Ghanche District

Ghanche District

ضلع گانچھے
Ghanche District ضلع گانچھے
District
	The Ghanche region features serrated peaks typical of the high Karakorams
	Map of Gilgit–Baltistan with Ghanche District highlighted in maroon.
Country	Pakistan
Autonomous territory	Gilgit Baltistan
Division	Baltistan
Capital	Khaplu
Government
• Deputy Commissioner	Adeel Haider (PAS)
Area
• Total	4,052 km2 (1,564 sq mi)
Population (2017)
• Total	160,000
Time zone	UTC+5 (PST)
Website	www.visitgilgitbaltistan.gov.pk

Ghanche District (Urdu: ضلع گانچھے) (Balti: Gangchay) is the easternmost district of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan.^[1]^[2]^[3] With its administrative headquarters in the historic city of Khaplu, Ghanche is famous as a tourist destination for its outstanding scenery and high altitude landscapes.

Geography

To its northeast is Xinjiang (China), to the north and northwest is Skardu District, to its southwest is Kharmang District and to its south is Ladakh of Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) at the easternmost part of Ghanche District is located across the Saltoro Ridge. Territory east of the AGPL is currently controlled by India including the entire Siachen Glacier. It has been proposed by moderates in Pakistan and India to make the Siachen Glacier region a Peace Park. Pakistan controls west of Saltoro Ridge.

The capital of Ghanche District is Khaplu.^[4] This region is the coldest place within Pakistan also called the "Third Pole" with temperatures reaching below -20 °C in the winter. Khaplu Valley and Hushe Valley form the gateway for the great Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of Karakoram ^[5] that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), Gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and Masherbrum (7,821 m) (all of which are included in the Skardu District).^[6]

Etymology

The word Gangchay is Balti and means "glacier". It is locally used by natives of the Khaplu Valley for Ghanche Nallah (a Seasonal Stream) which flows in between the Khaplu town during summer season. When the Pakistani government gave it the grade of district, people of the valley selected the name of "Ghanche" willingly.^[7]

Administration

Khaplu consists of 56 blocks, each block containing many villages and these blocks have been divided into three subdivisions: Khaplu, Daghoni and Masherbrum. Four villages of Chorbat Valley were lost by Indian invasion in 1971.^[8]^[9] They were Chalunka, Tyakshi, Thang and Turtuk.^[10] Some of them are given in the chart below.

Name of Village/Town^[11]	Muhallahs in the Village/Town
Khaplu Bala	Mouldomar, Sargaib, Stodkhoor (Braqchansar, Khansar, Banpi, Hundili Gharalti, Laxar), Khanqah, Naqzigroung, Gamba Bathong, Goma Bathong, Goma staqji (Muhsinabad), Langkhong (Islamabad), Hatchhe khar, Hatchhe, Hatchhe, Dinis(faizbaksh sector), Gamba Bngriya, goma Bngriya, Doqsa Garbochung,
Khaplu Pain	Kraming, Malaliwa, Ansoq, Kongbozang, Gongmayar, Baqerpi gund. Mekxerpi, Goqpi Mirpiser, Thaskong, Ghares, Morgoto, Helam groung, Braqchan, Chaqchan, mongrong, Beadenday, Hipi, Askari gond, Chilabatigond, Kowakhong, Stronpi, Konowa, Khsergroung, Garboung
Kharkoo	Mandik, Arapa, Malayar, Thana Gamba Trangzong, Gongma Trangzong, Garbong, Youlskil, Piyara, Shopacholi, Lahar, Sogha
Haldi
Chorbat	Siksa (Kalan, Sokhmos), Chowar, Siari, Pion, Hassanabad, Ameerabad, Dawoo, Marcha, Partook, Thoqmus, Franu
Saling	Banpi Gabkhore, Doqbar, Biliggrong, Sotol, Gond
Thagas	* Newti Chan, Olday Groung, Garbi Groung, Kharat, Arif Abad, Chansoq, , Farol, Baqmacho, Kharkhor, Bandy Groung, Arappi Groung, Ool, Tholdi, Dung,Lhangkhani Groung.
Yugo	Baqir Colony
Ghawari	Ghulu Khor, Manjar, Sain (Hill Town), Chogo Grong, Shahoba, Zangi Ba, Manowa, Sobi Gon, Rahinpi Khor, Mala Abdul pi khor, Mayokhor, Duskhor, Soq, Gintha
Kuro	Farool, Khankah grong, Sato, Gharaqpi gond, Katchurdas,
Gulshan-e-Kabir	Tranzong, Gonpon, Kharkhor (Kharkhor & Bongri), Farol (Gapkhor & Yarol)
Dumsum	mallon, gabser, mongron,khachepa,yarkhor,oling,skoungoa, barngmalla,
Ghursay
Sino
Talis	Nima bazar, hussani chock,
Saltoro
Surmo	Choghogrong, Tarkari, Tishari, Gond, Khar
Kundos	Karmanding, Choghogrong, Lachat, Thang, Hano, Khorkondo
Machulu	Ashurpi, Malikpi, Manthalpi, Khadi, Badawa, Hilbi, Mallon, Teshari, Marin, Bongri, Baqdurpi
Balghar	Lahar, marmung
Hushe
BARA Valley Baltistan	Gumba BARA (Hilfiyuoq, Kharfiyouq, Bara Gond, BrouqPa, Thupori), Gungma BARA (Spinpa, Sampa, MantholPa, Khanka, Pandiva, Darussalam, Mirikpa, Shourova, MominPa, QadeerPa, Tatous)
Thalay	Haltagari Baltoro, daltir, yarkhor, taso, harangus, parangus, chondu, khasomik, bordas, gaworic, lodas.

