Hunza Valley

Lush green fields, snow capped mountains, beautiful springs and friendly people make the enchanting Hunza valley a perfect spot for tourists and nature lovers. It is located in the north of Pakistan at an elevation of 2,438 meters (7,999 feet). The local languages spoken here are Burushaski, Wakhi and Shina, while many people understand Urdu (National language of Pakistan). Most of the people are Muslims. Hunza is administratively divided into 5 districts run by D.Cs controlled by the chief minister of Gilgit which is, in turn, controlled by the federal government of Pakistan itself. The capital is Karimabad.

In the past Hunza was a princely state near Nagar. This state continued to survive until 1974 when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto finally dissolved it. There are many versions about who inhabited the valley first. According to one, Alexander Zulkarnain made an effort to inhabit and develop the sublime valley. An other version implies that Alexander The Great annexed the area and at the last moments of his life alloted it to his loyal commanders. Who made it irrigable and inhabitable. Yet another version says that many people fled from the Tartar country after a great revolution and settled in the valley. About 200 years after the introduction of Islam in the area, the first Muslim ruler Mayroo Khan (Given the title of Thum) married, and twin sons were born. His sons were always hostile towards each other and Mayroo Khan had to break up his empire into two parts (Nagar and Hunza), when the question of succession arose. The British conquered the valley at some time between 1889 to 1892.

Hunza valley is a Heaven for mountaineers and climbers because of the towering mountains surrounding the valley. These include Rakaposhi 7,788 m (25,551 ft), Ultar Sar 7,388 m (24,239 ft), Bojahagur Duanasir II 7,329 m (24,045 ft), Ghenta Peak 7,090 m (15,631 ft), Hunza Peak 6,270 m (20,571 ft), Darmyani Peak 6,090 m (19,980 ft), and Bublimating (Ladyfinger Peak) 6,000 m (19,685 ft). The picturesque Baltit Fort is also worth seeing. Valley's tourists season is from May to October. The Karakoram highway connecting China and Pakistan provides easy access to the exotic valley. Regular bus services are also present for tourists.

Baltit Fort

Rakaposhi, Northern Areas,Kashmir, 27th highest of the world at 7788m