gilgit photos on Flickr

Goro I On Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp Trek, Urdukas To Goro II, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Urdukas-Goro II－Goro I 宿营地

View of Goro I campsite on Baltoro glacier, with majestic west face of Gasherbrum IV (7,925 m / 26,001 ft) in background, on K2 Base Camp trekking route between Urdukas and Goro II, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) by Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) captured at Khunjarab, Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Nikon D500 and 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR.

For detailed information about Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan visit www.birdsofgilgit.com

Goro II Campsite & Gasherbrum IV, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Goro II宿营地

View of Goro II campsite on Baltoro glacier, with majestic west face of Gasherbrum IV (7,925 m / 26,001 ft) in background, on K2 Base Camp trekking route, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Karakoram At Dawn, Goro II, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Goro II－喀喇昆仑之晨

Panoramic view of the Karakoram mountains at dawn, as seen near Goro II campsite, on K2 Base Camp trekking route, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Gilgit, Pakistan - July 2009 by Saffy H

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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer_District

Diamir District is one of the six districts of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is the district in which the Karakoram Highway enters that territory from the North-West Frontier Province, the capital of the district is Chilas. In 2004, Diamir District was bifurcated and the district of Astore was created from Diamir's easternmost tehsil.

Diamir District is bounded by Astore District in the east, by the North-West Frontier Province in the southwest (separated by the Babusar Pass or Babusar Top), Neelum District of Azad Kashmir in the south, the Ghizer District in the north and northwest, and the Gilgit District in the north and northeast.

Before the Karakoram Highway was opened in 1978, the only road reaching Gilgit town from the south was a rough track north from Balakot to Babusar Pass (via Kaghan, Naran, Besal, and Gittidas) and further north through Babusar Gah to Chilas. The road up to Besal is now in better condition, but from Besal to Babusar Pass, the road is still a rough track.

Morning Clouds Over Karakoram, Snow Lake, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Snow Lake－雪湖之晨

Morning clouds over the snow covered peaks of the Karakoram range, as seen at Snow Lake campsite (4,838 m), during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Snow Lake, or Lukpe Lawo, is a high-altitude glacial basin in the Karakoram mountain range, located 16,000 feet (4,877 m) above sea level, and is approximately 10 miles (16 km) wide. The basin lies at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, which spread down from the Hispar Pass in opposite directions, forming a 61 mile (100 km) river of ice that is among the world's longest continuous glacier systems outside of the polar regions.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) by Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) captured at Borit, Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Phandar Valley Gilgit by Ghazi Ghulamraza

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Dusk Clouds Over Karakoram, Baintha, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Baintha－暮光中的喀喇昆仑群峰

Dusk clouds hanging over the majestic Karakoram mountains, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek at Baintha campsite, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Karakoram In the Clouds, Namla, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Namla－奇峰入云

Towering peaks of the Karakoram range in the clouds, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek at Namla campsite, in Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Gilgit to Skardu 9 by bag_lady

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The following uploads are a series of 11 images I took, mostly from inside the public minibus while travelling from Gilgit to Skardu in May 2009. The scenery was breathtaking and for a lot of the way the road runs high up above the Indus River. The journey took 7 hours and was quite exhausting because of the state of the road - but well worth the effort.

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) by Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) captured at Borit, Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Nikon D500 and 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR.

For detailed information about Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan visit www.birdsofgilgit.com

Thunmo Cathedral From Urdurkas, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Urburkas宿营地－巍峨的教堂（Thunmo Cathedral）峰

Two porters resting on a giant rock at Urdukas campsite, with stunning view of the majestic peak of Thunmo Cathedral (5866 m), part of the Karakoram Range, on K2 Base Camp trekking route, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Paiju Peak, Khoburtse, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Khoburtse－Paiju峰

The snow covered Paiju peak (6610 m), part of the Karakoram Range, as seen from Khoburtse on K2 Base Camp trekking route, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Hoopoe Eating Apple, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－Skardu－吃苹果的戴胜鸟

A hoopoe eating fallen apple from trees, in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Hispar La Campsite, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Hispar垭口宿营地

View of the campsite on top of Hispar La, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Hispar Pass (or Hispar La) (el. 5,128 m./16,824 ft.) is a high-altitude, non-technical mountain pass in the Karakoram Range in Pakistan. At the pass, the Biafo Glacier (63 km. long) and Hispar Glacier (49 km long) meet to form the world's longest glacial traverse outside of the polar regions, 100 kilometers in length..

