Gilgit Baltistan Travel Guide
If you are interested in Gilgit Baltistan tourism then you should know about these wondrific destinationsin this Gilgit Baltistan Travel Guide.
Hiding behind the towering giants of the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas and the Karakoram, Gilgit Baltistan is a place where the language that is spoken, is the language of passion. It is not only a pearl of Pakistan but also one of the most beautiful territories in the world that inspires travelers by the view that will regenerate their spirits. This region has great geographical features and every year about 5 to 6 million tourists visit Gilgit Baltistan.
The most beautiful flight that can be availed is from Islamabad to Skardu which operates daily, however if one can spare some time then it’s better to take a road trip from Gilgit. Travelling on the Karakoram highway is one of its kinds and perhaps one of the most memorable tours in the world. Dubbed as the eighth wonder of the world,
this highway passes over mountains, and altogether 35 beautiful towns are located on its way. Every one of these towns is paradise, taking you to the northern most end of Pakistan and the highest frontier on this planet.
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Places to Visit in Gilgit Baltistan
Starting from Kaghan to Khunjerab, The most beautiful of all these valleys is the Kaghan Valley which starts from Mansehra and ends at Naran and continues till Kaghan and has the Shogran, Siri paye and Saif ul Maluk lakes; From Kaghan to Khunjerab it has few Lying midway between Mansehra and Chilas just a little beyond Kaghan Point, which is one hundred and nineteen kilometers from Mansehra while on the way from Peshawar to Gilgit.
Being located at the beautiful valley of Babusar Top serves as the key to this magical land as it links Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Gilgit Baltistan. One can also go through Shangla, but the majority of people prefer the one from Babusar because the road is in a better condition. It is a scenic drive starting from Babusar Top which has beautiful sights of green valleys, snow clad mountains and flowing rivers.
Read Travel about the Beautiful Gilgit Baltistan Scenic Routes
Further on, you meet Naran with the lovely Lulusar Lake, the gem coming from the Kunhar River. The waters of the lake are so clean that a clear view of the mountains surrounding the lake can easily be seen making many visitors to marvel at the sight. Beyond that heat is again felt in the warm country of Chilas. Despite this, there are attractions which are less known among tourists: Tata Pani, Fairy Meadows, and Nanga Parbat – the 7th largest mountain in the world. The road through Chilas is risky and tiring due to the large tracts of mountains barren desert land but the serene greenery of Naran is a totally different facet of Gilgit Baltistan.
Also read this Complete Guide To Gilgit
At Jaglot the route bifurcate, the left route leads to Hunza & Khunjerab, while the right path leads to Skardu, Deosai & Astore. Skardu Road begins from Jaglot having five kilometers link following the Raikot Bridge and reaches at Goner Farm. It has the historical touch of the Pakistani soldiers who were once quartered in this area in times of war. In itself Skardu Road is a thrilling drive that enhances the beauty of the nature, especially the towering mountains, deep gorge and River Indus flowing by.
Gilgit Baltistan Tourism: A Land OF Apricots, Cherries and the Majestic Forts
As already mentioned, Gojal which produces apricots and cherries is the most attractive region for tourists. The people of this area are welcoming and friendly and allow people to get acquainted with their varieties of trees bearing fruits for everyone to taste. The apricots and cherries of Gojal are succulent in taste, and it is recommended that one should definitely taste them, if on a visit to this region. The tour goes on to Jutal, Nilt, Chalt, Murtazaabad and finally, Aliabad after Gojal. Aliabad, as you know is a very beautiful place but only twenty-five kilometers from here is the most charming place called Karimabad.
In the same area there is an old village named Ganish which is more than a thousand years old and still undiscovered in Karimabad. This is a World Heritage Site for human settlement that has remained -structurally- unaltered; this small village boasts of ancient houses that were perfectly made with traditional local building substances and techniques.
From here you can go to two forts namely the Altit Fort is 1100 years old and the Baltit Fort is about 800 years old. Both of them provide some idea about the sum total of the region’s history. Forts are still strong and narrate the true history of Hunza valley on a whole without any sort of exaggeration. Visiting these forts is like travelling back in the past and the compliments the visitors with the bonus view of the Karakoram Range.
Capture the scenic beauty of Hunza Valley
It’s not very steep and walking for 45 minutes will lead you to Duiker village where you get to view the whole valley of Hunza. This place is host to the very famous Eagle’s Nest Hotel that provides excellent sightseeing of the Ladyfinger peak.
The sight of the sunrise, seen from Duiker can only be described as exquisite: the tips of the mountains which are blanketed with snow can be seen glowing in the golden light in the morning. Once you leave the Pak-China Friendship Tunnel, you get the second stunning view of Attabad Lake which was made due to the landslide in January 2010.
This lake is said to be one of the most beautiful and attractive sites where people pay huge fees for boating and jet skiing that charge upto Rs. 1,000 per minute. Despite the high prices we would like to mention that the ride on the Attabad Lake is a unique and unforgettable experience.
Walking the Most Dangerous Bridge in the World
The next building is Hussaini Bridge in Gulmit which has been deemed the world’s most dangerous bridge. Connected with the Silk Road; A hike within a distance of 1 to 1. 5 kilometers, and this bridge is what you attain. Walking through Hussaini Bridge is rather thrilling as the flooring is made of wooden logs rolling with each pedestrian step and increasing the tension with the roaring river down below. The beautiful mountains of Passu Cones are few kilometers ahead where Passu and Batura glaciers are situated. The Passu Cones which are sharply pointed with pyramid structures are main and attractive feature of the Hunza Valley which attract photographers and adventurers from across the world.
Gilgit Baltistan Tourism:
The Combination of the Feeling of Adventure and Calmness On arriving at the magical Hunza Valley, it becomes relatively difficult to locate a hotel at Passu Cones area since many tourists are discovering them. If possible one gets a chance to secure a place then it is comparatively easy to start early towards the Khunjerab Pass. Hunza people are very simple and friendly; in addition to this, more than ninety percent of them are educated. Especially are welcoming and hospitable to visitors and together with their respect to nature and traditions – it is a plus for the region.
Proceed to Sost which is the last market before the border and which has various items to offer after having a night at Hunza. Stop here for the early meal and anything that is needed as the journey to the Khunjerab Pass is 90 kilometers only. The local soldier’s advice on putting on some dried apricots taking the fact that at the borders, there is low oxygen concentration in the air. Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved pass of the world at elevation of 4693 meter high which maintained the record of highest international border crossing and visitors can enjoy the beautiful view of some famous peaks including the majestic Khunjerab National Park.
Gilgit Baltistan Travel Guide:
The few routes that can be traced lead one to believe that beyond Hunza there is nothing much of that interest as suggested in this text. While we did not get a chance to explore the other side of the belt of Gilgit we had the opportunity to spend a night at Astore. The road to Astore is very perilous and it is a common occurrence to be closed because of land
sides so it is advisable to travel in the day. Road to Astore is also full of Nanga Parbat range and the beautiful valleys in green vegetation. Next year we shall be visiting the Satpara Lake at Skardu, the Deosai plains, Ghizer valley, Astore valley, Shangrila resort, and if we are lucky enough to get permits then the Concordia, the base camp of K-2. All of these places provide adventure and natural beauty and enriched culture they all make gilgit baltistan place of tourist attraction for tourists.
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