The Karakoram is a mountain range in Kashmir spanning the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with the northwest extremity of the range extending to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Most of the Karakoram mountain range falls under the jurisdiction of Gilgit-Baltistan which is controlled by Pakistan. Its highest peak, K2, is located in Gilgit-Baltistan. It begins in the Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan) in the west, encompasses the majority of Gilgit-Baltistan, and extends into Ladakh and Aksai Chin. It is the second highest mountain range in the world and part of the complex of ranges including the Pamir Mountains, the Hindu Kush and the Himalayan Mountains. The Karakoram has eighteen summits over 7,500 m (24,600 ft) in height, with four exceeding 8,000 m (26,000 ft): K2, the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 m (28,251 ft), Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum II.
Baltistan, also known as Baltiyul or Little Tibet, is a mountainous region in the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit–Baltistan. 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 Ghanche District is the easternmost district of the 14 districts of Pakistan-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan Army's brigade headquarters is located at Goma, Ghanche district. Pakistan Army's Gayari Sector Battalion Headquarters is 20 miles (32 km) west of Siachen Glacier. With its administrative headquarters in the historic city of Khaplu, the Ghanche District is famous as a tourist destination for its outstanding scenery and high altitude landscapes.
Gilgit-Baltistan has been under Pakistan administration since 1947 and was given self-governing status on August 29, 2009. Gilgit-Baltistan comprises 10 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.
Khaplu and, also spelt Khapalu, is a city that serves as the administrative capital of the Ghanche District of Gilgit-Baltistan, in northern Pakistan. Lying 103 km (64 mi) east of the city of Skardu, it was the second-largest kingdom in old Baltistan of the Yabgo dynasty. It guarded the trade route to Ladakh along the Shyok River east of its confluence with the Indus.
The Shyok River a tributary of the Indus River that flows through northern Ladakh and enters Gilgit–Baltistan, spanning some 550 km (340 mi).
The Skardu Valley is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The valley is about 10 km wide and 40 km long. It is at the confluence of the Shigar River and Indus River. It surrounded by the large Karakoram Range. With the nearby lakes and mountains, it is an important tourist location in Pakistan. Skardu is the main town of Baltistan along the wide bank of the river Indus. Skardu is the largest district of the Northern Areas. Baltistan is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, the Karakoram Range, Skardu is very popular with Mountaineering Expeditions. It is equally popular with high altitude trekkers, who treks to Baltoro Glacier, K2 Base Camp and Concordia. Skardu by road, lies approximately 5 hours away from Gilgit and 10 hours drive from Besham.
The Hopar Valley is a scenic portion of the Nagar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, in Pakistan. It is about 10 km away from Nagar Khas, the principal city of the Nagar Valley. Hopar Valley is home of the Spantik and Hopar (Hopper) glaciers.
Bagrote Valley is a valley in the Karakoram Mountain range in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. River Bagrote flows through the valley from the north towards the southwest of the valley, supplies water to Jalalabad and Oshikhandass and merges with the Gilgit River.
Yugo (Yugu) is a small village with a population of more than 6,000 people in the Ghanche district of Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The village is located above the Shyok River 70 km from Baltistan's capital Skardu on a tarmac highway heading towards Khaplu after passing Ghawari and Kunes. Yugo is situated adjacent to the geographically important village of Kharfak which boasts of a high-altitude mountain lake, Lake Kharfak. Khaplu which is Ghanche district's administrative capital lies a further 25 km away from Yugo.
Balghar is a village in Ghanche, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan on the banks of the Shyok River. The Shyok River meets the Indus River at Keris کریس, about 30 kilometers west of Balghar. Balghar includes 15 large and small neighbourhoods (mahallahs): Gond Balghar, Chan Gond Balghar, Chopya, Rotaka, Ongbo, Marmoung Balghar, Loda Balghar, Khanka Grwong Balghar, Khodakha Balghar, Gareippa Balghar, Krawathang Balghar, Khashu Balghar, Gamba Bordas Balghar, Yompowa Balghar, and Xooq Balghar. House Valley is to the east, Karis Valley to the west, Shiger Valley to the north, and Daghoni/Balghar are located to the south.
Kharfaq is a small village with a population of about 2,000 people in Ghanche District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The village is located 3 hours away from Kharfaq Lake, a lake famous for its large trout population.
Chorbat Valley is a section of the Shyok river valley divided between Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan and Indian-administered Ladakh. The Pakistan-administered portion is in the Khaplu tehsil, Ghanche District of Gilgit–Baltistan and the Indian-administered portion is in the Nubra tehsil, Leh district of Ladakh. Chorbat stretches from the edge of Khaplu to the Chalunka village of Nubra.
Hushe Valley is a valley in Ghanche District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Formed by the Hushe River, the valley runs from Masherbrum Mountain and nearby glaciers south to the Shyok River, opposite Khaplu. Hushe village lies in the center of the valley.
The Barah Valley is a village in Gilgit Baltistan. Barah Valley is 100 km from Skardu in the east. The valley is located on the bank of Shyok river in the Khaplu, of Baltistan.
Thagas is a village in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan located 32 km (20 mi) from Khaplu in east. It is on the bank of the Saltoro River just before it joins the Shyok River. Thagas is the administrative headquarters of Mashabrum subdivision of Ghanche District.
Tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, a dependent territory of Pakistan, focuses on the mountains.
Bogdang is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is located in Nubra tehsil.
Kutiah Lungma Glacier is a 12 km long and 3 km wide glacier in Karakorum mountain ranges in Stak Valley of District Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is located in a valley, Stak Valley, which is in the subdivision Roundu of district Skardu Gilgit-Baltistan. The glacier is in the north of Nanga Parbat, about 20 kilometers away from the northern bank of the Indus River. One can access the glacier from June–September from Skardu or Gilgit city, as it is about 10 km away from the Gilgit-Skardu road. An un-metalled road from Gilgit-Skardu Road at the junction of Indus River and Stak Valley stream leads to the base camp of the glacier.
Siksa is a village in the sub division Chorbat Valley, Ghanche District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, lying 150 kilometres (93 mi) east of Skardu, near the border of Pakistan and India at an elevation of 2,725 metres (8,940 ft).
