LOCATION: At
an elevation of 1,454 metres lies the Gilgit Valley. The
quaint little town of Gilgit has spectacular scenic beauty.
The peak tourist season is from May to mid-October though
the tourist season is round the year. The maximum temperature
in May is 33 C and the minimum 16 C and in September Maximum
28 C and minimum 11C. 10 Kms. from Gilgit town is a beautiful
rock engraving of Buddha of 7th century A.D.at the mouth
of the Kargah Nullah. A victory monument of Taj Mughal,
built 700 years ago, is 30 kms. Jeep drive from Gilgit town.The
bridge over the fast flowing Gilgit river is the largest
suspension bridge in Asia (182 metres long and 2 metres
wide) permitting enough room for one jeep at a time to cross.
ACCOMMODATION & RESTURANT
: Along
with its comfortable and well-furnished rooms overlooking
the green lawns and its popular restaurant which is also
the best in Town, the PTDC Motel offers Rent-a-Jeep, Curio
Shop, Satellite Television, Telephone, Fax and Laundry facilities..
NORTHERN PAKISTAN:
Northern Areas of Pakistan,
spread over 72,496 sq. km are as fascinating as its southern
region. Amidst towering snow-clad peaks with heights varying
from 1,000 m to 8, 000 meters, the regions of Gilgit, Hunza
and Baltistan recall Shangri-La. The cultural patterns of
these regions are as interesting as its geography. The people
with typical costumes, folk dances, music and sports like
polo, provide the traveller an unforgettable experience.
Nowhere is the world is such a great concentration of high
mountains, peaks, glaciers and passes except Pakistan. Of
the 14 over 8,000 meters high peaks on earth, 04 occupy
an amphitheater at the head of Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram
range. These are; K-2 (8,611 m, world’s second highest),
Gasherbrum-I (8,068 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m) and Gasherbrum-II
(8,035 m). There is yet another which is equally great,
Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), located at the western most end
of the Himalayas. In addition to that, there are 68 peaks
over 7,000 m and hundreds others over 6,000 meters. The
Northern Pakistan has some of the longest glaciers outside
Polar region; Siachen (72 km), Hispar (61 km), Biafo (60
km), Baltoro (60 km) and Batura (64 km).
SPORTS:
The favourite sport in Gilgit is polo
which local folks claim originated here. It’s more
rugged, free-style version than the sedate variety known
in the plains. The polo tournament held from 1st November
to 7th November is a festive occasion and draws a large
number of visitors.
ANGLING:
The
streams and lakes of Gilgit are full of trout. These are
at kargah Nullah 10 kms. from Gilgit, Singal 56 kms. Gakuch
73 kms. and Phandar 117 kms. from Gilgit. Permits for fishing
are issued by the Assistant Director, Fisheries, Government
of Pakistan, Gilgit.
TREKKING & HIKING:
Trekking
and hiking in the rugged mountains and verdant valleys of
Gilgit are allowed only in the "open zone" which
extends up to 16 kms. short of the control line on the Kashmir
border and up to 50 kms. short of the Afghan border. Guides
are available at PTDC Motel, Gilgit. However, applications
for obtaining permission to bring a trekking group for restricted
zone into the country should reach the Ministry of Tourism
by 31st December alongwith a map indicating the route within
three months of the expiry of the last date for the receipt
of applications. The names, passport numbers, place of issue,
must also be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism.
MOUNTAINEERING:
Around Gilgit are towering mountain peaks, waiting
to be scaled. Permits for mountaineering are issued by the
Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.
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Pakistan Motels
