Siri Lake—Mirror-Like Lake in Shogran Siri Paye Meadows
Nestled amidst the breathtaking Siri Paye Meadows in the Shogran Valley lies a hidden treasure, the Siri Lake. Reflecting clear skies and the grandeur of surrounding mountains, this mirror-like lake never fails to cast a spell on those who lay eyes upon it.
Siri Lake is often confused with its sister lake, the Paye Lake, which is located at a distance of 2.5km at the top of the Siri Paye Meadows. To ensure that these sister lakes do not befuddle you on your visit to the Siri Paye Meadows, let’s briefly discuss the location of Siri Lake.
Siri Lake Location
In the Siri Paye meadows, there are not one but two lakes: Siri Lake and Paye Lake.
On the way to the Paye from Shogran, you will first come across the beautiful Siri Lake about 5km from the Shogran Valley. It is situated at a height of 8572 feet (2612 meters) above sea level. Siri is a small lake, but its crystal-clear water, reflecting the surrounding mountains and clear skies never fails to bewitch onlookers.
How to Get to Siri Lake?
When coming from Islamabad via Hazara Motorway, you will pass Abbottabad and Mansehra to reach Balakot Interchange. From there, the next stop will be Kiwai. From Kewai, it will only take around 30 to 45 minutes to reach Shogran. But You might want to take a quick snack stop in the small village of Kewai at Kewai Waterfall before continuing your journey to Shogran Valley.
From Shogran, you can either take a bumpy jeep ride to reach Siri Lake, or you can hike to Siri Lake, which takes an average person around 2 to 3 hours. And you might also be able to find yourself a horse to take you to Siri Lake.
Take a Bumpy Jeep Ride From Shogran to Siri Lake
If you do not want to trek to Siri Lake, you can consider taking an adventurous jeep ride from Shogran. But before you hop into the jeep know that it is going to be a bumpy ride, full of steep and sharp turns.
But worry not—local drivers are good. The bumps in the way become a source of good laughs between friends.
The thrilling jeep ride will take around 30 minutes to 40 minutes to reach Siri Lake.
The asking price for the Jeep ride will be around five thousand (round trip) but you can always bargain.
Hike From Shogran to Siri Lake
Siri Lake is at a distance of around 5km from Shogran Valley and it takes only 2 to three hours to reach Siri Lake from Shogran. Surrounded by towering trees, with clouds floating so below that they seem reachable, this trek feels like something straight out of a cinematic adventure.
And here’s the thing – if you do not want to trek all the way from Shogran to Siri Lake, no worries!
You can enjoy leisurely strokes on small shorter trails to just get a taste of the magic. There are many short trails. One of my favorite trails is this beautiful hidden trail, starting right in front of the Pine Park Hotel. It is calm, serene, and easy. And it’s quiet. So quiet that you can hear spring waters flowing from afar and birds chirping.
Consider this beautiful hidden trek to enjoy the best of the Shogran Valley.
Trust me, it’s an experience that you do not want to miss.
Tips for Trekking From Shogran to Siri Lake
- Leave early, before sunrise, especially if you want to return the same day.
- Take your raincoat with you. It often starts raining without any forecast.
- Wear your best hiking boots because the trail gets quite muddy and slippery when it rains.
- Take your snacks and water with you.
- Practice the 7 Principles of Leave no Trace when hiking.
Things to Do at the Siri Lake
Siri Lake does not have much to offer, besides majestic views and the reflection of mighty snow-covered mountains and clear blue sky in its crystal-clear water. Siri is a small lake and does not offer any water sports.
You can also consider to camp at Siri. There are many vendors and a small forest rest house at Siri so, many tourists often prefer to camp here at Siri than at Paya Meadows.
If not, you can just take a quick snack stop at Siri Lake—enjoy ‘garma garam’ chai with pakoras or fries while soaking in the majestic views.
Also, Siri offers visitors to continue their journey, after replenishing, to their final destination, which is mostly Paya meadows, but for some, it’s Makra peak.
If you came by jeep, you have two options here: either take your jeep to Paya or leave your jeep at Siri and take a horse ride, which can cost you around two thousand for the roundtrip. You can also consider taking your jeep to the Paya and then getting a horse from there to ride around and explore the lush green meadows.
| Also Read: 16 Best Hotels in Shogran Valley |
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Weather in Siri Lake?
Siri Lake weather is quite mild during the summer months. From June to August, the daytime temperature ranges around 20°C, but it gets a bit chilly at night. So, if you are planning to camp near Siri Lake, you might want to pack a blanket.
During the winter months, December to February, the Siri Lake is completely frozen and everything is covered in snow, presenting tourists with a natural winter wonderland adventure—you can walk on the frozen Siri Lake. During winter, the daytime temperature mostly remains under 10°C and at night it often drops as low as -3°C.
Can you Camp Near Siri Lake?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, many prefer to camp at Siri because there are many vendors at Siri Point and not many at Paye. However, if you have come fully prepared, we advise that after spending some time at Siri Lake, you move to Paye Meadows and camp there.
Can You Swim in Siri Lake?
Yes, you can swim in Siri Lake.
We strongly advise against jumping into lakes and natural waterbodies, without a life jacket, when you do not know their depth.
Is there Boating and Fishing in Siri Lake?
No! Siri is a small lake and does not offer any water sports.
