World's greatest concentration of lofty peaks and longest glaciers is nestled in this region. A 100 km thick wall of majestic mountains separates Baltistan from China in the north while Deosai Plateau lies between Baltistan and Kashmir. In the southeast is Ladakh and in the west Gilgit and Hunza. In this massively mountainous area, lie 60 peaks of above 7000 meters. Four of which are above 8000 meters, K2 (8611 m),Gasherbrum I (8068 m), Broad Peak (8047 m) and Gasherbrum II (8035 m).
These peaks stand admist the greatest concentration of glaciers outside Polar Regions, Siachen (76 Kms), Biafo (65 Kms) and Baltoro (62 Kms) glaciers. It is because of these features that Baltistan is called 'Trekker's Paradise'. For the resemblance of its sand dunes and deserted hills in the Indus Valley, Baltistan is also known as Little Tibet. Skardu, 2340 meters above sea level, is the capital of Baltistan and the gate way to majestic kingdom of mountain gods. It is the land of many contrasts and splendours offering unparalleled trekking and mountaineering opportunities in the world.
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| Ethnically Baltis belong to Tibetan, Caucasian and Mongol stock and their culture, customs and traditions are very close to Ladakh and Tibet. Balti language is a member of Tibeto-Burman group of languages. Baltistan together with Ladakh was known as Great Bolor. In the 8th Century, Tibetans invaded Baltistan and Bolor confederacy confined to Little Bolor, i.e. Gilgit and Chitral. Thereafter Baltistan remained divided in to three independent states of Rondo, Shigir and Khapulo until Maharaja of Kashmir forcibly annexed it with his state in 1840. This region remained under influence of Buddhism from 4th to 15th Century when Sufi saints preached Islam here. During Bolor era, Buddhism reached Tibet from Gandhara via Baltistan. Baltistan offers a wide range of mountain adventures including easy treks of 5 days to strenuous treks of three weeks in complete wilderness of ice and rock, easy climbings of peaks below 6000 meters to the challenging 8000 meter peaks and jeep adventures into the remote and unspoilt picturesque valleys. |
