Mountain Areas Travel Guide

Where in the world there are most of the highest peak, largest glaciers, wildest rivers and unique most civilization … is Pakistan . The northern part of Pakistan is well renowned for meeting point of world’s highest mountain ranges i.e. Himalaya , Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Pamir . Nowhere else on the earth is such high mountains in a single region. Rising upto 8611 meters high Chogori (K2), the 2 nd highest mountain peak in the world and highest in Pakistan , this region is well populated with spectacular wonders. Baltoro region, most visited and popular mountain trek in the world provides really what it is renowned for. Four of the fourteen 8000 meters peak are standing along the Baltoro Glacier. Many over 7000 meters peak and over 60 KM long this glacier (Baltoro) is remarkably unique mountain paradise for mountaineers. Almost attached to Baltoro, Biafo Glacier is another spacious name for mountain travelers. Combining with Hispar Glacier, Biafo-Hispar makes the world’s largest glacial land in the world (other than Polar Regions ). Like Baltoro, this largest iceland is also surrounded by many 7000 to 6000 meter peaks. At the junction of Biafo and Hispar, the Snow Lake is the most charming place for the trekkers. A large area covered with solid ice almost 2 kilometers in depth, Snow Lake (Lupke Lawo – local name) is a crown for Northern Areas of Pakistan. Dastaghil Sar, Kunyand Chhish, Pumeri Chhish and hundreds of other named and unnamed peaks are a reason for mountaineers of the world to be in this area.   The Northern Areas of Pakistan consists of three major regions, Baltistan, Chitral and Gilgit. Among all, Baltistan with its capital Skardu is the most wild and remote among all the valleys. With almost uncountable tributaries and water resources, Indus and Shyok are the main rivers in Baltistan. Maximum of the Karakoram wilderness is in Baltistan and makes it the most wanted mountain place. Broad Peak , Gasherbrum massif and Masherbrum are the highest peaks in Baltistan region. Deo Sai National Park is famous for its unique geographic characteristics and its flora and fauna. A few Himalayan Brown Bears survive in Deo Sai National Park and a major attraction of this plateau. Chitral valley, isolated and wild enough, renowned for Kalash and Tirich Mir with Chitral Gol National Park at the base of this Hindu Kush region’s highest peak. Kalash valley, beautiful and green with fresh water tributaries, is famous for its Kalash people and there unique culture. Kunar or Chitral River is the main water resource in the area. Tirich Mir , Noshaq and Istoro Nal are the major peaks in Chitral region. Gilgit is the most developed and largest region of Northern Areas of Pakistan. In this region all the four highest mountain regions meet at Jaglot, 20 minutes drive from Gilgit right on the Karakoram Highway. At this point the two major rivers Gilgit River and Indus River meet. Gilgit is also the most populated part of Northern Areas of Pakistan. Hunza, Nagar, Gojal and Ghizar are districts of Gilgit Division. Naltar, Ishkoman, Ghizar and Shandur provide a number of trekking and mountaineering opportunities. Nanga Parbat , Rakaposhi, Batura (also glacier), Passu (also glacier), Ultar, Dastaghil Sar, Kunyand Chissh and many other peaks are in Gilgit region. Gilgit, Hunza, Hispar, Khujerab and many other rivers in this region are providing Pakistan a major source of water. Batura and Passu glaciers are the largest glaciers in Gilgit region with 40 to 60 kilometers in length. Because of the highest mountain areas in the world, there are many high passes in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Khunjerab, the world’s highest public pass, border between Pakistan and China is one of these passes. Many lakes in different valleys also provide a touch of nature’s artwork. Kachura, Satpara, Karumbar, Shaucer, Rama and many unnamed lakes are major contributor in the magnificence of