Area guides / Gilgit-Baltistan / Khaplu & Ghanche
Area guide
Khaplu & Ghanche
Baltistan's old royal valley, east of Skardu
Region
Gilgit-Baltistan
When to go
May to October for open valley roads
Getting there
Roughly 100 km from Skardu, about three hours along the Shyok River. Fly or drive to Skardu first.
Spots
3 key places
Overview
About Khaplu & Ghanche
Khaplu, the capital of Ghanche District about 103 km east of Skardu, was the second-largest kingdom in Baltistan and guarded the trade route to Ladakh along the Shyok River. Its restored 19th-century palace and the old Chaqchan Mosque sit in a green valley of orchards and villages.
Roughly 100 km from Skardu, about three hours along the Shyok River. Fly or drive to Skardu first.
The palace and the old town
Khaplu Palace was built in 1840 by Raja Daulat Ali Khan and has been restored as a model of Baltistan heritage conservation. Walk up through the old village to the Chaqchan Mosque.
Side valleys
Saling, Barah and the lakes around Kharfaq make easy extensions from Khaplu. Roads are seasonal, so use Skardu as the gateway and check conditions before heading up.
Field Guides
All places →Khaplu Palace
Khaplu Palace, known locally as Yabgo Khar, the 'fort on the roof', is a restored 19th-century royal residence in the Ghanche valley east of Skardu, built in 1840 by Raja Daulat Ali Khan after the Dogra rulers of Jammu, who had captured the region, moved the seat of government away from an older nearby fort. The four-storey palace, raised from timber, mud brick, and clay-and-soil mortar, blends Tibetan, Kashmiri, Ladakhi, Balti, and Central Asian influences, a testament to Khaplu's position at the crossroads of several mountain cultures. Between 2005 and 2011 it underwent a painstaking restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and today operates as a Serena heritage hotel alongside a museum on Baltistan's history and culture.
Chaqchan Mosque
Chaqchan Mosque is a heritage or archaeological stop in Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan, adding a distinct layer of local history to the wider travel circuit. The value of the visit lies in the surviving fabric, setting and stories around the site, so it rewards a closer look rather than a quick photograph.
Khaplu Valley
Khaplu Valley is a scenic valley or mountain-settlement destination in Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan, best approached as a slower journey through lived-in landscapes rather than a single roadside attraction. The appeal comes from the changing relationship between villages, cultivated ground, watercourses and surrounding ridges.
Saling Valley
Saling Valley is a scenic valley or mountain-settlement destination in Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan, best approached as a slower journey through lived-in landscapes rather than a single roadside attraction. The appeal comes from the changing relationship between villages, cultivated ground, watercourses and surrounding ridges.
Resorts
All resorts →GreenPak stays in this area are listed on the region guide.