Tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan

Tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, an administered territory of Pakistan, focuses on its access to various mountain ranges and alpine terrain. Various tourist destinations attract millions of travelers from within Pakistan.^[1] On the other hand, tourists from other countries also routinely visit GB.^[2] An estimated 1.72 million tourists visited the region in 2017 according to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).^[3] Travelers had contributed Rs.300 million to the local economy in 2017.^[3] The authorities were expecting 2.5 million tourists in 2018 which would have meant an additional Rs.450 million to the economy.^[3]

Geography

Gilgit-Baltistan borders Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province to the west, a small portion of the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan to the north, Xinjiang, China to the northeast, the Indian territory Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the southeast, and the Pakistani-administered state of Azad Kashmir to the south.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to five of the "eight-thousanders" and to more than fifty peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). Gilgit, Astore and Skardu are the three main hubs for expeditions to those mountains. The region is home to some of the world's highest mountain ranges. The main ranges are the Karakoram and the western Himalayas. The Pamir Mountains 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. Known as the “Killer Mountain,” Nanga Parbat’s fatality rate is approximately 21 deaths per 100 successful summits. ^[4]

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.

Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway is the major highway of Gilgit-Baltistan, which connects the region with the rest of Pakistan to the south and with China at its north end. It is highest paved road in world is sometimes termed as the "8th Wonder of World."^[5]

Major valleys

Gilgit Baltistan is home of world highest and beautiful valleys. These include Ghanche, Shiger, Astore Valley, Gilgit, Ghizer Valley, Hunza Valley, Skardu and Nagar Valley.

Hunza Valley

Hunza Valley is considered one of the most beautiful valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. It consists of Upper Hunza, Central Hunza, and Lower Hunza. Karimabad is the major city of the valley and has all facilities for mountaineers and tourists.^[6] The popularity of the Hunza Valley and the amount of tourism there is due in part to its relative accessibility and proximity to the Karakoram Highway.^[7]

Major tourist attractions in Hunza are:

Attabad Lake - A major lake of Hunza Valley. It was created following a landslide at Hunza River near Attabad village on 4 January 2010. The resulting damming of the river caused the lake to slowly form, submerging several villages and displacing up to 6,000 people.^[8]
Baltit Fort - An old medieval fort located in Karimabad. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[9]
Hussaini Suspension Bridge - A long wooden suspension bridge over Hunza River near Husaaini village. It is sometimes referred locally to as the "Indiana Jones Bridge" It is termed as one of the most dangerous bridges in the world.^[10]
Khunjerab Pass - At 4,693 meters, this is the highest border crossing in the world. It is also the only modern crossing on the China-Pakistan border. Most tourists visit on a daytrip from Hunza to see the border and then leave. The surrounding area is also a part of the Khunjerab National Park, which was set up to protect local, endangered wildlife, specifically the Marco Polo sheep.^[11]

Skardu Valley

Skardu Valley is located at confluence of Indus and Shiger rivers surrounded by the peaks of Karakoram.

Lakes

Attabad Lake, Hunza
Barodaroksh Lake in Bar Valley, Nagar
Borith Lake in Gojal, upper Hunza, Gilgit
Byarsa Tso Lake in Gultari, Baltistan
Ghorashi Lake in Ghandus Valley, Kharmang
Kachura Lake
- Lower Kachura Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
- Upper Kachura Lake (Foroq Tso)
- Zambakha Tso (lake)
Katpana tso Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
Khalti Lake, Gupis-Yasin District
Lake Kharfak tso in Gangche, Baltistan
Phoroq Tso Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
Rama sar Lake near Astore
Rush sar Lake near Nagar, Gilgit
Karambar Lake^[12] at Kromber Pass Ishkoman Valley, Ghizer
Satpara tso Lake in Skardu, Baltistan
Sheosar tso Lake in Deosai National Park, Skardu
Sozgung tso Lake in Thalay Valley, Baltistan
Zharba Tso Lake in Shigar, Baltistan

Mountains

Eight-thousanders

K2 (Mount Godwin Austin/Chogori)
Nanga Parbat
Gasherbrum l
Broad Peak
Gasherbrum ll

Seven-thousanders

Gasherbrum lll
Gasherbrum lV
Masherbrum (K1)
Rakaposhi
Saltoro Kangri (K10)

References

^ "Tourism economy of Gilgit-Baltistan". The Express Tribune. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
^ Gomal Amin &, Imran Khan (September 2019). "The impact of tourism on local communities and their environment in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan: a local community perspective". Environmental Socio-Economic Studies. 7 (3): 24. Bibcode:2019ESES....7c..24U. doi:10.2478/environ-2019-0015. S2CID 201726791 – via ResearchGate.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Tourism economy of Gilgit-Baltistan". The Express Tribune. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
^ "The World's 15 Most Dangerous Mountains to Climb (By Fatality Rate)". Ultimate Kilimanjaro. Retrieved 25 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ "Karakoram Highway - the mighty 'eighth wonder of the world'". Dawn. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^ "Places to visit in Gilgit Baltistan". Retrieved 30 March 2021.
^ "Backpacking Pakistan | The COMPLETE Guide". The Broke Backpacker. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^ "Landslide Lake in Northwest Pakistan". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^ "Baltit Fort". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^ "By a Thread". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^ Qureshi, Rahmatullah (1 April 2011). "First report on the biodiversity of Khunjerab National Park, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Botany. 43(2):849-861: 849.
^ https://www.fairymeadowsibexlodge.com/karambar-lake/

External links

[:1-1] "Tourism economy of Gilgit-Baltistan". The Express Tribune. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2023.

[2] Gomal Amin &, Imran Khan (September 2019). "The impact of tourism on local communities and their environment in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan: a local community perspective". Environmental Socio-Economic Studies. 7 (3): 24. Bibcode:2019ESES....7c..24U. doi:10.2478/environ-2019-0015. S2CID 201726791 – via ResearchGate.

[:12-3] "Tourism economy of Gilgit-Baltistan". The Express Tribune. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2023.

[4] "The World's 15 Most Dangerous Mountains to Climb (By Fatality Rate)". Ultimate Kilimanjaro. Retrieved 25 October 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[5] "Karakoram Highway - the mighty 'eighth wonder of the world'". Dawn. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[6] "Places to visit in Gilgit Baltistan". Retrieved 30 March 2021.

[7] "Backpacking Pakistan | The COMPLETE Guide". The Broke Backpacker. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[8] "Landslide Lake in Northwest Pakistan". earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[9] "Baltit Fort". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[10] "By a Thread". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[11] Qureshi, Rahmatullah (1 April 2011). "First report on the biodiversity of Khunjerab National Park, Pakistan". Pakistan Journal of Botany. 43(2):849-861: 849.

[12] ttps://www.fairymeadowsibexlodge.com/karambar-lake/

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v t e Tourism in Pakistan
By province	Sindh Tourism Development Corporation Azad Kashmir Balochistan Gilgit-Baltistan Islamabad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar Punjab Faisalabad Lahore Multan Sindh Karachi
Types	Beaches Hill stations Islands Lakes Medical tourism Waterfalls Wildlife National parks Protected areas
See also	Ministry of Tourism (Pakistan) Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation
Category

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)