About
Shigar Valley runs north from Skardu along the Shigar River, climbing slowly past Shigar town through a string of villages before rising into the Braldu Gorge on the way to Askole. In total the valley stretches around 170 km. The valley is a green oasis of fields and orchards irrigated by the Shigar River. Grapes, peaches, pears, walnuts, and especially apricots grow here, and the villages keep their Balti culture and Tibetan-influenced heritage alive. Shigar is the cultural side of Baltistan, with its restored fort, UNESCO-recognised mosques, cold desert, and Blind Lake all within easy reach. For travellers who are not heading to the Baltoro, it makes one of the most rewarding two or three day cultural circuits in northern Pakistan.