| While exploration of the Karakoram only started in the 19th century, the
ranges of this area have an old and fascinating history, one that is only
completely understood when surrounded by the awesome power of the Karakoram.
From Alexander the Great in 327 BC to Changhiz Khan, the Karakoram has been
influenced by the experiences, traditions, beliefs, languages, and culture
of some of the most powerful and legendary rulers and empires. And through
this process it has become a legend of its own. Silk and species traveled from China and India to the West on the Silk Route, an essential route for trade in Central Asia. This is now the Karakoram Highway (KKH), and links Islamabad to China's legendary city of Kashgar. This road is 1300 km long and has opened up an ancient world for the curious traveler. This awe-inspiring highway, which opened in 1986, took over twenty years to complete and cost both Pakistan and China over a thousand lives in the process. The Karakoram can be traced from the Ishkoman River and along Pakistan's border with China into India. On the west of the Karakoram is the Hindukush and on the east the Himalayas. The most number of peaks over 7,000 meters can be found here - all situated in South and Central Asia. Among them, the ever famous and ever daunting K2. This is not only the second highest peak in the world, but also the most feared. Pakistan's trekking areas are in the NWFP (North West Frontier Province) and the Northern Areas of the country. Chitral is NWFP's main trekking area while the Northern areas have Ghizar, Gilgit, Diamir, Skardu, and Ghanche. The Karkoram offers the highest peaks, rolling valleys, and the worlds biggest glaciers outside of the poles. These ranges are tough and demand the most out of the traveler. Trekking here requires survival instincts, self-reliance, ability to work with others, and above all a great deal of fitness, even more so than the Himalayas. |
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