Gilgit Valley
Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan is another beautiful city of Pakistan.
Climate
Winters are extremely cold while summers offer mild and pleasant temperatures.
Tourist Season
May to September. Elevation 145.90 meter (477 feet).
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| Gilgit Valley Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan |
Languages
The local dialect is ‘Shina’; however Urdu and English are also spoken and understood.
Flora and Fauna
Snow leopards, markhor, ibex, Marcopolo sheep, yaks, foxes, bears, wild cats and a variety of birds including chakor, ram chakor and water fowl are found abundantly. All wildlife is protected and no shooting or trapping is allowed.
Roses, pansies, likes, phlox, chrysanthemums, zenias and cosmos; chinar, pine, willow and fir trees, grow everywhere in profusion. In summer peach, apple and apricot blossoms adorn the landscape.
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| Gilgit city parak |
Places of Interest
Buddhist Rock Carvings carved out of the mountain side are worth paying a visit. It is about 10 km away from Gilgit and the distance is covered in about 20 minutes in a jeep.
The victory Monument of Taj Mughal was built about 700 years ago and likes at a distance of 11 km, from Gilgit and it takes about 25 minutes by jeep to get there.
Gilgit Valley offers spectacular scenic beauty. It is surrendered by lakes, rivers, glaciers and high mountain ranges. Some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Nanga Parbat, 8126 meters, and Rakaposhi, 7788 meters, are located here. Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan
Karimabad
Miles and miles of terraced field and fruit orchards mark Karimabad, the capital of Hunza Valley. It offers a panoramic view of the Rakaposhi, ultar and Balimo peaks. It is 112 km from Gilgit and it takes a jeep about 3 hours to cover the distance.
Punial
Gilgit daniyor Bridge and tunnel Sher qila is the main village of the picturesque Punial valley. The distance is 40 kms and time required to reach there is about 2 hours.
Singal
This spot is in the Punial valley offers ideal trout fishing opportunities. It is 56 kms away and takes 3 hours to get there.
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| Daniyor Bridge and tunnel Gilgit District GB Province of Pakistan |
Yasin
A valley providing ideal opportunities for hiking and trekking. It likes at a distance of 160 km and the jeep journey requires about 7 hours. Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan
Phander
This picturesque area has a lake which abounds in trout. It is about 177 km away and the time required to get there is about 8 hours.
Shandur Pass
This 1250 feet long pass connects Gilgit to Chitral. The pass remains snow-bound during winters. It is 250 km and 15 hours away by jeep.
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| The Gilgit City from Konodas Gilgit District GB Province of Pakistan |
Rama
A lake in this region offers an awe-inspiring view of the eastern side of Naga parbat, 8216 meter high. It is 120 km away and takes 6 hours to get there.
For the adventure-loving tourist, hiker, engler, art-lover, and mountaineer or polo enthusiast, there are few places in the world that could compare with Gilgit.
Mountaineering, Trekking and Hiking
Trekking and hiking are only allowed in the ‘Open Zone’ which extends up to 16 km short of the cease-fire line on the Kashmir border, and up to 50 km short of the Afghan border. Permits are required for mountaineering and trekking and may be obtained from the Tourism Division, Government of Pakistan, Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan.
Fishing
The streams and lakes around Gilgit, especially Kargah Naulla, Singal (Punial) Lake and Phander Lake are fully of trout. Permits are required for fishing and can be obtained from the assistant Director Agriculture, Government of Pakistan, and Gilgit. Fishing roads and equipment can be hired.
Access
PIA operates daily flights to Gilgit from, Islamabad and Skardu subject to weather conditions. The Islamabad-Gilgit flight takes 1 hour.
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| Karakoram Highway Gilgit District GB Province of Pakistan |
The Karakoram Highway (KKH)
The KKH project was started in 1965. It envisioned to two land paved highway for heavy traffic up to the Khunjerab Pass on the border of the People’s Republic of china. This has great historical significance, because for the first time since the famous Silk route flourished from the 2nd and the 8th centuries AD, have the fertile plains of ancient Gandhara and Punjab been linked with the Central Asian cities of Tashkurgan, Kashgar and urumqui (a railhead leading to Beijing). The road was built by Pakistan Army engineers in association with Chinese experts in 15 years, and is considered to be a marvel of civil engineering.
The 805-km long metalled road starts 100 km from Islamabad at Havelian, and winds its way through Abbottabad, Mansehra, Thakot, Besham, Pattan, Sazin, Chilas, Gilgit and Hunza , up through the 4602 meter (16,000 ft) high Khunjerab Pass to the Chinese frontier. Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan.
The road has been forced through some of the world’s toughest terrain.
The KKH not only opened up the Northern Areas for trade and tourism, but provides access to hitherto closed religions with were only accessible by poor jeep tracks or goat paths. While travelling down this road one comes across a number of rock carving at Mansehra, Shatial, chilas, gilgit and Hunza, which date back to the Buddhist period. The journey, thought smooth, is a trilling and adventurous one.
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| Gilgit City Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan |
Accommodation
Accommodation facilities range from modest hotels to well furnished cottage-hotels motels and reasonably priced rest houses. To avoid disappointment, tourists are advised to reserve accommodation at least 15 days in advance.
Handicrafts
Gilgit is famous for its ‘Pattu’, hand-woven woollen cloth pattu jackets Hunza caps for men and women silver ornaments and wooden spoons. Gilgit District Gilgit Baltistan Province of Pakistan.
What Not to Do
Do not Photograph bridges and military installations,
Do not swim in the rivers
Do not Travel without your passport and other travel documents in the Northern Areas.
Do not Photograph local women without his permission
Do not Drive on mountain roads at night.