Satpara Lake, Skardu's Closest Alpine Lake

Satpara Lake sits just a short drive from Skardu city, making it the most accessible of the region's alpine lakes, a glacier fed reservoir ringed by bare Karakoram peaks, popular for boating and as an easy half day trip for travelers who don't have time for the more remote Kachura lakes.

The lake also serves as Skardu's main water reservoir via the Satpara Dam, and the drive up offers some of the best easy access mountain views in the immediate vicinity of the city.

History

Satpara has long served local communities as a water source, with the modern Satpara Dam completed in the 2000s adding hydroelectric and irrigation capacity for Skardu city while preserving the lake's recreational use.