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GILGIT BALTISTANA Brief overview of the region


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GILGIT-BALTISTAN

Research and Composed By: Mohammad Sharif Wali Baltistani.

Department Of Computer Science

Sir Syed University Of Engineering And Technology Karachi

Brief Introduction:

GILGIT BALTISTAN By: Mohammad Sharif Wali Student BS Computer ScienceSSUET Karachi.

Mohammad Sharif Wali BaltistaniStudent Department Of Computer Science SSUET Karachi


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Gilgit-Baltistan is a non-self-governing territory under Pakistani control. The territory, which does not

constitutionally form part of Pakistan proper, was formerly known as the Northern Areas .It is the

northernmost political entity within the Pakistani-controlled part of the former princely state of Jammu

and Kashmir. It borders Afghanistan to the north, China to the northeast, the Pakistani-administered

state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to the south, and the Indian-administered state of Jammu

and Kashmir tothe southeast.

The territory

became a single

administrative

unit in 1970

under the name

"Northern

Areas" and was

formed by the

amalgamation ofthe Gilgit

Agency, the

Baltistan District

of the Ladakh

Wazarat, and the

states of Hunza

and Nagar. With its administrative center at the town of Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan covers an area of

72,971 km (28,174 mi) and has an estimated population approaching 1,000,000. as different from

the disputed areas of Kashmir, the people of this region got the independence from the Dogra Raj in

1948, one year after the independence of Pakistan and called the Pakistani Govt. to take control of

the region. The Pakistani Govt. took control of the region, but couldnt give proper citizenship rightsto the people. After more than sixty years, the people of the region has been demanding their basic

rights, but the Pakistani Govt. has been failed to take proper action over the situation of this remote

region.

History:

Before the independence of Pakistan and the

partition of India in 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh

extended his rule to Gilgit andBaltistan. After the

partition, Jammu and Kashmir, in its entirety,

remained an independent state. The Pakistani parts

of Kashmir to the north and west of the cease-fire

line established at the end of the Indo-Pakistani

War of 1947, or the Line of Control as it later

came to be called, were divided into the Northern

Areas (72,971 km) in the north and the Pakistani

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(princely_state)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_Controlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_Controlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharajahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(princely_state)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_Control


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state ofAzad Kashmir(13,297 km) in the south. The name "Northern Areas" was first used by the United

Nationsto refer to the northern areas of Kashmir. The people of this remote region were liberated from

the Dogra regime of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir on 1 November 1947 without any

external assistance and then became citizens of a self-liberated and very short-lived independent state. The

new state asked the government of Pakistan to provide it with necessary assistance with which to conductits affairs, as it did not have the necessary administrative infrastructure of its own. The government of

Pakistan accepted the request took control of the territory's administration as its first appointed political

agent. But the govt couldnt provide particular attention to the region. Several political parties has been

ruling the country, but still this region is far beyound the other parts of the country.

Autonomous status and present-day Gilgit-Baltistan

On 29 August 2009, the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009, was

passed by the Pakistani cabinet and later signed by the President. It granted self-rule to the people of

the former Northern Areas, now renamed "Gilgit-Baltistan," by creating, among other things, an

elected legislative assembly. But it will be another big joke to the local people if the Govt. fails to

give proper seats in the National Assembly and Senate.

Geography

Gilgit-Baltistan borders the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan to the northwest, China's Uygur

Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast, the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to

the south and southeast, the Pakistani-controlled state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the south, and

Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province to the west.

Until the war in North-West Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan was a major destination for foreign tourists,especially serious mountaineers, because it is home to five of the "eight-thousanders" and to more than

fifty peaks above 7000 meters. Gilgit and Skardu are the two main hubs for expeditions to those

mountains. The region is home to some of the world's highest mountain rangesthe main ranges are the

Karakoram and the western Himalayas. The Pamirmountains

are to the north, and the Hindu Kush lies to the west. Amongst

the highest mountains are K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) and

Nanga Parbat, the latter being one of the most feared

mountains in the world.