Military Outpost, Urdukas To Goro II, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Urdukas-Goro II－军事哨所

Igloo-style military outpost beneath the majestic Karakoram mountains, as seen on K2 Base Camp trekking route between Urdukas and Goro II, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan. It is a reminder of the proximity to the disputed territory of Siachen Glacier (between Pakistan and India) nearby.

Rufous-backed Redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus) by Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Rufous-backed Redstart (Phoenicurus erythronotus) captured at Borit, Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Baltit Fort - Royal summer hangout place by Osaidullah Kehar

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Baltoro Glacier, Goro II To Concordia, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Baltoro冰川

Numerous ice pyramids on Baltoro glacier, with majestic Karakoram mountains in background, on K2 Base Camp trekking route between Goro II and Concordia, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Mitre Peak, Concordia, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Concordia之夜

Panoramic view of Mitre Peak (6,010 m / 19,720 ft), a mountain in the Karakoram range by Baltoro glacier, as seen at Concordia campsite, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Hunza Street by Osaidullah Kehar

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Red-Mantled Rosefinch (Carpodacus rhodochlamys) by Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Red-Mantled Rosefinch (Carpodacus rhodochlamys) captured at Naltar, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Snow Lake, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Snow Lake－雪湖密境

Stunning landscape of Snow Lake, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Snow Lake, or Lukpe Lawo, is a high-altitude glacial basin in the Karakoram mountain range, located 16,000 feet (4,877 m) above sea level, and is approximately 10 miles (16 km) wide. The basin lies at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, which spread down from the Hispar Pass in opposite directions, forming a 61 mile (100 km) river of ice that is among the world's longest continuous glacier systems outside of the polar regions.

Dawn @ Snow Lake, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－雪湖之晨

Dawn light over the snow covered peaks of the Karakoram range at Snow Lake, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Snow Lake, or Lukpe Lawo, is a high-altitude glacial basin in the Karakoram mountain range, located 16,000 feet (4,877 m) above sea level, and is approximately 10 miles (16 km) wide. The basin lies at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, which spread down from the Hispar Pass in opposite directions, forming a 61 mile (100 km) river of ice that is among the world's longest continuous glacier systems outside of the polar regions.

Bitanmal Campsite, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Bitanmal宿营地

View of Bitanmal (place of the Shaman) campsite, a lush meadow used as a pasture by Hispar villagers in late summer, with lofty Makrong Chhish (6607 m) in background, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Dawn @ Hispar Glacier, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Kani Basa To Jutmal, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Kani Basa-Jutmal－Hispar冰川之晨

Dawn light over Hispar glacier towards Hispar Pass, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek at Jutmal, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Hispar Glacier is a 49 km (30 mi) long glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan which meets the 63 km (39 mi) long Biafo Glacier at the Hispar La (Pass) at an altitude of 5,128 m (16,824 ft) to create the world's longest glacial system outside of the polar regions. This 100 km (62 mi) highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar (immediately south of Hunza) in the west with Baltistan in the east.

Morning Tea In the Mountains, Goro II, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Goro II宿营地－雪山下的早茶

A trekker and a porter both enjoying morning tea at Goro II campsite on Baltoro glacier, with majestic Karakoram mountains in background, on K2 Base Camp trekking route, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

L1120614~3 by No_Direction_Home

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Summer Scenery @ Mango I Campsite, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Mango I 宿营地－夏日风景

Summer scenery at Mango I campsite, as seen during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Trekking In Karakoram, Askole to Namla, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－Biafo Hispa Snow Lake徒步－Askole-Namla

Female trekker walking on the foot of the Karakoram mountains near Askole (Askoli) village, located in Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Askole is Pakistan's highest and most remote village, the last human settlement before trek to the wilderness of the Karakoram mountains.

