Tour de Gilgit-Hunza

As the Eid-ul-Fitr 2017 vacations approached close, I had two options; either visit home or take a tour to the North. Hardly getting a week's vacation from the dreaded House Job, I decided that the prudent choice to beat the heat of Lahore and the exhaustion of endless medicine duties would be a visit to the exuberant valleys of Gilgit and Hunza.  We contemplated about either flying to Gilgit or travelling by road, but the best way to devour the natural scenery is by road and thus began our journey to Gilgit and Hunza. Our first stop was for lunch at Naran and this little valley was flooded with tourists as usual. After an hour's drive from Naran, awaits the majestic Lulusar lake. 
Lulusar Lake


The next stop is the well-known Babusar Top at an elevation of 13,690ft. We stopped for almost an hour at this place, clicked a few snaps and started our journey. The way down Babusar Top is too steep and one should take all the precautions while driving down this road.  
 


Our next stop was at Chilas, the first city of Gilgit-Baltistan. Even though it's located up in the north, the weather here was sweltering hot. While driving through Chilas, one can appreciate the view of the controversial Diamer-Basha dam. After almost an hour's drive from Chilas, begins the resplendent (and recently renovated) Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world. The sceneries almost begin to change once you are past Chilas. Some of the worth mentioning places here are, the small town of Bonji aka Home of NLI, the junction of the three highest mountain ranges, a splendid view of Nanga Parbat peak and several beautiful villages.  

Next stop, Gilgit city. Gilgit city is one of the most vibrant cities I have ever been to. Although a small city, the expansion is rapid here as it's the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and the major educational hub. Friends always come in handy when you have to visit their hometown. The people here are super amicable and having stayed at my friend's place gave me the opportunity to enjoy the famous Gilgiti hospitality firsthand. 
An aerial view of Gilgit city


The road from Gilgit to Hunza is one with the best  landscapes. The road here stretches along Hunza river and the majestic mountains are a treat for the eyes. We stopped at the riverside for it's a retreat for the locals. Here we tasted the local cusinie "Chap Shuro" aka Gilgit Pizza; a thorough treat for the taste buds. The  lushgreen valleys of Murtazabad along the way are famous for the cherries.
  


Upon entering the city of Aliabad, one can't help but appreciate the local culture. The locals put great emphasis on the cleanliness of their city and advise the same to tourists even though they have to be blunt sometimes for this rebuke. Karimabad, the tourist hub of Hunza, is at a 20 minutes' drive from Aliabad and this is where most of the tourists are concentrated. Some of the major attractions of KarimAbad valley are Serena Inn, Cafe de Hunza, Baltit Fort etc. Having met a local friend in Hunza was a blessing for he was the one who acted as the ultimate guide for this trip. To avoid the hustle and bustle of Karimabad, we decided to spend the night at Duikar which is almost half an hour drive from Karimabad. The Eagle's nest is one of the oldest hotels here and I highly recommend this place for stay.The Eagle's Nest gives the best view of Hunza and Nagar; the two districts being demarcated by the Hunza river. Some of the traditional dishes of Hunza are Tumoro herbal tea, dumplings  known as Mamtu and many more.
 
Baltit Fort 


Husseini Bridge - One of the most dangerous suspension bridges in Hunza-Nagar

The next day, we departed for Attabad lake. The best part of this journey is the Pak-China Friendship tunnels which stretch for almost 7 Kms. Attabad lake is one of the most visited tourist sites in Hunza. Stretching for almost 11Kms, this lake attracts many tourists who enjoy Jetski, boat cruising and a lot of other water sports. Having visited Attabad lake, we paid a short visit to Gojal and the village of Gulmit. On the way to Khunjerab, one can cherish the view of Passu cones and many other attractions.  
Passu Cones



                           


My visit to Gilgit-Hunza was one of the best in my life. I strongly suggest everyone to visit this land for once in life for the nice weather, the nice people and the beautiful sceneries here will make you forget about the hectic schedule back at home. 
P.S: Fellow tourists, please keep this area clean as this is the only request the locals make to the tourists. 😊😊

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 13, 2017 at 12:10 AM

    WOW 😍 Each place is so enchanting 💜💜💜

    ReplyDelete

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