Subdivisions:

Gilgit-Baltistan is administratively divided into two divisions which, in turn, are divided into seven

districts, including the two Baltistan districts of Skardu and Ghanche, and the five Gilgit districts of

Gilgit,Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, and Hunza-Nagar. The main political centers are the towns of Gilgit and

Skardu.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azad_Kashmirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azad_Kashmirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_North-West_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-thousanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakoramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamir_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Kushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanga_Parbathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanche_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghizer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astore_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunza-Nagar_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azad_Kashmirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_North-West_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-thousanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakoramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamir_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Kushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanga_Parbathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanche_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghizer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astore_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunza-Nagar_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu


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Data About The area and Population:

Division District Area (km) Population (1998) Headquarters

Baltistan Ghanche 9,400 88,366 Khaplu

Skardu 18,000 214,848 Skardu

Gilgit Astore 8,657 71,666 Gorikot

Diamir 10,936 131,925 Chilas

Ghizar 9,635 120,218 Gahkuch

Gilgit 39,300 383,324 Gilgit

Hunza-Nagar

Gilgit-Baltistan total 7 districts 72,971 970,347

Demographics

The population consists of many diverse linguistic, ethnic, and religious groups, due in part to the many

isolated valleys separated by some of the world's highest mountains. Urdu is the lingua franca of the

region, understood by most male inhabitants. The Shina language (with several dialects) is the language

of 40% of the population, spoken mainly in Gilgit, throughout Diamer, and in some parts of Ghizer. TheBalti dialect, a sub-dialect of Ladakhi and part of Tibetan language group, is spoken by the entire

population of Baltistan. Minor languages spoken in the region include Wakhi, Khowar Burushaski ,and

Domaaki. People who live in Gilgit-Baltistan, despite that region's being referred to as part of Kashmir,

do not speakKashmiri or any of its dialects.

At the last census (1998), the population of Gilgit-Baltistan was 870,347.Approximately 14% of the

population was urban.

Regions:

The Federally Administered Northern Areas is divided into twodivisions--the Baltistan Division and the Gilgit Division--which together

comprise seven districts.

Baltistan Region

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanche_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khapluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astore_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorikothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghizer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gahkuchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunza-Nagar_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balti_dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakhi_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khowar_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burushaskihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domaaki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domaaki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmiri_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanche_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khapluhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astore_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorikothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghizer_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gahkuchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgit_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunza-Nagar_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balti_dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakhi_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khowar_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burushaskihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domaaki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domaaki_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmiri_language


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The Baltistan Region consists of two districts:

Skardu District Skardu town is the administrative center of the Skardu District. Askole is the

last settlement in the district for all treks to Concordia (the confluence of the Baltoro Glacier

and the Godwin-Austen Glacier). Skardu is the district where the Indus River enters the

Northern Areas from the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir at the Kharmang Side.

Ghanche District The Ghanche District is the easternmost district of Baltistan. To its east is

the Leh District ofLadakh, northeast is Aksai Chin, (China), to the north and northwest is the

Skardu District, to the west is the Astore District, and to the south is the Indian state of Jammu

and Kashmir. The administrative center of the Ghanche District is Khaplu. The Hushe valleys

form the gateway to the great Baltoro Muztagh, the sub-range of the Karakoram.

Gilgit Division

The Gilgit Division now consists of five districts:

Astore District The Astore District was recently carved out of the Diamir District. Previously,

the Northern Areas was divided into five districts. The administrative center of the Astore

District is Astore town and it includes many villages in the Astore valley. The Astore District is

bounded by the Diamir District to the west and the Skardu District to the east.

Diamir District The Diamir District is the district where the Karakoram Highway enters the

Northern Areas from Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province. Chilas is the administrative

center of the Diamir District. The Diamir District is bounded by the Astore District to the east,

Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province to the south and southwest, the Ghizar District to the

north and northwest, and the Gilgit District to the north and northeast.