Trekking To Snow Lake, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Karphogoro-Snow Lake－雪湖徒步

Porters and guide travelling in roped team on the permanent snow cover of Snow Lake, during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek between Karphogoro and Snow Lake, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Snow Lake, or Lukpe Lawo, is a high-altitude glacial basin in the Karakoram mountain range, located 16,000 feet (4,877 m) above sea level, and is approximately 10 miles (16 km) wide. The basin lies at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, which spread down from the Hispar Pass in opposite directions, forming a 61 mile (100 km) river of ice that is among the world's longest continuous glacier systems outside of the polar regions.

Summer Scenery In Karakoram, Askole to Namla, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－Biafo Hispa Snow Lake徒步－Askole-Namla－夏日风景

Summery scenery in Karakoram mountains, as seen near Askole (Askoli) village, located in Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Askole is Pakistan's highest and most remote village, the last human settlement before trek to the wilderness of the Karakoram mountains.

K2 Base Camp, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－K2脚下的K2BC大本营

View of K2 base camp, on the foothill of K2, second highest mountain in the world, in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Gilgit, Pakistan - July 2009 by Saffy H

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Gilgit is the largest city in the Northern Areas of Pakistan but still it is quite small. It is over 8 hours from Besham in Swat on the Karakoram Highway. The journey to Gilgit is long and aftera while boring. It is an adventure but I personally tired off the narrow Indus valley with mountains walled closely. After Dassu in Kohistan and all the way to Gilgit itself the journey is through treeless river valley.

Gilgit city is set in mountains whose grey towering peaks guard the city. The bottom of the valley in and around the city its suprisingly green because of the abundant trees.

There are many cheap hotels in Gilgit and its one of the few places in Pakistan where you will see foreign tourists in quite a number. They are from neighbouring China as well as Europe too. Most tourists have come to trek in the many mountainous regions or travel onwards to China.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit

Gilgit (Urdu: گلگت, Hindi: गिलगित) is the capital city of the Northern Areas, Pakistan. Gilgit City forms a tehsil of Gilgit, within Gilgit District. Its ancient name was Sargin, later to be known as Gilit, and it is still called Gilit or Sargin-Gilit by local people. In the Burushaski language, it is named Geelt. Ghallata is considered its name in ancient Sanskrit literature. Gilgit City is one of the two major hubs in the Northern Areas for mountaineering expeditions to the Karakoram and other the peaks in the Himalayas, the other hub being Skardu.

Gilgit has an area of 38,000 square kilometres (14,700 sq mi). The region is significantly mountainous, lying on the foothills of the Karakoram mountains, and has an average altitude of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). It is drained by the Indus River, which rises in the neighbouring regions of Ladakh and Baltistan.

Gilgit was an important city on the Silk Road, along which Buddhism was spread from South Asia to the rest of Asia.

The Dards and Chinas appear in many of the old Pauranic lists of peoples who lived in the region, with the former also mentioned in Ptolemy's accounts of the region. Two famous travellers, Faxian and Xuanzang, traversed Gilgit according to their accounts.

“The former rulers had the title of Ra, and there is reason to suppose that they were at one time Hindus, but for the last five centuries and a half they have been Mohammedans. The names of the Hindu Ras have been lost, with the exception of the last of their number, Shri Buddutt. Tradition relates that he was killed by a Mohammedan adventurer, who married his daughter and founded a new dynasty, since called Trakhàn, from a celebrated Ra named Trakhan, who reigned about the commencement of the fourteenth century. The previous rulers—of whom Shri Buddutt was the last—were called Shahreis.

