Cold Desert (Katpana Desert Skardu)

 

“On your journey to your dream, be ready to face oasis and deserts. In both cases don’t stop.”

Paulo Coelho

The beauty and nature gift to Gilgit-Baltistan works parallel because what we found in different places in the world find that a single place of area 72,971 km2 (28,174 sq mi) from mountains to rivers and even the desert. The desert is not the one you think where one feels sun-shining at 90°C and becomes thirsty and tired but a desert where you feel the temperature range from a maximum of 27 °C (81 °F) and a minimum (in October) of 8 °C (46 °F), which can drop further to below −17 °C (1 °F) in December and January. The temperature occasionally drops as low as −25 °C (−13 °F).

The Cold Desert, also known as the Katpana Desert, or Biama Nakpo (local language means "Black Sand"), is a high-altitude desert of Pakistan at a distance of 16 Kms from Skardu. It is a 30 minutes drive on scenic Shigar road. On this scenic road towards Katpana Desert, you see the mountains covered with glaciers also white sand-dunes contrary to this that "Biama-Nakpo" means in the local language is "Black-Sand". At night you can feel the peace in its air and you can see the milky way with your naked eye.

For those who are very keen to explore places and a lover of an adventure, Katpana is the best place to visit for them because it has its different views, and seeing nature so closely is one of the blessings because it is situated at the altitude of (14000 feet above sea level) and cold region. This place in reality holds a strange attraction. Also, you can witness the crystal clear water of the Indus River across the desert highlighting the diversity of landscape within sight. The sand dunes covered with snow in the winter season and moving with strong winds seize the attention of visitors. It seems more like a Heaven on earth.

The Katpana Desert is widely used for tourist entertainment and for cultural events. One of Pakistan's second-largest Jeep Rally events is held over the years after Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally.  Jeep rally has become the second-largest motorsport event over the years, after Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally. The splendor of racing in the Sarfaranga desert lies in an assortment of terrains it has; from soft white sand to gravel and the water crossings. Different events are also held in Katpana Desert which are cultural nights, Zakh Competition, and the Mayphan festival breach the mystery of the desert and make it an amazing place to visit.