Ghizar District The Ghizar District is the westernmost district of the Northern Areas. It is

bound by Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province on three sides (north, west, and south), by the

Diamir District to the south and southeast, and by the Gilgit District to the east. A small strip of

Ghizar District (roughly 35 x 12 km) is sandwiched between the North-West Frontier Province

and the Wakhan Corridor of (Afghanistan). Gakuch is the administrative center of the Ghizar

District.

Gilgit District The Gilgit District is bounded by the Wakhan Corridor of (Afghanistan) to the

north, the Xinjiang autonomous region of (China) to the north and northeast, and the Skardu

District to the south and southeast. Gilgit town is the administrative center of the Gilgit District.

Gilgit is one of the two major hubs in the Northern Areas for all mountaineering expeditions to

the peaks of the Karakoram and the Himalayas.

Hunza-Nagar District The Hunza-Nagar District is a newly formed district which was

previously part of the Gilgit District. The district encompasses the Hunza and Nagar valleys. The

major town is Karimabad (actually a grouping of five to six smaller villages), surrounded on all

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sides by glorious mountain peaks, foremost amongst which is Rakaposhi. The Nagar Valley and

the Hoper Glacier are situated a dizzying 40-minute drive from Karimabad, nestled below

Golden Peak. Hunza is approximately 100 km from Gilgit, and is the last major town along the

Karakoram Highway before entering China.

Cities: Gilgitis the major town along the Karakoram Highway before entering China.

Karimabad - supposedly the setting for James Hilton's Shangri-La, and the valley lives up to

that reputation.

Skardu - Home to some of the World's highest mountain peaks, glaciers, forts, museums and

resorts.

Get in:

By planeArrive in Islamabad. Pakistan International Airlines offers daily flights between Gilgit and

Islamabad. The flying time is approximately 50 minutes, and the flight is one of the most scenic

flights in the world, as its route passes over Nanga Parbat, and the peak of the mountain is higher

than the aircraft's cruising altitude.

PIA also offers regular flights on Being 737s between Skardu and Islamabad. All flights, however,

are subject to weather clearance, and, in winters, flights are often delayed by several days.

By road

The Karakoram Highway, once a minor Silk Road route, connects Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu,

which are the two major hubs for mountaineering expeditions in the Northern Areas. The journey

from Islamabad to Gilgit takes approximately 20-24 hours. Landslides on the Karakoram Highwayare not uncommon, but bulldozers usually clear the road in a short time. The KKH connects Gilgit to

Taxkorgan and Kaxgar in Xinjiang, China, via Sust (the customs and health inspection post on the

Pakistan side of the border) and the Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved international border crossing

in the world at 4,693 metres (15,397 feet).

Get around

By Bus

NATCO (the Northern Areas Transport Corporation) offers bus and jeep transport service to the two

hubs and to several other popular destinations, lakes, and glaciers in the area.

By Car:

The visitors can use local vans, jeeps and car for visiting different areas of the region, but

mostly the 4wd jeeps are used.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoram_Highwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Hunza_Valleyhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoram_Highwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoram_Highwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Hunza_Valleyhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoram_Highwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Islamabadhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Gilgithttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skardu


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Other destinations:

Fairy meadows is a point where world's three

famous mountain ranges meet - the Himalayas,

the Karakorams and the Hindukush K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) - world's second-

highest mountain peak, Also visit K2 Museum

located in the Skardu near K2 Motel.

Shangrila Resort in Skardu Valley is a place of

bliss, delight and peace

Shigar Fort in the shigar valley of Skardu district.

