ANSOO LAKE

Ansoo Lake is located in Pakistan in the Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. It is a high-altitude lake with the elevation 16,492 feet or 5,027 metres near famous mountain Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.

Ansoo means “Tear” in Urdu language. The name comes from its drop-like shape. It looks like the shape of tear" from far off place. This Lake also resembles Human Eye with central ice land resembling Iris of Human Eye and a ridge resembling Eyebrow.

The lake is still in pristine state and an unspoiled paradise. Surrounded by majestic mountains of Himalayan range this beautiful Lake is mysterious and isolated. The weather is extremely cold, windy and unpredictable. Frequently it rains, which make the weather more freezing. Best time to trek the lake is from July to mid of August.

Ansoo Lake was discovered just few years back. Pakistan Air Force Pilots who were flying low in this area discovered it. Before its discovery, lake was not even known to the locals. The weather is extremely cold because of very high altitude and not much explored as of its unsafe approach and limited resources in that area.

The lake is accessible through hiking only because no jeep or car could go to Ansoo Lake.  Mules and Horses are hired for some distance but still, they may not be able to walk off all the way. The trek is steep and tough climbing through mountains and one has to travel by his own. Guards and tourist guides are necessary because this lake is in far off, deserted and risky area and at the top of mountains.

The trekking to the Lake is an exhilarating experience. It provides adventurous and challenging track and most fascinating trail through valleys and mountains. This Lake can be reached by two different routes. First one is short but vertical trek from Saiful Mulook Lake. This trek can be further divided into two parts. First half, which is towards Saiful Malook, is valley along the river and it goes up to Malika Parbat base camp. Second half is steeper starting from Malika Parbat base camp and ends with Ansoo Lake. This part is all about difficult climbing on the mountain.

Second hike to Ansoo Lake starts from the village Mahandri, which is 40 km south to Naran Village, and it, goes through Manoor Gali and Kach Gali. This trek takes at least three days of 12 hour trekking to get to Ansoo Lake. Steepness of this trek may be the same as of other one but travel in the valley is lot more. This gives an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to camp along the beautiful rivers, picturesque valleys cascading waterfalls, in jungles, on the top of mountains and in abandoned towns. The beauty of the trek is better seen than described. The whole trek is full of marvelous scenes of mountain peaks covered with snow and it is so beautiful that despite of difficult mountaineering and hiking is thrilling.

Apart from fascinating views of valleys and mountains, the sight of Malka-e-parbat is remarkable in full moon. The moon raising from behind the Malka-e-Parbat it is outstanding. But the air pressure is lower at high altitude and can cause bad breathing problems due to tough hike.  People having Asthma, are not recommended to come to this place. Physical fitness is necessary for such difficult, sturdy and steep trekking. As this area is completely isolated from the outer world, it is recommended to have plenty of water, enough food and other edible source of energy.

Both treks run in opposite direction from Ansoo Lake and are connected via mountains top above the lake waters. From this altitude, there is an amazing scene of lake, on one side and top of Malika Parbat and beautiful skyline of high altitude mountains covered with snow on the other side. The heart warming spectacle is most soothing in the eye. There is no risk free way to reach lake waters because it lies in the hollow with steep snow covered walls. There is no apparent drainage of lake water Mostly it is covered with clouds and heavy fog. But one can get moments to take glorious pictures of it

The whole trek is full of thrill, adventure and lot of undefined beauty, which can not be defined in words. Ansoo Lake is splendid and greatest gift of nature. It is a Paradise for the lover of nature photographers, enthusiastic & adventurer hikers who love thrill and adventures. It is no doubt the superb long trek through greatest mountains of the world and fabulous sights of nature.