Gilgit was ruled for centuries by the local Trakhàn Dynasty, which ended about 1810 with the death of Raja Abas, the last Trakhàn Raja.[2]

The rulers of Hunza and Nager also claim origin with the Trakhàn dynasty. They claim descent from a heroic Kayani Prince of Persia, Azur Jamshid (also known as Shamsher), who secretly married the daughter of the king Shri Badat. She conspired with him to overthrow her cannibal father.[3] Sri Badat's faith is theorised as Hindu by some[3][4] and Buddhist by others.[5][6] However, considering the region's Buddhist heritage, with the most recent influence being Islam, the most likely preceding influence of the region is Buddhism. Though the titular Sri and the name Badat denotes a Hindu origin of the this ruler.

Prince Azur Jamshid succeeded in overthrowing King Badat who was known as Adam Khor (lit. man-eater)[7][8], often demanding a child a day from his subjects, his demise is still celebrated to this very day by locals in traditional annual celebrations[9]. In the beginning of the new year, where a Juniper procession walks along the river, in memory of chasing the cannibal king Sri Badat away[10].

Azur Jamshid abdicated after 16 years of rule in favour of his wife Nur Bakht Khatùn until their son and heir Garg, grew of age and assumed the title of Raja and ruled, for 55 years. The dynasty flourished under the name of the Kayani dynasty until 1421 when Raja Torra Khan assumed rulership. He ruled as a memorable king until 1475. He distinguished his family line from his step brother Shah Rais Khan (who fled to the king of Badakshan and with who's help he gained Chitral from Raja Torra Khan), as the now known dynastic name of Trakhàn. The descendants of Shah Rais Khan being respectfully known as the Ra'issiya Dynasty.[11]

The period of greatest prosperity was probably under the Shin Ras, whose rule seems to have been peaceable and settled. The whole population, from the Ra to the poorest subject lived by agriculture. According to tradition, Shri Buddutt's rule extended over Chitral, Yassin, Tangir, Darel, Chilas, Gor, Astor, Hunza, Nagar and Haramosh all of which were held by tributary princes of the same family. [12]

”

The area had been a flourishing tract but prosperity was destroyed by warfare over the next fifty years, and by the great flood of 1841 in which the river Indus was blocked by a landslip below the Hatu Pir and the valley was turned into a lake[13]. After the death of Abas, Sulaiman Shah, raja of Yasin, conquered Gilgit. Then, Azad Khan, raja of Punial, killed Sulaiman Shah, taking Gilgit; then Tair Shah, raja of Buroshall (Nagar), took Gilgit and killed Azad Khan. Tair Shah's son Shah Sakandar inherited, only to be killed by Gaur Rahman, raja of Yasin of the Khushwakhte Dynasty, when he took Gilgit. Then in 1842, Shah Sakandar's brother, Karim Khan, expelled Gaur Rahman with the support of a Sikh army from Kashmir. The Sikh general, Nathu Shah, left garrison troops and Karim Khan ruled until Gilgit was ceded to Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir in 1846 by the Treaty of Amritsar,[2] and Dogra troops replaced the Sikh in Gilgit.

Nathu Shah and Karim Khan both transferred their allegiance to Gulab Singh, continuing local administration. When Hunza attacked in 1848, both of them were killed. Gilgit fell to the Hunza and their Yasin and Punial allies, but was soon reconquered by Gulab Singh's Dogra troops. With the support of Gaur Rahman, Gilgit's inhabitants drove their new rulers out in an uprising in 1852. Gaur Rahman then ruled Gilgit until his death in 1860, just before new Dogra forces from Ranbir Singh, son of Gulab Singh, captured the fort and town.[2] The rule of Jammu was restored. Gilgit came under British rule in 1889, when it was unified with neighbouring Nagar and Hunza in the Gilgit Agency.

In 1877, in order to guard against the advance of Russia, the British Government, acting as the suzerain power of Kashmir, established the Gilgit Agency. The Agency was re-established under control of the British Resident in Jammu and Kashmir. It comprised the Gilgit Wazarat; the State of Hunza and Nagar; the Punial Jagir; the Governorships of Yasin, Kuh-Ghizr and Ishkoman, and Chilas.