Rock carvings Dating back to 8th century AD, a huge Buddha figure surrounded by small

Buddhisatvas is carved on a rock, three kilometres from Skardu across Sadpara Nullah onSkardu-Sadpara Road. Pre-historic men and animal figures are carved on rocks along Kachura

Lake. Some rock carvings and diagram of a monastery near Perkuta (Mehdi Abad) Nalah are

also found.

Punial Sher Qila is the main village of the picturesque Punial valley.

Singal This spot in the Punial valley offers ideal trout fishing opportunities.

Rama A lake in this region offers an awe-inspiring view of the eastern side of Nanga Parbat,

8126 meters high. For the adventure-loving tourist, hiker, angler, art-lover, mountaineer or polo

enthusiast, there are few places in the world that could compare with Gilgit.

Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindukush

Deosai National Park and Khunjerab National Park

Lakes:Three of the world's longest glaciers outside the polar regions are found in Gilgit-Baltistan the Biafo

Glacier, the Baltoro Glacier, and the Batura Glacier. There

are, in addition, several high-altitude lakes in Gilgit

Baltistan:

Sheotsar Tso Lake in Byarsa Thang/Deosai Plains -Baltistan

Satpara Tso Lake in Skardu - Baltistan

Gangchie Tso Lake in Kharmang Valley Baltistan.

Katzura Tso Lake in Skardu - Baltistan

http://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Himalayashttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafo_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafo_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltoro_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batura_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheosar_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byarsa_Thang/Deosai_Plains&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satpara_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachura_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Skarduhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Himalayashttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafo_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biafo_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltoro_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batura_Glacierhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheosar_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byarsa_Thang/Deosai_Plains&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satpara_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skarduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kachura_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu


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Zharba Tso Lake in Shigar- Baltistan

Phoroq Tso Lake in Skardu - Baltistan

Bara Tso Lake in Gangche - Baltistan

Byarsa Tso Lake in Gultari - Baltistan

Borith Lake in upperHunza - Gilgit

Rama Lake nearAstore - Gilgit

Rush Lake nearNagar- Gilgit

Kromber Lake In Kromber Pass - Gilgit

MountainsEighteen of the fifty highest peaks in the world are located in the

Northern Areas.

1 K2, 2nd-highest in the world at 8,611 m.

2 Nanga Parbat, 9th-highest in the world at 8,125 m

3 Gasherbrum I, 11th-highest in the world at 8,080 m.

4 Broad Peak, 12th-highest in the world at 8,047 m.

5 Gasherbrum II, 13th-highest in the world at 8,035 m

6 Gasherbrum III, 15th-highest in the world at 7,946 m.

7 Gasherbrum VI, 17th-highest in the world at 7,932 m.

8 Distaghil Sar, 19th-highest in the world at 7,884 m.

9 Khunyang Chhish,21st-highest in the world at 7823 m.

10 Masherbrum ,22nd-highest in the world at 7,821 m.

11 Batura Sar, 25th-highest in the world at 7,795 m.

12 Kanjut Sar ,26th-highest in the world at 7,788 m.

13 Rakaposhi, 27th-highest in the world at 7,760m.

14 Saltoro Kangri 31st-highest in the world at 7,742 m.

15 Chogolisa 36th-highest in the world at 7,498 m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zharba_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phoroq_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bara_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byarsa_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borith_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunzahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_Lake_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astore,_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Lake_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karambar_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kromber_Pass&action=edit&redlink=1http://wikitravel.org/en/Northern_Areashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zharba_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phoroq_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bara_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byarsa_Tso_Lake&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borith_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunzahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_Lake_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astore,_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Lake_(Pakistan)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karambar_Lakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kromber_Pass&action=edit&redlink=1http://wikitravel.org/en/Northern_Areas


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16 Shispare 38th-highest in the world at 7,611 m.

17 Trivora 39th-highest in the world at 7,577 m.

18 Skyang Kangri 44th-highest in the world at 7,545 m.

Sports:Polo is the favourite game of the people of Gilgit, Chilas, Astore, Hunza, and the surrounding areas.

