16th January 2026 : The morning began in the peaceful valley of Phandar. After exploring its silent beauty a day before, we had stayed at the warm and welcoming home of Dilbar and Shahmir Bhai. Their hospitality made the freezing weather feel lighter. After breakfast at their home, we packed our bags and continued our journey.
Leaving Phandar behind, we started moving forward. The first village on our way was *Shashi (8,800 ft)* above sea level, followed by **Shimaran (7,600 ft)**. Village after village, we kept riding through the breathtaking winter landscapes. Water springs flowing beside the road had completely frozen, turning into natural ice sculptures. Every view felt divine — like nature was silently speaking to us.
The snow-covered road was not easy. Sometimes my bike slipped on the ice, sometimes Waqar Bhai’s did. But step by step, we pushed forward and finally reached Dahemal. From here onward, the road was clear — no sign of snow.
We stopped at Dahemal Bazaar for lunch. In the cold afternoon, we ordered momos, boiled eggs, and hot tea — a simple meal that felt like a luxury in that weather.
Moving ahead, we reached Khutun, where we were surprised to see a newly formed lake. I had passed this place in July last year, and there was no lake back then. It was likely created after the heavy floods of August. The village was partially submerged, and the bridge had collapsed — a silent reminder of nature’s power.
Just 5–6 km from there lies one of the largest lakes of Ghizer — **Khalti Lake**. At 6,500 ft above sea level, around 80 ft deep, 450 meters wide, and 4 km long, the lake had transformed completely. Due to the extreme cold, a thick layer of ice had covered its surface. I even walked to the center of the frozen lake — something only possible in this season.
Many hotels stand around the lake, but the magical winter scene we witnessed cannot be seen in summer. Children were playing ice hockey, some were skating — life continued beautifully on top of frozen water.
By evening, we reached Gupis Bazaar. Our plan was to stay with Muzamil Bhai, who had invited us earlier. But as we couldn’t meet him, we stayed in Gupis for the night, paying 2000 PKR.
This was the story of our day — a journey through frozen valleys, unexpected lakes, and unforgettable winter memories.
#KhaltiLake #PhandarValley #WinterAdventure #GilgitBaltistan #TravelWithNabeel
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