List of Top 15 Beautiful Lakes in Pakistan
Pakistan is a country rich in culture, tradition, having beautiful deserts, majestic mountains, historical places, lush green plains, breath-taking archaic landscapes, fascinating hill stations, enormous glaciers, famous dams, and beautiful lakes. All these explain the beauty of Pakistan.
Pakistan is located in the South Asia region. It’s listed as the fifth most famous country globally with a population of 225,302,728 by Worldometers. The lakes are the most attractive spots for locals and foreign tourists. Most of the lakes are on the northern side of Pakistan – Chitral valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Swat valley, and Azad Kashmir. More than 20 lakes are on the north side, where Balochistan and Sindh lie. Some of them are natural, glacial, freshwater lakes, and some are artificial lakes. In this blog, we have listed down the top 15 highest lakes in Pakistan.
List of Lakes in Pakistan With Location, Elevation, and Distance From Islamabad
| Lakes | Location | Surface elevation | Distance from Islamabad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Satpara Lake | Skardu Valley | 2,636 m | 656 km |
| 2. Attabad Lake | Attabad, Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan | 4,693 m | 644 km |
| 3. Ratti Gali Lake | Neelam Valley, Azad Kashmir | 3,700 m | 158 km |
| 4. Saif-ul-Maluk Lake | Naran | 3,224 m | 293 km |
| 5. Ansoo Lake | Kaghan, Manoor Valley | 4,250 m | 138 km |
| 6. Mahodand Lake | Usho, Kalam Valley, Swat | 2,865 m | 359 km |
| 7. Lulusar Lake | Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District, KPK | 3,410 m | 339 km |
| 8. Upper Kachura Lake | Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District, KPK | 2,500 m | 627 km |
| 9. Lower Kachura Lake | Kachura village, Skardu | 2,500 m | 624 km |
| 10. Manchar Lake | Jamshoro District and Dadu District, Sindh | 35 m | 1165 km |
| 11. Dudipatsar Lake | Kaghan Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan | 3,800 m | 176 km |
| 12. Banjosa Lake | Rawalakot, Poonch District, Azad Kashmir | 1,981 m | 132 km |
| 13. Rush Lake | Nagar Valley Gilgit-Baltistan | 4,694 m | 628 km |
| 14. Pyala Lake | Jalkhand, Kaghan Valley | 3,410 m | 323 km |
| 15. Swaik Lake | Kallar Kahar, Chakwal | 457 m | 135 km |
1. Satpara Lake
Blossoming with a rainbow, bright blue, and surrounded by the majestic glacial mountains, this lake is a fairy-tale place in the heart of Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu. It is a natural freshwater lake spread over an area of 2.5 km². It has an elevation of 2,636 meters (8,650 ft) above sea level. A multi-purpose concrete-faced Satpara Dam is at a distance of 1.8 km from the lake. The downstream of the lake is enlarged in size after the completion of the Satpara Dam. Satpara Lake supplies water to the Skardu Valley and caters to the Satpara Stream. It is known as the most beautiful lake in Pakistan.
2. Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake, also known as Gojal Lake, is located in the Gojal region of the Hunza Valley in Gilgit−Baltistan. It’s a high-altitude lake, having a scenic view. This lake was found in 2010 due to a major landslide in Attabad. The lake is 21 kilometers in length and over 100 meters (330 ft) in depth. For the last few years, this lake has become one of the most visited lakes in Pakistan and the biggest attraction spot for tourists. With an elevation of 2366m / 7762 ft, it’s the largest lake in Gilgit-Baltistan. Apart from beautiful views, the lake is also famous for offering recreational activities including boating, fishing, and jet skiing.
3. Ratti Gali Lake
Ratti Gali Lake is famous among people for having the title of “Queen of Lakes” as it is located near the Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir. It is considered to be one of the most paradisiacal places in AJK. It’s an alpine glacial lake with an altitude of 3,683 meters (12,083 ft). The lush green grass, wildflowers, and cool winds creating a unique ambiance make Ratti Gali the most beautiful lake in Pakistan. You can reach this lake via hiking on the Dowarian base camp. The best time to visit this outstanding and Queen of lakes in Pakistan is between July to September.
