Baltistan also known as Baltiyul or Little Tibet, is a mountainous region in the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and constitutes an northern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947. It is located near the Karakoram and borders Gilgit to the west, China's Xinjiang to the north, Indian-administered Ladakh to the southeast, and the Indian-administered Kashmir Valley to the southwest. The average altitude of the region is over 3,350 metres (10,990 ft). Baltistan is largely administered under the Baltistan Division.
The Karakoram Highway is a 1,300 km (810 mi) national highway which extends from Hasan Abdal in the Punjab province of Pakistan to the Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan, where it crosses into China and becomes China National Highway 314. The highway connects the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plus Gilgit-Baltistan with China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The highway is a popular tourist attraction and is one of the highest paved roads in the world, passing through the Karakoram mountain range, at 36°51′00″N75°25′40″E at maximum elevation of 4,714 m (15,466 ft) near Khunjerab Pass. Due to its high elevation and the difficult conditions under which it was constructed, it is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The highway is also a part of the Asian Highway AH4.
Balawaristan, is a term used for the historical region forming present-day Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. The modern term was coined by the political party Balawaristan National Front, founded by Nawaz Khan Naji, in 1989. But it has its roots in the historical names Broshal, Dardistan and Bolor or Boloristan, with documented usage in Chinese sources from the 8th century AD. According to the present day activists, 'Balawaristan' includes Chitral, Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Nagar, Ishkoman, Punial and Yasin. The leader of BNF Nawaz Khan Naji declared that Balawaristan (Gilgit-Baltistan) is not part of Kashmir region and wants integration with Pakistan as a fifth province.
Astore Wildlife Sanctuary is as wildlife refuge located in Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. It is within the Astore District, between Nanga Parbat 8,126 metres (26,660 ft) to the west and the plains of Deosai to the east, and about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the town of Bungi. Its area is approximately 414.72 km2 (160.12 sq mi) and its altitude is from 1,212 m (3,976 ft) to 6,060 m (19,880 ft).
Diamer District, also spelled Diamir District,) is a district in the Gilgit-Baltistan region administered by Pakistan. The headquarters of the district is the town of Chilas. The district is bounded on the north by the Tangir and the Gilgit districts, on the east by the Astore District, on the south by the Mansehra district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and the Neelum District of Azad Kashmir, and on the west by the Upper Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The Karakoram Highway passes through Diamer District.
Gilgit-Baltistan is an administrative territory of Pakistan in the northern part of the country. It was given self-governing status on August 29, 2009. Gilgit-Baltistan comprises 14 districts within three divisions. The four districts of Skardu Kharmang Shigar and Ghanche are in the Baltistan Division, four districts of Gilgit Ghizer Hunza and Nagar districts which were carved out of Gilgit District are in the Gilgit Division and the third division is Diamir, comprising Chilas and Astore. The main political centres are the towns of Gilgit and Skardu.
Rupal is a village in the Rupal Valley of the Astore District in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It lies to the south of Tarashing village on the west end of Tarashing Glacier. Nanga Parbat and Rakhiot Peak lie northwest of the village and Chongra Peak lies to the north.
Dashkin is a village in Astore, Pakistan. It is 85 km from Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. It has over 5,000 inhabitants, primarily farmers and herdsmen.
Tarishing is a village in and a subdivision of the Astore District of Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan.
Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and between India and China since 1959. It borders Azad Kashmir to the south, the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the west, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan to the north, the Xinjiang region of China to the east and northeast, and the Indian-administered union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to the southeast.
Gudai is a village in Astore District in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is the headquarters of Gudai union council. The nearest villages are Shekong, Khuma, Karbay, Bomray, Booban and Dass Kharym. It is the headquarters of Gudai union council.
Astore is the main city of Astore District in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The city is situated at an altitude of 2,546 metres (8,353 ft).
Mirza Hassan Khan , of Majini Mohallah Gilgit, was a captain of the 6th Infantry of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces. Placed at Bunji in the Gilgit wazarat, Khan rebelled against the Maharaja's regime after his accession to India and participated in the overthrow of the governor of Gilgit in November 1947. He later fought in the First Kashmir War as part of Gilgit rebel forces under the command of Colonel Aslam Khan and rose to become a colonel in the Pakistan Army. After leaving the army, he founded the Gilgit League to protest against the Pakistan's ad-hoc administration of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, an administered territory of Pakistan, focuses on its access to various mountain ranges and alpine terrain.
Minimarg is a village in the Astore District of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It is situated on the bank of the Burzil Nala, approximately 36 km south of the Chilam Chowki checkpost. The village, located south of Astore via the Burzil Pass, has an average elevation of 2,844.6 metres above sea level.
Rattu Cantonment is a century plus old cantonment located at Rattu in Astore district of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It is located at an altitude of 9,000 ft above sea level. During summer, the weather remains pleasant but winters are harsh and temperatures range between ~20 °C to -35 °C. Rattu receives three to six feet of snow during winter.
Nasir Abad is a village in Astore, in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Nasir Abad has been traditionally used as a route for traders going to Kashmir from Astore, Gilgit and other parts of Pakistan. Nasir Abad is known for its delicacies like cumin and trout.
Bunji Bridge is a suspension bridge on the Indus River near Bunji, a town in the Astore District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It was first built in the 19th century by the Maharaja Pratap Singh's government of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Its wooden girders were burnt down during the 1947 Gilgit Rebellion and subsequently repaired. It fell into disuse and neglect in recent decades. It was restored by the recently established Government of Gilgit-Baltistan in 2012 after the 2010 Indus floods highlighted its value. The bridge is said to serve as a vital link between the town of Gilgit and the locations in the Astore District.
The Army High Altitude School (AHAS) is a training and research school of Pakistan Army located in Rattu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. In December 1987, Pakistan Army established this training school for troops in high altitude and mountain warfare including skiing.
Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan is the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Gilgit-Baltistan who served as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, a territory in Northern Pakistan until he was disqualified from his post on 4 July 2023 by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court. He was also a member of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly from 25 November 2020 until his disqualification.
