A memorable road trip to Ali Malik Mar Pass in Pakistan
Ali Malik Mar Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.082m (13,392ft) above the sea level, located in Skardu Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan.
Is Ali Malik Mar Pass unpaved?
The road to the summit is mostly unpaved. It’s called Deosai Park Road. It’s located in the Deosai Plains, the second highest plateau in the world, after the adjoining Tibetan Plateau, between the ridge of the Himalayas and Karakoram. Deosai is accessible from the Astore Valley in the west and Skardu in the north.
How long is Ali Malik Mar Pass?
Tucked away on the northern part of the country, the road is 84km (52 miles) long, running north-south from Skardu to Astore Valley Road. A 4x4 vehicle is required because of the altitude and road condition. The road crosses several rivers on scary bridges. The pass is locally known as Deosai Top.
Is Ali Malik Mar Pass open?
Set high in the Deosai National Park, the pass is accessible only in summers. For just over half the year - between November and May - Deosai is snow-bound. The territory is known as the land of giants which remains a snow-bound bailiwick in the chilling winters.
Pic: Javeed Iqbal