4. Saif-ul-Maluk Lake
Saif-ul-Maluk Lake, known as Jheel Saif-ul-Maluk, is located in the Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 9 kilometers from the Naran valley, at the northern end of Kaghan Valley, near the Saiful Muluk National Park. With a surface elevation of 3,224 meters (10,577 ft), it is spread over an area of 2.5 square kilometers. The Jheel Saif-ul-Maluk is listed as the top 10 highest lakes in Pakistan. It’s a mountainous lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and melting glaciers, these peaks feed the lake. There is a famous story behind the lake, locals said that the Prince of Persia fell in love with a fairy princess at this lake. The recreational activities of the lake include boat riding and snowball fighting. It is also a point of attraction for the Kaghan valley which is one of the most visited hill stations in Pakistan.
5. Ansoo Lake
Talking about another beauty of Pakistan, here comes the Ansoo Lake which is located in the Mansehra District of Kaghan Valley. The unique shape of the lake attracts tourists to come and spend their time with nature. As for its name Ansoo, the lake is shaped like a teardrop – the Urdu word Ansoo means “teardrop”. With an elevation of 4,245 meters (13,927 ft) above sea level, it’s placed on the list of the top 10 beautiful lakes in Pakistan. It’s situated near the Himalayan Mountains – Malika Parbat, the highest mountain in the Kaghan Valley. It was founded in 1993 by Pakistan Air Force pilots who were flying at a low altitude in this specific area.
6. Mahodand Lake
Mahodand lake, also known as the “Lake of Fishes”, is located in northern areas of Pakistan in the Usho valley, 35 kilometers from Kalam in Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. With an elevation of 2,865 m (9,400 ft), the lake is surrounded by meadows, mountains, and thick forests. It has a maximum length of 2 km (1.2 mi) and maximum width of 1.2 km (0.75 mi). The most attractive thing about this lake is it’s freezing and is covered by heavy snow during winter. In summer, the lake is enclosed by a layer of alpine flowers which gives a stunning look to the lake. The lake also contains plentiful trout fishes, which are a big source of angling.
7. Lulusar Lake
Lulusar Lake is located in the Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. At the elevation of 3,410 m (11,190 ft), they are the main headwaters of the Kunhar River. It’s the lake that internationally justifies a beautiful Pakistan. The water of Lulusar Lake passes through the southwest areas including Jalkhand, Naran, Kaghan, Jared, Paras, Balakot, and the Jhelum River. It is about 50 kilometers from Naran. The word “lulu” means long, where “sar” means top or peak, that is why it’s considered to be the longest glacial water lake in Kaghan. The Dudipatsar National Park is situated near the lake. The Dudipatsar Lake and Lulusar Lake peaks are in Dudipatsar National Park.
8. Upper Kachura Lake
The crystal clear waters and the stunning view of the Upper Kachura lake is another breath-catching beauty of Pakistan. With an elevation of 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), it is located in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan. It covers the area of the Karakoram mountain range in the western Himalayas. It’s famous for having recreation activities including trout fishing, hiking, and Himalaya mountaineering. With a depth of 70 meters (230 ft), the lake is surrounded by mountains and thick green forests. It is one of the most visited places by the locals and foreign tourists.
9. Lower Kachura Lake
Lower Kachura Lake is also famous for its name Shangrila Lake. At a height of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft), it is located in Kachura village, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan. The bank of the lake, Shangrila resort, was built in 1983, after the completion of the resort, the lake has become a point of attraction for the tourists and locals. The reason behind its popularity was the resort because it was the very first resort in Skardu. On the other hand, the beauty of the lake motivates people to come and spend their holidays with friends and families.
10. Manchar Lake
Manchar is the biggest lake in Pakistan, located in the west of the Indus River, in between Jamshoro and Dadu District, in Sindh. It’s just 18 km from Sehwan Sharif. It’s a natural freshwater lake with an elevation of 35 meters (115 ft). This lake is spread over an area of 228 to 250 km2 (88 to 97 sq mi). It has a maximum length of 23.5 km (14.6 mi) and maximum width of 12.08 km (7.51 mi). A fact about this lake is that sometimes it takes floodwater from the river. The southern end of Manchar lake is the center of the Laki Hills, a section of the Kirthar Mountain range. All these are the things that make it the biggest lake in Pakistan.