In 1935, the British demanded Jammu and Kashmir to lease them Gilgit town plus most of the Gilgit Agency and the hill-states Hunza, Nagar, Yasin and Ishkoman for 60 years. Maharaja Hari Singh had no choice but to acquiesce. The leased region was then treated as part of British India, administered by a Political Agent at Gilgit responsible to Delhi, first through the Resident in Jammu and Kashmir and later a British Agent in Peshawar.

Jammu and Kashmir State no longer kept troops in Gilgit and a mercenary force, the Gilgit Scouts, was recruited with British officers and paid for by Delhi. In April 1947, Delhi decided to formally retrocede the leased areas to Hari Singh’s Jammu and Kashmir State as of August 15, 1947. The transfer was to formally take place on August 1.

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 affected Gilgit as well. The Pakistani forces advanced against the Indian army quickly. In Gilgit, the Gilgit Scouts joined with them, thereby granting control of northwestern Kashmir to Pakistani forces. Gilgit Scouts progressed with Pakistani troops from north through High Himalayas and contributed in attacking of Skardu in summer 1948, pushing further towards Ladakh area.

After Pakistani good progress of early 1948, Indian troops gathered momentum in late 1948. Finally, the newly-formed India asked UN intervention, and a ceasefire was agreed in December 31, 1948. This conflict left Pakistan with roughly two-fifths of Kashmir, leaving three-fifths to India. This agreement left Gilgit to Pakistan territory.

Weather conditions for Gilgit are dominated by its geographical location, a valley in a mountainous area, southwest of Karakoram range. The prevalent season of Gilgit is winter, occupying the valley eight to nine months a year.

Gilgit lacks significant rainfall, averaging in 120 to 240 millimetres (4.7 to 9.4 in) annually, as monsoon breaks against the southern range of Himalayas. Irrigation for land cultivation is obtained from the rivers, abundant with melting snow water from higher altitudes.

The summer season is brief and hot. The piercing sunrays may raise the temperature up to 40 °C (104 °F), yet it is always cool in the shade.

As a result of this extremity in the weather, landslides and avalanches are frequent in the area.[14]

The Gilgit Manuscript[15] was nominated[16] in 2006 to be included on the UNESCO Memory of the World register, but without success.

The Gilgit manuscripts are among the oldest manuscripts in the world, and the oldest manuscript collection surviving in Pakistan, having major significance in the areas of Buddhist studies and the evolution of Asian and Sanskrit literature. The manuscripts are believed to have been written in the 5th to 6th Century CE, though some more manuscripts were discovered in the succeeding centuries, which were also classified as Gilgit manuscripts.

This corpus of manuscripts was discovered in 1931 in Gilgit, containing four sutras from the Buddhist canon, including the famous Lotus Sutra. The manuscripts were written on birch bark in old Sanskrit language in the Sharada script. The Gilgit manuscripts cover a wide range of themes such as iconometry, folk tales, philosophy, medicine and several related areas of life and general knowledge.

Gilgit city is one of the two major hubs for all mountaineering expeditions in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Almost all tourists headed for treks in Karakoram or Himalaya Ranges arrive at Gilgit first. Many tourists choose to travel to Gilgit by air, since the road travel between Islamabad and Gilgit, by the Karakoram Highway, takes nearly 24 hours, whereas the air travel takes a mere 45–50 minutes.

There are several tourist attractions relatively close to Gilgit: Naltar Valley with Naltar Peak, Hunza Valley, Ferry Meadows in Raikot, Shigar town, Skardu city, Haramosh Peak in Karakoram Range, Bagrot-Haramosh Valley, Deosai National Park, Astore Valley, Rama Lake, Juglot town, Phunder village, Yasin Valley and Kargah Valley.

Gilgit lies about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) off the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The KKH connects it to Chilas, Dasu, Besham, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Islamabad in the south. In the North it is connected to Karimabad (Hunza) and Sust in the Northern Areas and to the Chinese cities of Tashkurgan, Upal and Kashgar in Xinjiang.

