Karakul or ‘Black Lake’ in Tajik is a 25 km diameter lake in the Pamir Mountains. Unspoiled and with no development along the shores, it is a place of pure serenity and peace which not many other places on earth are able to offer such an experience. A village sits on the eastern shore bearing the same name holds a small community of Kyrgyz people who survive through nomadic herding of yaks, sheep and goats.
Mud Bricks
Their houses made with mud-bricks, the ideal building material borrowed from the environment. With its exterior painted white and the doors and windows blue, it sits perfectly with the mountains and blue sky as the backdrop.
The place is quiet with almost zero noise pollution. The only noise you will probably hear is the laughter of children playing among themselves, the beauty of such a simple little village.
In the middle of the village sits a small and quaint mosque with two white-washed minarets.
Sadat Homestay
We stayed at Sadat Homestay for the night in a large room with mattresses and blankets to keep us warm. Both the toilet and shower are outside of the house. For the shower, they have a special ‘sauna’ in place just so that you could have a warm shower in a village that is 3,960m above sea level.
From the homestay, it is a short walk to reach the lake. Upon reaching the lake, you’ll see a signboard that reads:
“The surface of the lake Karakul is 380 sq km. The maximum depth of the lake is 258m lake has no fishery value. The only kind of fish living in the Karakul is Noemachilus-locusnigri, which not have product value.”
Enchanting View
To get a more enchanting view, take right once you reach the lake and walk for about another 10-15 minutes until you reach an open white sand-like area. The scenery is almost unreal and the clarity of its reflection in the water makes it perfect for any photo enthusiast. The lake radiates an aura of peace and serenity, where you can be alone, away from everyday life.
Take a walk during sunset and you will be rewarded with a dramatic view of the surroundings.
After I left Karakul, I realised that it is a place far, far away from time and space. A place where you want to visit at least once in your life, a place far away from your digital life that has been surrounding you all these years.