11. Dudipatsar Lake
Dudipatsar is a picturesque lake located in the north end of the Kaghan Valley, in the Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. At an elevation of 3,800 meters (12,500 ft), it is only accessible on foot. With a maximum length of 835 meters (2,740 ft) and a width of 600 meters (2,000 ft), it’s surrounded by snow-patched shady dales mountains. The trail starts from a village named Besal and continues onward to the Poorbi Naar river – a tributary of the Kunhar River. The trail is famous for its flora and fauna. The name Dudipatsar describes it as a White Mountain Lake, referring to the snow-clad peaks encircling the water body. The lake water is a greenish-blue hue and very cold, reflecting like glass. If you are a hiking and trekking lover, you must visit this one of the most beautiful lakes in Pakistan. The lake had plenty of trout fish, but it’s illegal fishing with explosives and nets. The fauna of the lakes includes leopard, Himalayan snowcock, the snow leopard, marmot, weasel, black bear, lynx, and snow partridge. Full of red and pink flowers, Dudipatsar is a dream place because of its stunning views and majestic mountain with an average elevation of 4,800 meters (15,700 ft).
12. Banjosa Lake
Banjosa is an artificial lake located 20 km from the city of Rawalakot in Poonch District in Azad Kashmir. It’s surrounded by a thick pine forest and majestic mountains that enhance the beauty of the lake. Its charming and romantic views are perfect for tourists and couples. It’s accessible by a metalled road from Rawalakot. The reason for being the most beautiful lake in Pakistan is its weather that remains cool in Summers and cold in Winter. Snowfall also occurs in Banjosa Lake, which is the perfect time to visit this majestic lake. With an elevation of 1,981 meters (6,499 ft), the supermarket is just 01 kilometer (0.62 mi) away in Chotta Gala Bazaar and Banjosa Bazaar. Rest houses and a few hotels are also located near this lake. The fresh air, and the blue water, make the tourists soothing and they can enjoy boating on the lake. The impressive surroundings attract tourists to visit and enjoy the beauty of nature.
13. Rush Lake
At an elevation of 4,694 m (15,400 ft) above sea level, Rush Lake is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from Nagar valley, in the North of Miar Peak and Spantik (Golden Peak). It’s the highest alpine lake in Pakistan and 25th highest lake in the world. The trek of Rush Lake starts in Hopper and climbs up to Rush Peak at 5200 m, where it is achievable to see K2 and Broad Peak. It also offers views of Spantik, Malubiting, Miar Peak, Phuparash Peak, and Ultar Sar. If you want to have a first-time taste of Himalayan trekking, we recommend the Rush Lake trek. Rush Peak is a high point itself, on a broad ridge that can be reached with relative ease. The trek is quite rough and tricky, with constant ascending and descending while climbing up. It’s not easy for everyone to climb this stunning lake. Only a hiking and trekking lover can climb to Rush Lake. That is why it’s known as the highest and toughest lake in Pakistan to climb.
14. Pyala Lake
Pyala Lake is located in Jalkhand, Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an elevation of 3,410 meters (11,190 ft). Jalkhand comes before LuluSar Lake on the way to Babusar from Naran. It’s about 40 kilometers (25 mi) from Naran. It’s a round-shaped undeveloped but significant lake, as it is a bowl-shaped lake atop a hill, situated in the middle of Lulusar Lake from Naran. The story behind this lake is also attractive, as it said that a long time ago, this lake came into being as a result of Shahab-e-Saqib – a falling star. It contains highlands, gardens, and mountains, which gives it a stunning look. It’s astonishing to see the reflection of the mountains in the water of this lake when the water is crystal clear and clean. The quietness of the surrounding mountains melts hearts, the vision of the view reflects your mind, and the wind talks with your inner writer.
15. Swaik Lake
Swaik Lake is also known as Khandoa Lake because of its proximity to the village of Khandwa. It is located in Kallar Kahar, Chakwal District of Punjab. You can reach Swaik lake via the M2 motorway linking Lahore and Islamabad. This lake has blue-green water with cold waterfalls that are perfect for a swim. It’s also a perfect place for family and friends for a picnic purpose. But it’s not visited much by tourists because it is hidden from the main roads. You can enjoy partake in cliff diving and trekking around the area. By the locals, the lake is called Neela Pani. It’s a deep shallow water lake covered between the highest and most astounding rocks, cliffs, and mountains. The water is crystal clear and pure. The best time to visit this stunning lake is between July to August, because it’s the beginning of the rainy season. The stunning mountains, cliffs, and rocks made it an awesome and one of the most beautiful lakes in Pakistan.
Conclusion:
So this was the list of lakes in Pakistan that are a big source of tourism as we as these lakes are increasing the beauty of Pakistan. If you are a nature lover, you must visit these lakes once in your life. These creations make us realize the “Kudrat of Allah” that can never be defeated by anyone. We hope this article was helpful to you. You can also read our blog: Mountain Ranges in Pakistan
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