Walking trek from Shandur Polo Ground to Mahodand Lake
Friends, from July 1st, we will head to Shandur Polo Ground to taste the waters of these lakes. We will also watch a polo match there and enjoy the colorfulness of Shandur Festival. The real story will begin after watching this festival because I want to trek from Shandur to Mahodand on foot so that I can drink the water of 13 lakes, stay in five meadows and see countless waterfalls. If any friend is interested in doing this journey, he can join us. I am writing an introduction to this trek for your convenience.
Shandur Polo Ground to Mahodand Lake Seven-day walking trek via Khokush Pass
Shandur Polo Ground, echoing with the shouts of galloping horses and riders, is the highest polo ground in the world. Shandur National Park, 3738 meters above sea level, is also called the roof of the world. Perhaps that is why the locals have named this ground Mas Jonali (Polo Ground on the Moon) in the Khowar language.
Shandur National Park is also the junction point of the world's three highest mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush, the Pamir and the Karakoram. In this vast plain, the Shandur Lake, spread over 2 kilometers, is surrounded by towering mountains on all sides. Spring is in full swing in Shandur National Park in the month of July. Colorful flowers of various kinds are seen blooming in the lush green plain around the lake and their fragrance perfumes the air.
Locals head to Shandur National Park with their livestock, mostly yaks and goats. The temperature in this vast plain never goes above 14 degrees. No one knows when the clouds will come and start pouring down rain in this earthly paradise. It is also difficult to predict when the torrential rain will stop and when the clouds will head to distant valleys due to the wind.
Shandur National Park is connected to the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan through various mountain passes. Khokush Pass is the Hindu Kush pass that connects the Ghizer region of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the beautiful Swat valley. This mountain pass, which is 4970 meters above sea level, remains covered in snow all year round.
The trek from Ghizer district to Mahodand Lake Kalam starts from Langar Nala. The trek from Shandur to Mahodand Lake is about 60 kilometers long and passes more than 9 lakes, countless waterfalls, glaciers, springs and pastures. Locals cover this route in two days. Langar is 3350 meters above sea level, while the highest point of Khokush Pass is 4970 meters above sea level and Mahodand Lake is 2865 meters above sea level. Langar is a place where you can choose to reach from Chitral or Ghazr. The time to reach Shandur National Park from both the routes is almost the same.
The distance from Islamabad to Shandur National Park is 584 kilometers and it takes 20 to 22 hours to complete this journey. The route from Islamabad to Mastuj can be covered in any vehicle, but the 55-kilometer route from Mastuj to Shandur National Park is suitable only in a 4X4 jeep. The second route from Islamabad to Shandur passes through the cities of Naran, Babu Sartap, Gilgit, Ghazr, Phandar. This route is 741 kilometers long, but you can reach Shandur National Park in any vehicle from this route. The road condition is also better than the Chitral road.
If you travel from Shandur National Park towards Ghazr district, after 10 kilometers, there is a small village named Langar on the banks of a noisy drain. The Khokush Pass, which connects Ghizer District with Seri Kalam in the upper Swat region, also begins from this village.
After leaving Langar Nallah, the important places on this route include the 4 lakes of Khokush, Khokush Glacier, Khokush Pass, Seri Kalam, Neel Sar Lake, Shin Dhand Lake, Donchar Falls, Mini Shahi Bagh, Nasrullah Lake, Saifullah Lake and Mahodand Lake.
