Fairy Meadows is in the core of magnificent North Pakistan. Fairy Meadows renowned for its World’s ninth biggest mountain Nanga Parbat and gorgeous lush green plateaus is situated in Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan region, Pakistan. This place provides a stirring sight of Pakistan’s 2nd highest mountain Nanga Parbat, which has an altitude of 8126 m. Due to its spell-bounding beauty, it was named Fairy Meadows in 1953 by an Australian climber Hermann Bhul. He was there to climb the peak of Nanga Parbat and became the first one to summit the mountain. Besides nature lovers, the meadows have since long been an electrifying destination for climbers, nature enthusiastic, environmentalists, backpackers, wildlife researchers, painters, photographers and polo lovers who spend here a couple of days for real exploration. Fairy Meadows can easily be approached from the capital territory of Pakistan, Islamabad.
Its Imaginations
Fairy Meadows is like the bouquet of flowers set before the towering killer mountain, Nanga Parbat. The mountain sets a backdrop for the Fairy Meadows, making it an appealing and exciting destination for tourists. Fairy Meadows are where the legends of Nanga Parbat are kept alive, told by generations of villagers who had the chance of witnessing the legions of climbers who never descended its icy walls
Amongst the Highest Mountains
Nanga Parbat is the ninth tallest mountain in the world, standing at 8,125 meters, and is the second tallest mountain in Pakistan, after K2. It is also the first mountain in the great Himalaya range. The meadows change with the seasons. The trees streak the mountains with a bright yellow in autumn, while winter is bare, bone white and still. Spring brings forth the river’s roar, the crisp cracks of avalanches and the bloom of purple, yellow and white wildflowers. Babbling brooks flow through the meadows, sparkling with stones such as pyrite and quartz, but the snow remains glued to the mountain tops. Winter winds seldom visit in spring, howling through the log cabins at night.
Where to Stay?
Many tourists like to stay in camps in lush green places. In contrast to cities, food is a bit expensive here. But the availability of food at this far-flung place makes it worth paying. The six-month visitor season at Fairy Meadows starts in April and lasts until the end of September. Between the end of June and the middle of August is the best time to visit Fairy Meadows and the place becomes unapproachable in winter due to heavy snowfall. Tourists lodge at the camping site spread over two acres, well-known as ‘Raikot Serai’.
Local Houses
Most of all Houses are nestled amongst the mountains like hobbit holes, built out of pine logs with flattened birch barks used for the roof. The men play polo, sip tea and cut firewood with the echoing thuds of their axes. The women pick wild mulberries, raspberries, and strawberries in the meadows as well as tend to their vegetable gardens.
Fairy Meadows At Night
In addition to at night, Nanga Parbat glows white in the still darkness, and men lounge on Pakistani rugs around small wood-fired iron stoves relaying tales of the killer mountain.
However, the experience feels very safe, and tourists should worry more about the steep cliffs and the biting cold at night rather than the possibility of terrorist attacks. Hikers should take advantage of the pristine experience they can have while visiting this gem of a place. Thus by all above information it can be rightly said that Fairy Meadow is a heaven on earth. A lush green meadows in between the mighty creation of Almighty.