Every year, many tourists visit to enjoy polo in Gilgit Baltistan. Other games such as cricket, gulli danda,

kabbadi, and volleyball are also played.

Tours: Karakoram Treks & Tours

Hindukush Trails

Karakoram Explorers offerstours to Himalayas,

Karakoram and Hindukush.

Jasmine tours

Concordia Expeditions

Summit Karakoram

Baltistan tours

PIA Holidays

Glaciers:

Three of the world's seven longest glaciers outside the polar regions are also in the Northern Areas, the

Biafo Glacier, the Baltoro Glacier, and the Batura Glacier.

The Siachin Glacier is 75 km. The Hispar (53 km) joins the Biafo at the Hispar La (5154.16 meters

(16,910 ft) to form an ice corridor 116.87 km (72 mi) long. The Batura, too, is 58 km in length. The

most outstanding of these rivers of ice is the 62 km Baltoro. This large glacier, fed by some 30

tributaries, has a surface area of 1291.39 sq km.

Skardu:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crickethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lippa_(sport)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbadihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volleyballhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Himalayashttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoramhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Northern_Areashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crickethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lippa_(sport)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbadihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volleyballhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Himalayashttp://wikitravel.org/en/Karakoramhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Northern_Areas


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Skardu is the principal town of the region Baltistan and the capital of Skardu District, one of the

districts making up Pakistan'sNorthern Areas.

Skardu is located in the 10 km wide by 40km long

Skardu Valley, at the confluence of the Indus river

(flowing from near Kailash in Tibet and through

neighbouring Ladakh before reaching Baltistan) and theShigar River. Skardu is situated at an altitude of nearly

2,500 m (8,200 feet). The town is surrounded by grey-

brown coloured mountains, which hide the 8,000 metre

peaks of the nearby Karakoram range.

The Skardu District include;

Subdivision Kharmang

Subdivision Shigar

Subdivision Rondu

Subdivision Skardu

The town and the local people:

The town has developed along the main road passing through it and to either side of this road is situated

the New Bazaar (Naya Bazaar), with hundreds of shops offer almost everything (trekking supplies,

souvenirs, local goods, etc.). To the

west one finds Yadgar Chowk (with

local monument) and from there, the

quarter behind Naya Bazaar, to the righthand side is the older Purana Bazaar.

Travelling west from Naya Bazaar is a

polo ground and next to that, Kazmi

Bazaar.

Skardu appears remote, dusty town at

first glance, but the mixture of people

here make it colourful and ethnically

diverse. The crowded streets are mainly

populated by Balti Tibetans and many of the local neighbourhoods (mohallahs) have names that reflect

this too (i.e. Khache-drong, Khar-drong, Olding, Kushu-bagh, Pakora, Thsethang, Sher-thang, Nagholi-

spang etc.). Due to this strong presence, Skardu has sometimes been referred to as the little Tibet of

Pakistan.

However, many other ethnic groups are present in Skardu including Shins, Pashtuns, Punjabis,

Hunzakuts and even Uyghur, due to the close proximity of Baltistan to the respective regions. Since the

creation of Pakistan people of various ethnicities from various regions of Pakistan have emigrated here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Areashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigar_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_thousanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_thousanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakoramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balti_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtunshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjabishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunzakutshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uyghur_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Areashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Valleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kailashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigar_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_thousanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_thousanderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakoramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balti_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtunshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjabishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunzakutshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uyghur_people


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All the above ethnic groups are devout Muslims. This includes the Balti-Tibetans, who converted from

Tibetan Buddhism in the 16th century (the only sizeable group of Tibetans to have undergone such a

conversion). Shia Islam has a strong presence in Skardu.

