Manthokha Waterfall

Manthokha Waterfall, also spelt Manthoka, falls about 55 m (180 ft) in the Kharmang Valley of Baltistan, in Gilgit-Baltistan in the far north of Pakistan, around 80 km (50 mi) from Skardu, the largest city of the region; its stream belongs to the Indus basin. It is set among green pastures and streams beneath the high mountains of the Karakoram, and in winter its water freezes as it falls. Many websites call it the largest waterfall in Pakistan, though that does not appear to be true. It lies about 3 km (2 mi) up a rough, stony track from the village of Manthokha, which is reached from Skardu by the Khaplu road and then the Kargil road along the Indus, some 20 minutes from where Kharmang District begins; visitors from Pakistan and abroad come every year, and a restaurant nearby serves local trout from a fish farm that can also be visited.

Background

Manthokha Waterfall, also written Manthoka, is in the Kharmang Valley near Skardu, in Gilgit-Baltistan in the far north of Pakistan. It drops about 55 m and lies some 80 km from Skardu, the region's largest city, among green pastures and streams below the high Karakoram. A restaurant close by serves local trout, and visitors can also see the fish farm.

Source: Wikipedia, "Manthokha Waterfall"

The landscape

• The fall - about 55 m high, its water freezing as it falls in winter.
• The fish farm - local trout, served at a restaurant nearby.
• The pastures - green meadows and streams around the waterfall.
• The mountains - the high Karakoram around the valley.

When to go

May to September; in winter the falling water freezes.

Things to know

Many websites describe Manthokha as the largest waterfall in Pakistan, which does not appear to be true; the last 3 km from Manthokha village is a rough, stony track.

Nearby

Tolti, the headquarters of Kharmang District, is about 10 km to the east-south-east, Khaplu about 34 km to the east-north-east and Skardu about 43 km to the north-west, in a straight line.

Key facts