Chitta Katha Lake

Alpine/Glacial lake in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

34°55′8″N 74°31′18″E / 34.91889°N 74.52167°E / 34.91889; 74.52167TypeAlpine/Glacial lakeBasin countriesPakistanSurface elevation13,500 feet (4,100 m)

Chitta Katha Lake is an alpine lake located in Shounter Valley, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located at the elevation of 13,500 feet (4,100 m).^[1] This lake is sacred for Hindus, as they consider this lake an abode of Shiva.^[2] Tourists can visit this lake from June to September after hiking of 5 - 7 hours from the base camp.

Access

The lake is accessible from Kel by a 22-kilometer jeep track and then 8 kilometers of hiking trek. Hoz is the base camp to this lake. It takes 3 hours of hiking from Hoz camp to Duk1, then another 3 hours of trek to Duk 3 and then one further hour to reach the lake. The descent during the return trek again takes 3 hours to the Duk 1 camping site. After overnight stay, it takes 3 hours of descending to Hoz camp, from where jeeps to Kel are available.

Religious significance

This lake is sacred for Hindus, as they consider it an abode of Shiva.^[2]

References

^ "Chitta Katha Lake". www.theweekender.com.pk. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Chitta Katha Lake". The Traveloguers. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.