| Fairy Meadows | |
| Map: | Pakistan#Gilgit Baltistan |
| Relief: | yes |
| Location: | Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
| Nearest City: | Chilas |
| Coordinates: | 35.3869°N 74.5842°W |
| Governing Body: | Government of Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Elevation: | 3300m (10,800feet) |
Fairy Meadows (Urdu: {{nq|فیری میڈوز), named by German climbers (German Märchenwiese, "fairy tale meadows")[1] [2] and locally known as Joot,[3] is an area of grassland near one of the base camp sites of Nanga Parbat, located in Diamer District in Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan.[4] At an altitude of about 3300m (10,800feet) above sea level, it serves as the launching point for mountaineers summiting Nanga Parbat by the Rakhiot face.[5] In 1995, the Government of Pakistan declared Fairy Meadows a National Park.[6] [7]
Fairy Meadows is approachable by a fifteen kilometer-long jeepable trek starting from Raikot Bridge on the Karakoram Highway and leading to the village of Tattu (Tato).[5] [8] The dangerous and narrow gravel mountain road from the bridge to the village is only open to locals, who provide transportation to visitors. In 2013, the World Health Organization declared it the second-deadliest road on the planet.[9] From Tato onward, it takes about three to four hours hiking by a five kilometer trek to Fairy Meadows.[8] The grassland is located in the Rakhiot valley, at one end of the Rakhiot glacier which originates from Nanga Parbat and feeds a stream that finally flows into north.
The six-month tourist season at Fairy Meadows starts in April and continues until the end of September. Tourists lodge at the camping site spread over, known as "Raikot Serai". The site of Fairy Meadows, though partially developed, generates about PKR 17 million revenue from tourism, mainly by providing food, transportation and accommodation services.[10] The road to Fairy Meadows was built by Brigadier M. Aslam Khan (M.C, H.J, F.K), First Commander Gilgit Scouts, which today employs the locals. The local community stopped the extraction of timber to conserve the forest and promote tourism in the area. The main attraction of this place other than the meadows itself is the view of Nanga Parbat Mountain. Tourists usually hike to the base camp of the mountain from Fairy Meadows.
The grassland is surrounded by thick alpine forest.[11] The high altitude area and north-facing slopes mostly consist of coniferous forest having Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana and Abies pindrow trees, while in the high altitude areas with little sunlight are birch and willow dwarf shrubs. The southern slopes are concentrated with juniper and scrubs, namely Juniperus excelsa and J. turkesticana. In the low altitudes, the major plant found is Artemisia, with yellow ash, stone oaks and Pinus gerardiana spread among it.[2] Research has suggested similarities between Pinus wallichiana found in the meadows with a sister species, Pinus peuce, found in the Balkans, based on leaf size.[12]
Among mammals, a few brown bears are found in the region, with their numbers declining.[13] Some musk deer, regarded as an endangered species, are also present.[14]