HUNZA VALLEY – THE SWITZERLAND OF PAKISTAN

The photographs don't do justice to the beauty of this place.

Hunza was the destination for a much-needed family vacation at the end of the summer 2020. For some time, we had been working on the details of the trip, but there was one component of it that had us stumped.

For those who don't want to deal with airplanes delays and cancellations, driving was an alternative. The second alternative was to fly to Gilgit, then take a two-hour road trip to Hunza from there.

It was the picturesque path that ultimately won out. It's a lengthy journey, but it's worth it because of the breathtaking scenery that greets you around every corner. For the most part, I've traveled to Skardu by plane.

Driving over the mountains on the Karakoram Highway is a whole other experience. The photographs don't do justice to the beauty of this place. Remember that if something seems amazing in an image, it will be much more beautiful in real.

The Hunza Serena Inn, where we slept, provides stunning views of the surrounding valley and mountains, as well as Baltit Fort, which can be seen in the background. At night, the pristine sky are filled with stars, and music from adjacent villages wafts through the air, drowning out the city's noise and pollution.

If you ever find yourself in Hunza, here are a few must-see attractions:

Baltit Fort

This fort, which is almost 700 years old, was built with Tibetan elements and is designed similarly to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The fundamental structure of the Hunza-Nagar dynasty has, during the course of its existence, been subjected to a variety of alterations and enhancements. In 1945, the Mir of Hunza relocated to a home in the neighborhood after abandoning the fort. After being abandoned for almost forty years, the fort underwent a painstaking four-year repair that was finally finished in 1996 thanks to funding from the Historic Cities Program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. 

Kha Basi Cafe

The proprietors of this quaint and one-of-a-kind eatery are all women, and although there is a little eating area located inside, the veranda that overlooks the neighboring valley is where you should go for a cup of tea. After your tour of the Altit Fort, make a stop at this restaurant to try some typical Hunza dishes, such as Chap Chrro (flatbread with a meat filling), Brustz Shapik (flatbread stuffed with local cheese, seasoned with herbs and apricot oil), and Diram Phitti (a wholesome dessert made with wheat and apricot oil). 

Eagle Nest

From Karimabad, the journey to the Eagles Nest Hotel is a steep ascent that takes around forty minutes. The motel is located right adjacent to a viewpoint that is very popular, particularly during the early morning and late evening hours. We made it there in the nick of time to catch the sun as it was about to set, and the vistas in every direction were beautiful as the light began to dim. 

Attabad Lake

When we were driving to Hunza, it was usually gloomy and it rained quite a bit; however, the day that we drove to Attabad Lake, the sky was bright and the sun was shining. It's hard to believe that this beautiful body of water didn't even exist until 2010, when a catastrophic landslide was the cause of its birth. The water is a stunning hue of blue, and it's surrounded by mountains.