Weather and climate

The climate of Skardu during the summer is moderated by its mountain setting and the intense heat of

lowland Pakistan does not reach here. The mountains

also block out the summermonsoon and summer rainfall

is thus quite low. However, these mountains result in

very severe winter weather. During the April to October

tourist season, temperatures vary between a maximum of

27C and a minimum (in October) 8C. However,

temperatures can drop to below -10C in the December-

to-January midwinter period. The lowest temperature of

the year can reach -25C.

Balti dialect

Balti is a language spoken in Baltistan, in theNorthern AreasofPakistan and adjoining parts ofLadakh,

India. Baltistan - before 1948 - was part of Ladakhprovince. The language is a dialect of the Tibetan

language. It is mutually intelligible with Ladakhi and Burig. Many of the consonants that are silent in

most modern Tibetan dialects are pronounced in Balti.

Skardu Fort (Kharphocho Fort):

Skardu Fort orKharphocho Fortlies on the eastern face of the Khardrong or Mindoq-Khar("Castle of

Queen Mindoq") hill 15 metres or 40 feet above Skardu

town. The fort dates from the 8th Century CE and contains

an old mosque probably dating back to the arrival of Islam

in the 16th Century CE. The fort provides a panoramic view

of Skardu town, the Skardu valley and the Indus River. The

fort was built by Rmakpon dynasty rulers of Baltistan and it

was a seven storey building. It was burnt down by Sikhs in

the 18th Century CE.

Kharphocho (Skardu) fort was built on a design similar to

that of Leh Palace and the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

The name Kharpochhe means the great fort Khar in

Tibetan means castle or fort and Chhe means great.

Kharmang:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Areas,_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Areas,_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burighttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Forthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leh_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potala_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslimshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Areas,_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burighttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skardu_Forthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leh_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potala_Palacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_language


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The Kharmang valley is an integral Part of the district Skardu of Gilgit Baltistan. Kharmang

locate with the Boundary to India, thats why the so called Kargil war between Pakistan and

India was actually fought in this valley. The people of Kharmang took part in this war and

helped the Pakistani army while supplying ammunition, food and shelter. The victims of the war

were 95 % from this region and many small valleys wiped from the globe. Kharmang is known

for its scholars, religious leaders and the rules followed by the people strictly to their faith. Its

identity is that the whole region is consist of 100% from the Shiyan-e-Ali a.s. the local people

classify the people in two categories i.e. the lovers of Ahl-ul-Bait and their enemies. The literacy

rate of the Kharmang valley is also better than the other valleys of Baltistan.

We feel proud that we have world class leaders, out of all Syed Asad Shah Zaidi (Shaheed),Shikh Ali

Najafi (Marhoom), Sheikh Ghulam Muhammad Gharvi (Marhoom), Professor Saleem are well known.

References:

1. "Cabinet approves Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009" 29 August 2009

Associated Press of Pakistan

2. http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\01\story_1-11-2006_pg7_28

3. Special Report on Kargil"] The Herald(Pakistan)

4. The wikipedia.com

5. http://thenews.jang.com.pk/print1.asp?id=197679

6. http://www.geo.tv/9-29-2009/49958.htm

7. http://www.northernareas.org.pk/nassd/soed_pdf/ppe13.pdf.

8. TRIBAL AND NORTHERN AREAS OF PAKISTAN: CASE OF CONSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT!Presentation at SZABIST, Islamabad Campus

by Dr. Tariq Hassan on 30 March 2009

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85033&Itemid=2http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C11%5C01%5Cstory_1-11-2006_pg7_28http://thenews.jang.com.pk/print1.asp?id=197679http://www.geo.tv/9-29-2009/49958.htmhttp://www.northernareas.org.pk/nassd/soed_pdf/ppe13.pdfhttp://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85033&Itemid=2http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C11%5C01%5Cstory_1-11-2006_pg7_28http://thenews.jang.com.pk/print1.asp?id=197679http://www.geo.tv/9-29-2009/49958.htmhttp://www.northernareas.org.pk/nassd/soed_pdf/ppe13.pdf

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