Ghizar the land of lakes

Ghizar district comprises of several independent and isolated valleys including Puniyal, Gupis, Yasin, Ishkoman, Phander as distinct feature of each. It is rich with historical, cultural, archeological and natural beauty. It is located in the west of Gilgit the famous Shandur Chitral Road passes along the district with attractions of local villages and spectacular views of snow covering peaks, rivers and lakes all along the way. The people of the district are peaceful welcoming the visitors with warm hearts. There are hotels, guest houses and home stay facilities for the travelers to dine and stay in peaceful environment.

The district is unique because of geographical spread and connectivity as well as cultural diversity. Traditions, norms and values add to the beauty of the valley.  Trekking, mountaineering, culture tours, trout fishing and rafting in the Ghizar River is the most common attraction in the district.

The significance of the district is quadrupled by the Shandur Pass over which the historical and traditional polo festival is played between arch rival teams of Gilgit and Chitral every summer in highest polo ground of the world. Apart from this festival there are many local and national festivals are celebrated in the district with ancient cultural beauty in which the Tukhum Razzi (Seed Sowing) Festival of Yasin is one of the most interesting festival celebrated to the beginning of the Spring Season every year. Such as Yasin in the Ishkoman Valley it is also celebrated in the spring season and many other festivals are worth to visit for the visitors and culture lovers.

Ghizar district has great potential for trekking within the region and across the region to explore the natural beauty. There are more than 30 trekking area crossing passes from one valley to another valley with diverse culture of each valley. There passes easy to moderate and technical suiting to capacity of the people.

There are numerous peaks from 5000 meters to 6600meters for low altitude climbers and for those who want to climb in short time along with a trekking. There are many peaks waiting for climbers to scale and give a name that are unnamed yet.

 

Yasin Valley

Geographically, Yasin Valley of Gilgit Baltistan is the meeting point to the Central Asian countries in the Hindukush range of great mountains Gilgit Baltisistan, to the North east its borders connect with Ishkomman Valley which has long border along the Korumbar and Wakhan Corridor and Chilinji Pass to Chupursan upper Gojal,to the South its border connects with the Yarkun Vally of Chitaral district of NWFP now KPK to continue to Afghanistanse. Because of this geographical importance ancient invaders and conquerors used these passes to proceed to the Sub-Continent.

It was considered one of the remotest regions in Gilgit Baltistan but the modern technology and sacrifice of martyr (shaheed) Lalik Jan Nishan-e- Haider made it accessible in a short time by improving the road to Yasin, once it took eight hours from Gigit to reach there, but now it takes only four hours. The valley is very beautiful with spectacular views of the snowcapped mountains of Hindu Kush and passing through the beautiful villages of Punial and Gupis on the Shandur road leads to Chitral. The people of Yasin are unique in their hospitality as compare to any other part of Gilgit Baltistan. There is unique beauty for the travelers to enjoy their holidays. It has camping spots simple reasonable hotels to stay and easy and challenging trekking routes for trekkers and mountains for climbers (most of them are unclimbed yet). You can go on a day short trek or a month long trek from the valley crossing passes from a part to another part of the district.

Ishkoman Valley

The Ishkoman valley, running north to South to join the Gilgit Valley, divides the Karakorum Range from Hindu Kush. It was once the principality of Chitral when there was the Kingdom system before 1972. It incorporated to Pakistan by the same year. The valley is a junction of numerous trekking routes with beautiful landscape and amazing natural sceneries. The people here mostly speak the language of Chitral named Khowar. Some parts of it there people speaking Shina the language spoken in Gilgit and Punial. There are Wakhi speaking people in the valley too. Public vans are available from Gilgit city to every village of the valley either you can hire special transport if you want comfortable travelling to reach to end of the jeep road for chosen trek. The people are hospitable and always ready to help you when you travel in the valley. You will be invited to local summer houses (cottages) offering local dishes especially made of milk, as you know that people live on the high pasture with herds of their cattle during the summer season and you can experience unique culture of the valley that adds to the enjoyment of your holiday. Trekking in the valley is heart touching smooth paths and spectacular views of snow covering peaks and lush green camping sites with crystal clear spring water all along the treks. There are both kind of treks you have an option to go on easy trek or difficult one. The valleys has some of the beautiful lakes on your way to trek you come across the lakes, thick forest, rivers, glaciers and lush green meadows.

There are seven possible treks from Ishkoman valley to other valleys of Gilgit. One of the famous and the most interesting trek the Wakhan Corridor trek could be done from here. Apart from the six other open zone treks could be done on your own or with an organized tour agency. A five or six days trek starts from the village of Pakhora leads east towards Naltar Valley near to Gilgit across the 4,600 meters Naltar Pass. The 55 kilometers long trek begins in the village of Bilhanz goes up to the Korumbar River round west side Kozsar 6677 m peak to the Chilinji Pass 5,290 meters.

Another restricted zone trek as mentioned above option from the top of the Korumbar River is to go northwest to the northern most tip of Pakistan, skirting the border with Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan and across the Kurombar pass (4343 m) to Broghil, at the top of the Yarkhun River to the N.W.F. P now it is KPK.

The Ishkoman pass is well used by the locals to go to Darkot which is one of the remotest villages of Yasin with fantastic landscape.

There numerous snow covered peaks all along the treks below 6000 meters easy to climb during the trekking with very little climbing experiences, and there are some of the peaks demanding for technical climbers, most of them are unclimbed and unnamed still waiting for their names and explore. Most of the peaks are in a very easy access of one day or two days trek is required to base camps of the peaks.

 

Famous Treks in the Ghizar Valley

Ishkoman to Darkot over Panji 4600 m or Attar Passes 4700m (open Zone)

This trek takes five days in trek

Iskoman to Yasin over Asumber Pass 4300m (open Zone)

A four days easy trek

Ishkoman to Darkot over Kurmbar Pass (4100m) and Darkot Pass 4575m

Along Wakhan Corridor (Restricted Zone)

This is 12 days easy over Kurumber Pass and difficult Darkot Pass either you can continue                  down Chitral proceeding Yarkhun and Mastuj in the same trek.

Yasin to Yarkhun over Thoi Pass 4499m (open zone)

Either could be combined with Shah Janali Pass 4200 m to Sor Yarkhun

It is 6 days trek to Thui Pass and 10 days trek along with Shah Janali Pass.

Yasin to Punder over Nazbar Pass 4900 m (open Zone)

Yasin to Mastuj over Nazbar and Zagar Pass 5150 m open Zone)

It is 3 to 7 days trek with easy access over Nazbar Pass and strenuous over Zagar Pass

Darkot to Thui over Ghamubar Pass 4300 m (open Zone)

(A three days trek within Yasin Valley)