Khaplu
©
Khaplu

Khaplu

Baltistan town at the Hushe and Shyok rivers, known for Khaplu Palace and Chaqchan Mosque.

Khaplu sits at the confluence of the Hushe and Shyok rivers in Baltistan, a green oasis in an otherwise stark mountain landscape. It was once the capital of a small Balti kingdom, and the legacy shows in the beautifully restored Chaqchan Mosque — one of the oldest in the region, dating to the 14th century — and the Khaplu Palace, a grand timber-and-stone residence perched above the town with views across the valley to the Karakoram peaks.

The town is quieter and less visited than nearby Skardu, which makes it a good base for trekkers heading into the Hushe Valley toward Masherbrum and the Charakusa Glacier. Even if you are not trekking, the drive from Skardu along the Shyok River is spectacular, and Khaplu itself rewards a day or two of wandering — the old bazaar, the apricot orchards in season, and the views from the palace grounds are reason enough to come.

Guide

Getting There

Khaplu is reached from Skardu, which is the main hub for Baltistan. Skardu itself is served by PIA flights from Islamabad — roughly 45 minutes when weather permits, but flights are frequently cancelled due to mountain weather. If the flight is cancelled you face a two-day overland journey via the Karakoram Highway and then the Indus Valley road.

From Skardu, Khaplu is about 100 km east along the Shyok River valley. The road takes four to six hours depending on the season and the condition of the track — it is unpaved for much of its length and subject to floods and landslides in summer. Shared jeeps and Coasters (minibuses) depart from Skardu's main bazaar in the morning. Private jeep hire is possible but expensive.

The journey along the Shyok River is spectacular in its own right — the gorge walls drop sheer to the water, and the light on the rock changes through the day.

Guide

Things to Do

Khaplu's main attractions are its two historic monuments — the Chaqchan Mosque and the Khaplu Palace — and the landscape that surrounds them. The town itself is small and easily covered on foot; the real rewards are in the valleys beyond, where treks into the Hushe Valley and toward Masherbrum begin.

For a day in town, start at the palace on the hill, walk down through the old bazaar, and end at the mosque by the river. The apricot orchards that surround the town are at their most spectacular in late April and early May, when they bloom white and pink against the brown rock of the mountains.

Guide

When to Go

The best time to visit Khaplu is between May and October. The valley is blocked by snow from roughly November through April, and even in spring the road from Skardu can be disrupted by floods from snowmelt. Late April and early May is the apricot blossom season — the orchards that surround the town turn white and pink, and the combination of blossom and snow-capped peaks is extraordinary.

June through September is the main trekking season, when the high passes are clear and temperatures at valley level (around 2,600m) are comfortable. July and August can be very warm in the valley itself. October is beautiful — the poplar trees turn gold, the crowds thin out, and the mountain views are at their clearest.

Come with flexibility: road closures from rockfall or flooding can strand you for a day or more in either direction.