|[ Keris] Oroba, Sumalsa, kashiba, Sadat colony, Barchong, Khargrong, Dangah, Youljuk, Charathang, Ural Gone, Banpa,Mustafaabad,Shagaran,barchong.

Religion

All the people living in Ghanche are Muslims and mostly people belong to Fiqah jafaria (90%) branch of Islam whereas rest of the 10% are Noorbakshshia and Sunni Muslims. A religious leader locally called ‘Bowa’ has very important place in society.

Education

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, Ghanche is ranked 54 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 98 out of 148.^[12]

References

^ "The serenity of Ghanche: Of mountains, rivers and valleys".
^ "Mapping education in Pakistan 2015".
^ "Rifts within Nurbakhshiyas: Dozens arrested after clashes in Ghanche Valley".
^ "Khaplu — off the beaten path".
^ Balghari, Sajjad H:"Sayyid Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani", Monthly Nawa-i-Sufia, Islamabad, Issoue No.12, 1995
^ "History of Ganche and places to see". Archived from the original on 2013-06-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Arz-e-Shimal by Alhaj Muhammad Ibrahim Zair
^ "Turtuk, a Promised Land Between Two Hostile Neighbours".
^ "An encounter with the 'king' of Turtuk, a border village near Gilgit-Baltistan".
^ "geography of baltistan".
^ District Body Ghanche
^ "Individual district profile link, 2015". Alif Ailaan. Retrieved 2015-05-07.

[1] "The serenity of Ghanche: Of mountains, rivers and valleys".

[2] "Mapping education in Pakistan 2015".

[3] "Rifts within Nurbakhshiyas: Dozens arrested after clashes in Ghanche Valley".

[4] "Khaplu — off the beaten path".

[5] Balghari, Sajjad H:"Sayyid Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani", Monthly Nawa-i-Sufia, Islamabad, Issoue No.12, 1995

[6] "History of Ganche and places to see". Archived from the original on 2013-06-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[7] Arz-e-Shimal by Alhaj Muhammad Ibrahim Zair

[8] "Turtuk, a Promised Land Between Two Hostile Neighbours".

[9] "An encounter with the 'king' of Turtuk, a border village near Gilgit-Baltistan".

[10] "geography of baltistan".

[11] District Body Ghanche

[12] "Individual district profile link, 2015". Alif Ailaan. Retrieved 2015-05-07.

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v t e Gilgit-Baltistan topics
Capital: Gilgit
Passes	Babusar Pass Bichhar Pass Burji La Burzil Pass Chillinji Pass Darkot Pass Gondogoro Pass Hayal Pass Hispar Pass Khunjerab Pass
Valleys	Bagrot Valley Naltar Valley Astore Valley Nomal Valley Gilgit Valley Skardu Valley Khaplu Valley Kharmang Shigar Valley Roundu Baltistan Stak Valley Galtari
Cities and towns	(list) Gilgit Skardu Shigar Khaplu Kharmang Roundu Baltistan Danyor Jalaalabad Balghar Tolti Jutal Barah valley Chalunka Chorbat Valley Ghawari Haldi Hassanabad Karimabad Hushe Valley Keris Valley Kharfak Korphe Yugo, Baltistan Yugupa
Rivers, glaciers and lakes	Abruzzi Glacier Baltoro Glacier Batura Glacier Biafo Glacier Biarchedi Glacier Chogo Lungma Glacier Chumik Glacier Godwin-Austen Glacier Gondogoro Glacier Hainablak Glacier Hispar Glacier Kutiah Lungma Glacier Miar Glacier Panmah Glacier Passu Glacier Rupal Glacier Shani Glacier Trango Glacier Vigne Glacier Lake Kharfak Satpara Lake Shangrila Lake Shigar River Shyok River Indus Hushe River Saltoro River
Architecture	Chaqchan Mosque Khanaq-e-Mullah Noorbakshia Khaplu Bala Khaplu Palace Shigar Fort Skardu Fort Baltit Fort Amburiq Mosque
See also	Provincial Highways of Gilgit-Baltistan Karakoram Highway Ladakh Line of Control Kargil War Balti language History of Gilgit-Baltistan K2 Balti (food)