The Katpana Desert at Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, this desert is also known as the "Cold Desert".
There are sand dunes in Skardu around the Indus river. This desert stretches from the Khaplu Valley to Nubra Ladakh and Shigar Skardu valley to Zanskar, India, but the largest desert area is found in Skardu and Shigar valley. Locally called Biama Nakpo, biama thang and Katpana biama, the Katpana Desert is located near Skardu Airport while Shigar desert is located on the way to Shigar valley
At 14000 feet above sea level, you will find the cold desert of Skardu, the highest cold desert in the world. Beautiful white sands that meet the snowy mountains and touch the blue sky above.
The Katpana desert which is famous to be known as the highest cold desert in the world. The desert is a sort of patch of land on and across mountains. Its temperature ranges from a maximum of 27 °C and a minimum (in October) 8 °C, which further drop to below -10 °C in the December-to-January, while the lowest temperature that can reach -25 °C. At this high altitude and cold region, this desert holds strange a attraction.