There are various transports companies i.e. Silk Route Transport Pvt, Masherbrum Transport Pvt and Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO), from these NATCO offers most coverage. It offers passenger road service between Islamabad, Gilgit, Sust and Tashkurgan, and road service between Kashgar and Gilgit (via Tashkurgan and Sust) started in the summer of 2006. However, the border crossing between China and Pakistan at Khunjerab Pass—the highest border of the world—is open only between May 1 and October 15 of every year. During winter, the roads are blocked by snow. Even during the monsoon season in summer, the roads are often blocked due to landslides. The best time to travel on Karakoram Highway is spring or early summer.

Pakistan International Airlines flies ATR 42-500 flights twice daily between Gilgit Airport and Islamabad International Airport and the journey offers one of the most scenic aerial views in the world as it passes close to Nanga Parbat and the mountain peaks are higher than the aircraft's cruising altitude. There are two routes that the aircraft takes. First one is a direct route from the capital Islamabad that takes the plane over the Margalla Hills then over the town of Haripur directly over the Kaghan Valley from where it heads towards Nanga Parbat mountain. Finally, after passing the mountain, descent starts into the Indus valley. The second route takes along the Indus valley, which is also scenic but a little longer. These flights, however, are subject to the clearance of weather and in winters, flights are often delayed by several days due to bad weather. After a military Fokker F27 aircraft crashed near Multan in 2003, the Government of Pakistan banned all Fokker flights in domestic operations.[citation needed]

The health system in northern areas is still in its primary phase with just a District Hospital in whole Gilgit city, supported by a military hospital. Some NGOs do play a minor role in uplift, but are catering for specific communities. Government has yet to fully develop a comprehensive health system in the area.

Tuberculosis, endocrinal disorders with mainly iodine deficiency disorders, iron deficiency, and diarrheal diseases are more common. Sewage system has yet to be fully established, electricity and water supply are still faulty. These factors make a hindrance in developing a strong health care system.

Colleges

•F.G Degree college Jutial

•F.G Degree college for women

•Army Public School and College

•Public School and Colleges Jutial

University

•Karakoram International University Gilgit

Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) by Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan

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Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) captured at Borit, Gojal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with Canon EOS 7D Mark II.

For detailed information about Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan visit fb.me/birdsgb

Melt Pond On Baltoro Glacier, Urdukas To Goro II, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Urdukas-Goro II－Baltoro冰川－融化的冰潭

A glacier melt pond on Baltoro glacier, with majestic peaks of the Karakoram range in background, as seen on K2 Base Camp trekking route between Urdukas and Goro II, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Trekking On Snow Lake, Biafo Hispar Snow Lake Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－Biafo Hispar Snow Lake徒步－Karphogoro-Snow Lake－雪湖徒步

Balti porters trekking on the permanent snow cover of Snow Lake towards Hispar La, during Biafo Hispar Snow Lake trek, in Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Snow Lake, or Lukpe Lawo, is a high-altitude glacial basin in the Karakoram mountain range, located 16,000 feet (4,877 m) above sea level, and is approximately 10 miles (16 km) wide. The basin lies at the head of the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, which spread down from the Hispar Pass in opposite directions, forming a 61 mile (100 km) river of ice that is among the world's longest continuous glacier systems outside of the polar regions.

Sunset Over Masherbrum (K1), Goro II, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Goro II宿营地－Masherbrum雪峰夕照

Sunset light over the majestic peak of Masherbrum (K1, also known as queen of peaks), part of the Karakoram range, as seen at Goro II campsite, on K2 Base Camp trekking route, located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Broad Peak Base Camp, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－Concordia-K2BC－Broad Peak登山大本营

View of Broad Peak base camp on Godwin-Austen glacier, with the foothill of K2 (8,611 m / 28,251 ft) in background, in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Braldu River, K2 Base Camp Trek, Central Karakoram National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan by Feng Wei

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巴基斯坦－Gilgit-Baltistan地区－喀喇昆仑中央国家公园－K2BC徒步－激流汹涌的Braldu河

Muddy, turbulent water in Braldu river, as seen on K2 trekking route between Askole (Askoli) and Jula (Jhula), located in CKNP (Central Karakoram National Park), Gilgit-Baltistan region, northern Pakistan.

Gilgit, Pakistan - July 2009 by Saffy H

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