30/06/2021
A range of mountains called Deosai stands between the Vale of Kashmir, Gilgit Agency and Baltistan District. There is a vast plain covering an area of 580 sq miles, bearing the same name Deosai. The whole area is uninhabited, surrounded by rocky mountains, with an elevation of 16,000 to 17,000 feet. The road leading to Skardu from Gurez passes through the Deosai Plains. Tragbal Pass and Burzil Pass, situated in this area, connect the Valley of Kashmir with Baltistan and Gilgit.The Deosai National Park is a high-altitude alpine plain (plateau) and national park in the Astore Valley, Northern Pakistan region of Gilgit-Baltistan.Sheosar Lake is in the western part of Deosai National Park.
The name came about from the folk tale immortalised by Mian Muhammad Baksh in his poem, "Saif al-Mulook"; the word 'Deosai' means 'the Shadow of the Giant': the word "Deo" being a contraction of 'Deva', and the word 'Sai' being one of 'Saya' i.e. 'Shadow'.
Balti people call this place 'Ghbiarsa' referring to 'Summer's Place' because it is only accessible in summer.the north, Galtari Kharmang District in the south-east and the Astore District in the west. It is also accessible from Mehdiabad via Mehdiabad-Dapa Road. Deosai is located approximately 30 km from Skardu city, which is the shortest route to visit Deosai. Another route is from Astore valley via Chilim. It is also accessible from Shila valley. The people of Galtari travel via Deosai. While it is a National Park, the Gujjar-Bakwarwal travel large distances to utilize the Deosai National Park as grazing lands.[4] There is another route called Burgi la via Tsoq Kachura valley Skardu.Research by the French ethnologist Michel Peissel makes a claim that the story of 'Gold-digging ants' reported by the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC, was founded on the golden Himalayan Marmot of the Deosai plateau and the habit of local tribes such as Minaro to collect the gold dust excavated from their burrows.