The Highest Road Pass in the Kaghan Valley
At 4,173 metres (13,691 ft), Babusar Top is the dramatic full stop at the end of the Kaghan Valley — the mountain pass where the N-15 road finally crests the Himalayan watershed and drops into Chilas and the Karakoram Highway beyond. Stand on the top on a clear morning and you can see two worlds at once: the green, glacier-fed Kaghan side behind you and the stark, arid mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan ahead. On exceptional days Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), the world’s ninth-highest mountain, is visible on the northern horizon.
The pass is named after Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, who is said to have moved through this region in the 16th century — “Babusar” being a corruption of “Babur Sar”, the summit of Babur. Until the Karakoram Highway opened in the 1970s, this was one of the main summer routes between the Punjab plains and Gilgit. Today it is a bucket-list drive: 66 km of switchbacks from Naran through Batakundi, Jalkhad, Besal and Gittidas, climbing through every shade of alpine scenery before the final zigzag to the top.
What You’ll See on the Drive Up
The Naran–Babusar road is a highlights reel of the upper valley. Batakundi (16 km) marks the tree line with its riverside hotels. Jalkhad (34 km) opens into vast camping meadows beside the Kunhar. Lulusar Lake (48 km) sits right beside the road — the largest natural lake in the valley and the source of the Kunhar River. Past Besal, the landscape turns treeless and Tibetan; Gittidas meadows glow green against black scree slopes. The final 8 km of hairpins deliver you to the prayer-flag-strewn summit, where nomad stalls sell chai and instant noodles at the top of the world. Snow banks line the road well into July.
How to Reach Babusar Top
From Naran it is a 66–70 km drive taking 2.5–3 hours each way. The road is paved the whole way but steep, narrow and exposed in sections — confident mountain driving or a hired driver is strongly recommended. Options: join a group tour (Babusar day trips from Rs. 6,500 per person including transport from Naran), hire a private 4×4 with driver from Naran (Rs. 9,000–12,000 return), or drive yourself if your car has good ground clearance and brakes you trust. There is no fuel beyond Naran — fill up before you leave. Police checkpoints at Batakundi and Besal log vehicles; carry your CNIC or passport.
Opening Dates and Best Time
Babusar Top typically opens between mid-June and early July, once FWO snow-clearing crews cut through drifts that can exceed six metres, and closes with the first heavy snowfall in late September or October. Exact dates vary each year with the snowpack — check our Babusar opening dates guide for current status before planning. Within the season, mornings are best: the pass is frequently clouded over or windswept after 2 PM, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in July. Weather on top can be 15–20°C colder than Naran — snow flurries happen even in August.
Costs at a Glance
| Item | Typical 2026 Price |
|---|---|
| Group day tour from Naran | from Rs. 6,500 per person |
| Private 4×4 with driver (return) | Rs. 9,000–12,000 per jeep |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Chai / snacks at the summit stalls | Rs. 100–300 |
Where to Stay
Most visitors day-trip from Naran, 2.5–3 hours away — see our hotels in Naran guide. For a head start on the pass, stay in Batakundi, 45 minutes closer, where riverside hotels like Luxus Grand offer the valley’s quietest nights. There is no accommodation at the pass itself.
Suggested Itinerary
Classic Babusar day from Naran: depart 7 AM → photo stop at Lulusar Lake 8:15 → Gittidas meadows → summit by 10 AM for 60–90 minutes on top → picnic lunch at Jalkhad on the way down → back in Naran by 3–4 PM. This is day three on our 4-day Naran packages and available as a standalone day trip.
Distances & How It Fits Your Itinerary
| From | Distance & Time |
|---|---|
| Islamabad | 300 km · 8–9 h |
| Lahore | 450 km · 10–12 h |
| Naran / local | 66 km · 2.5–3 h |
The Babusar day is really a four-stop day: Batakundi’s river, Jalkhad’s plains, Lulusar’s shoreline and the summit itself — build photo time for all four. Travellers continuing north drop straight to Chilas and the Karakoram Highway for Hunza; everyone else returns to Naran by mid-afternoon before the light flattens. In shoulder weeks, confirm the pass is open before committing the day.