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N 35°18′ · E 75°37′
30km from Skardu
Lower Kachura Lake
Skardu's Shangrila. A glacial lake with blue-green water, a heritage resort on the shore, and a DC-3 fuselage where you can have lunch. A Baltistan curiosity worth seeing.
About the Lake
The lake with a
DC-3 on the shore.
Lower Kachura Lake sits about 30 kilometres from Skardu, in a valley above the Indus. The water is the particular blue-green of glacial lakes at altitude, fed by snowmelt and clear enough to see the bottom in the shallows. The Shangrila Resort occupies the southern shore.
The resort was built in the 1980s by Sardar Muhammad Alam, a retired Pakistani army officer who named it after the fictional paradise in James Hilton's Lost Horizon. The centrepiece is a vintage DC-3 aircraft fuselage, converted into a restaurant perched on the lakeside. This is not a gimmick added for tourists, it was always part of the original vision, and it has become one of the most recognisable features in Baltistan's travel photography.
The grounds are open to day visitors (not just overnight guests), with a garden, the lakeshore, and the restaurant. The lake itself is calm enough for short boat rides in summer. It pairs naturally with Upper Kachura Lake, 10 minutes further up the valley, which is quieter and has a more dramatic setting.
Practical Info
Visiting the Kachura Lakes
what you need to know.
Getting there
30 kilometres from Skardu, approximately 40 to 50 minutes by road. The drive follows the Indus valley and then climbs into the Kachura side valley. Any 4x4 handles the road comfortably.
Day visit or overnight
Day visitors are welcome at the Shangrila Resort grounds and restaurant. Overnight stays are possible, the resort has rooms, though most travellers base in Skardu and visit as a half-day excursion. Both lakes in one morning is the standard approach.
Upper vs Lower Kachura
Upper Kachura Lake is a 10-minute drive further up the valley. It is quieter, set in a tighter bowl, and has no resort infrastructure. If you only have time for one, Upper Kachura is the stronger landscape. If you have a half-day, do both, Lower for the history and the DC-3, Upper for the setting.
Best time to visit
June to October. The lakes are accessible year-round, but summer gives the best colour in the water and the best conditions for the garden and lakeshore. Morning visits avoid the afternoon haze that can flatten the mountain views.
Common Questions
Before you go
answered honestly.
What is Lower Kachura Lake?
Lower Kachura Lake (also called Shangrila Lake) is a glacial lake near Skardu, approximately 30 kilometres from the city. It sits at around 2,500 metres and is known for its blue-green water and the Shangrila Resort built on its shore. The resort uses a converted DC-3 aircraft fuselage as part of its lakeside restaurant, an unusual feature that has made it one of the most photographed spots in Baltistan.
How far is Lower Kachura Lake from Skardu?
Lower Kachura Lake is approximately 30 kilometres from Skardu city centre, about 40 to 50 minutes by road. It is typically combined with Upper Kachura Lake (a further 10 minutes up the same road) for a half-day excursion from Skardu.
What is the Shangrila Resort?
Shangrila Resort is a heritage hotel on the shore of Lower Kachura Lake. It was established in the 1980s by Sardar Muhammad Alam, a retired Pakistani army officer who named it after the fictional valley in James Hilton's Lost Horizon. The most distinctive feature is a converted DC-3 aircraft fuselage incorporated into the lakeside restaurant. The resort is open to day visitors for the grounds, garden, and restaurant, not just overnight guests.
Should I visit Upper or Lower Kachura Lake?
Both, ideally, they are 10 minutes apart by road. Lower Kachura (Shangrila) is more developed, with the resort, garden, and restaurant. Upper Kachura is quieter, set in a tighter bowl, and has a more dramatic setting with the Karakoram rising behind it. Most visitors find Upper Kachura more striking as a landscape; Lower Kachura more interesting for the resort history and the DC-3 curiosity. A half-day covers both comfortably.
Plan Your Visit
Add the Kachura Lakes to your Skardu itinerary.
Both Kachura Lakes are included in Raahi Skardu itineraries as a half-day excursion. We pair them with the Skardu bazaar or an afternoon at Kharpocho Fort on the same day.
→Upper Kachura Lake: the quieter, more dramatic of the two→Kharpocho Fort: Skardu's hilltop fort above the Indus→Sarfaranga Cold Desert: sand dunes below the Karakoram→Skardu: complete destination and travel guide→5-day Skardu itinerary: Kachura Lakes on Day 1→Aghaaz Retreat: 3-day Skardu tour including Kachura→Skardu travel guide 2026: lakes, forts, Deosai & how to plan→Skardu in June: early season at the Kachura Lakes→Skardu in July: peak summer at Shangrila and Lower Kachura→Skardu in August: warmest weather, best Shangrila conditions→Skardu in September: quieter visits to Lower Kachura Lake→Skardu in October: shoulder season at the Kachura Lakes→Things to do in Skardu: lakes, forts, cold desert & stargazing→Plan a customized Skardu trip with our team
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