Bara Pani is the wide river crossing roughly in the middle of the Deosai plateau, where a wooden bridge, a Forest and Wildlife Department post and a scatter of trout pools make it the natural stopping point on a Skardu to Deosai day trip. Its name is Urdu for "big water", and it earns it: this is the largest of the streams that drain the plateau, and it goes on to feed the Shigar River.
This guide is about Bara Pani itself, not the whole of Deosai: what happens at the checkpost, what the bridge and river are like, how fishing there works, and what has changed since it stopped being a place to spend the night.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 4,114 m, in line with the rest of the plateau |
| From Skardu | Roughly 2 to 3 hours by jeep |
| What's there | A wooden bridge, a forest department post, a stream with trout |
| Fishing permit | Issued on the spot, in cash |
| Overnight camping | Banned since September 2025 |
| Facilities | None reliable; bring your own food and water |
Where is Bara Pani?
Bara Pani sits roughly in the middle of the Deosai plateau, on the main jeep track between the Skardu rim at Ali Malik Mar and Sheosar Lake at the western end. Coming from Skardu it is usually two to three hours by jeep, depending on the state of the track and how many stops you make along the way. It is also the point where the Astore-side track from Chilim meets the route across from Skardu, which is part of why it developed into the plateau's main stop.
The stream here is the largest of the rivers that cross Deosai, and it eventually joins the system that feeds the Shigar River, a major tributary of the Indus. In summer it runs clear and fast over stones, fed by snowmelt from the surrounding hills.
The bridge
An old wooden bridge carries the track over the river at Bara Pani. It has become one of the plateau's recognisable spots, less for its size than for what is around it: open grassland to the horizon, the river running underneath, and usually a group of jeeps parked either side while their passengers stretch their legs.
Most day trips from Skardu treat the bridge as the halfway point and the natural place to stop for lunch, whether or not you go further towards Sheosar Lake.
The checkpost
Forest and Wildlife Department staff are stationed at Bara Pani for the summer season, and vehicles passing through are logged here as they cross the plateau. This is separate from the main park entry checkpoint on the road up from Sadpara, where the national park entry fee is paid; think of Bara Pani as a midway point rather than the gate. Our Deosai entry fee guide covers where the main fee is paid and what to expect.
If you plan to fish, this is also where you sort out the permit, in cash, from the fisheries staff on duty. Carry small notes, because there is no way to get change or use a card on the plateau.
Fishing at Bara Pani
Bara Pani is the best-known fishing spot on the plateau. The river holds snow trout, and a fishing permit is issued on the spot by fisheries officials for a modest fee, reported at around PKR 500 in recent seasons. Prices like this change, so treat that as a guide and pay what is currently asked.
A few practical points if you want to fish:
- Bring your own rod and tackle. Nothing is for hire at Bara Pani.
- Ask locally which stretch of river is open for the day; staff will point you to it.
- If you catch something, local staff can often help you clean and cook it, though don't rely on this being available every day.
- The season is short, the same as the rest of Deosai's summer window, so fishing here is a June-to-September activity at best.
Why nobody camps at Bara Pani now
Until 2025, Bara Pani was the busiest overnight spot on the plateau, with seasonal tent camps pitched beside the river through the summer. That changed after a Himalayan brown bear attacked and injured a camper near Bara Pani in September 2025, prompting the Gilgit-Baltistan government to ban night camping across Deosai. In December 2025 the Forest, Parks and Wildlife Department went further and banned seasonal hotels and all commercial activity inside the national park from the 2026 season, which closed the tent camps that used to operate here.
Bara Pani today is a stop on a day out, not a place to sleep. Our guide to camping in Deosai covers the current rules in full and where to stay instead. Bears are still active in the area, which matters for how you behave here even on a day visit: keep food and rubbish in the vehicle, don't leave anything on the ground, and keep your distance from any animal you see.
What to do at Bara Pani in a day
For most visitors, Bara Pani is a stop rather than a destination in itself:
- Walk down to the river and cross the bridge on foot for the view along the water.
- Fish, if you have brought tackle and want to sort a permit.
- Eat the packed lunch you brought from Skardu; nothing reliable is sold here.
- Watch for wildlife at a distance: golden marmots are common close to the water, and this is one of the areas where brown bears have been recorded.
- Decide whether to push on. Sheosar Lake is another hour or so further, and turning back at Bara Pani makes for a shorter, easier day.
Our Skardu to Deosai route guide sets Bara Pani against the rest of the drive, stage by stage.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Bara Pani from Skardu?
Roughly two to three hours by jeep on the Deosai track, depending on conditions. It is usually treated as the halfway stop on a day trip to Sheosar Lake.
Can I still camp at Bara Pani?
No. Night camping at Bara Pani and across Deosai was banned in September 2025, and seasonal tent camps and hotels inside the park were banned from the 2026 season. Treat it as a day stop.
Is there a fee to fish at Bara Pani?
Yes, a fishing permit is bought on the spot from fisheries staff for a modest cash fee. It has changed over the seasons, so carry more cash than you expect to need.
Is Bara Pani the same as the Deosai entry checkpoint?
No. The park entry fee is paid at the checkpoint on the road up from Sadpara, before you reach the plateau proper. Bara Pani is a separate post roughly in the middle of the plateau, where vehicles are logged and fishing permits are issued.
Is it safe to stop at Bara Pani because of bears?
Brown bears have been recorded in the area, including the 2025 attack near here. Stay in or close to your vehicle, keep food and rubbish out of sight, and don't approach any animal you see.
