Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake is a spectacular turquoise lake in Upper Hunza, formed by a massive landslide in 2010. Surrounded by the rugged Karakoram mountains, it is one of the most distinctive and memorable landscapes along the Karakoram Highway.
- Distance from the hotel
- 5 km
- Type
- Lake
Attabad Lake
Attabad Lake is one of the most striking natural landmarks of Hunza, set amid the dramatic mountain landscape of Gojal in Upper Hunza. Its vivid turquoise waters, surrounded by steep, rugged slopes of the Karakoram, create one of the most recognisable landscapes in northern Pakistan. Today, the lake is an important attraction along the Karakoram Highway and a memorable highlight for travellers exploring Hunza and the upper reaches of the valley.
The lake was formed following a massive landslide on 4 January 2010, when a large section of the mountainside collapsed into the Hunza River at Attabad. The landslide blocked the river and created a natural dam, causing water to accumulate behind it and gradually forming the lake that visitors see today. The event had a profound impact on local communities, submerging homes, agricultural land and sections of the historic Karakoram Highway, while also disrupting transport through the upper Hunza valley.
Over time, Attabad Lake became a remarkable example of how the landscape of the Karakoram can change dramatically through natural geological processes. The lake now stretches through a narrow mountain valley, with its intense shades of blue and turquoise contrasting against the surrounding dry, rocky mountains. The colour and appearance of the water can vary with weather, season and light, creating a constantly changing landscape throughout the day.
The lake is easily accessible from the Karakoram Highway and has become a popular stop for travellers journeying towards Gulmit, Passu, Sost and the Pakistan-China border. Visitors can enjoy the scenery from several points along the highway or experience the lake from the water through seasonal boating activities. The surrounding mountains provide an impressive setting, particularly when viewed from the lakeshore or while travelling along the road above the water.
Attabad Lake is also closely connected to the modern story of the Karakoram Highway. Following the landslide, new tunnels and sections of highway were constructed to restore the important route through Gojal. Travelling beside and through the Attabad section of the highway therefore offers visitors an opportunity to experience both the extraordinary natural landscape and the remarkable engineering that keeps this remote mountain corridor connected.
For guests at Villa Darya, Attabad Lake is conveniently located just a short drive from the hotel in Shishkat. Its proximity makes it easy to include the lake in a wider Upper Hunza journey, alongside the villages and landscapes of Gulmit, Ghulkin, Hussaini, Passu, Khyber, Moorkhun and Sost.
Attabad Lake is more than a beautiful viewpoint. It is a landscape shaped by powerful geological forces and a significant event in the recent history of Hunza. The combination of extraordinary mountain scenery, deep blue water, the Karakoram Highway and the story of the communities affected by its formation gives the lake a distinctive character that stays with travellers long after they have left.