houses, 5 to 10 minutes by car