Rama Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3.507m (11,505ft) above the sea level, located on the eastern slopes of the Nanga Parbat massif, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan.
The road to the lake, within the Astore Valley, is gravel and rocky. Starting from Astore, also spelt Astor, a city and the capital of Astore District, the drive is 13.3 km long. Expect a couple of hours drive. This trail passes through remote areas, so you need to be prepared. Mobile signals reception is week. The weather is mostly cold all along the year.
The rough road is called Astore - Rama Road. It tests the skill, and courage, of any driver. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or a fear of landslides. For the first 4 – 5 kms the road is bearable but after that the road condition is dilapidated and there is a constant steep ascent and you have to drive in first or second gears giving way to oncoming traffic as it is a one way road. One mistake and it's a free fall to your death. Do not accelerate on the bends and keep your eye on the road and the temperature gauge at the same time.
Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. It’s impassable from September to June and remains accessible throught summers. Prone to massive landslides. 4x4 vehicles required. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls. The zone is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions.
The rough road is called Astore - Rama Road. It tests the skill, and courage, of any driver. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or a fear of landslides. For the first 4 – 5 kms the road is bearable but after that the road condition is dilapidated and there is a constant steep ascent and you have to drive in first or second gears giving way to oncoming traffic as it is a one way road. One mistake and it's a free fall to your death. Do not accelerate on the bends and keep your eye on the road and the temperature gauge at the same time.
Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. It’s impassable from September to June and remains accessible throught summers. Prone to massive landslides. 4x4 vehicles required. With such a high summit altitude the road can be closed anytime due to snowfalls. The zone is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions.
The drive is definitely worth it. A drive not to be missed! It’s one of the most beautiful lakes in Pakistan. There are many excellent photo opportunities. Color of the lake changes dramatically with sunlight turning greenish blue from dark green. Its water is warm enough to even swim in summers. In winters this lake remains frozen from December to March. Don't forget your camera with lots of film/memory, fully charged batteries and an empty memory card! Nanga Parbat and the surrounding peaks reflect off the flat blue-green water.
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