HHAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 HUNZA

Year 2011 has end after leaving its strong positive impressions
on Pakistani tourism. Tourism industry of Pakistan has been
successful to attract the international tourists, especially from
Japan. Foreign tourists showed good amount of their interest
and confidence in visiting Pakistan as their travel destination. A
comparison study has indicated that following tours were most
popular among the tourists in the year 2011.
The most popular tours of this year was “Hunza Apricot
Blossom” All visitors were of the opinion that the breath taking
views of Hunza valley are at their best during the spring. The
high snow clad peaks surrounding the Hunza Valley are even
more spectacular when coupled with white and pink blossom of
apricot and Almond.
Silk Road Tours were equally admired by the tourists this year,


the Karakoram Highway along Indus, the views of Nanga Parbat, Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar and Muztagh
Towers, the crossing over the Khunjerab pass, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza and Karakul, the towns of
Abbottabad, Chilas, Gulmit, Tashkurgan and Kashgar are the highlights of these tours.
Pakistan is well known among the adventure lovers, trekking in Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindukush
Ranges reveal the hidden wealth of Pakistan. Baltoro Trek to K-2 BC, Nanga Parbat Trek to Fairy Meadows
and BC, the Trich trek to Trichmir BC and many others to the world famous peaks over eight to seven
thousand meters high proved to be the main attraction this year. Biafo-Hisper, Machlu La and Gondogoro-La
were also appreciated

hunza wood

Hunza Peak

Hunza Peak lies in the westernmost subrange of the Karakoram range along with the Ladyfinger Peak (Bublimating). It lies on the southwest ridge of the Ultar Sar
massif, the most southeasterly of the major groups of the Batura Muztagh. The whole massif rises precipitously above the Hunza Valley to the southeast.
Bublimating, while having little prominence above the saddle with nearby Hunza Peak, is particularly notable for being a sharp, relatively snowless rock spire among snow peaks.
This peak has at least two known routes, both climbed in 1991. Both routes where done in alpine style, the first by a Swedish expedition and the second by a British team, which included Caradog Jones and Mick Fowler.

The Aga Khan Silver Jubilee Band

The Aga Khan Silver Jubilee Band, Gulmit was established during 1990s. The main purpose of this band was to entertain the community during different events particularly during Salgirah programmes. During earlier time the people who were the member of Hunza Band Karachi trained the local youth. The office of the band is now in the first historical school building in Gojal. Presently Gul Bayaz is Captain of the band.

LIFE IN HUNZA

Hunzakuts are photogenic and look very attractive in their traditional dresses. Men wear baggy shalwar and qameez with a typical rolled woolen cap called pattu. A long coat or blanket is worn in winter. Women wear bright clothes: a long shirt over baggy trousers and an embroidered hat, over which they drape a shawl. They do not observe veil and work as equals in fields and homes. Hunzakuts get a little time for entertainment as they spend more time at work. Nevertheless, they celebrate many festivals of harvesting and sowing. They like to sing and dance at weddings. Their local orchestra consists of a big drum, kettle drums and pipes.


Hunzakuts are simple and contented. They still believe in fairies and supernatural powers. Their folk tales and songs are based on accounts of fairies. They are humble and hardworking. Fear, fatigue and crime are not known to them. Christine Osborne relates a very interesting incident to show the simplicity of life in Hunza,


"Out for a stroll, I passed an elderly woman struggling uphill with tins of sloshing water. Instinctively I took them, motioning her to lead as she hopped from rock to rock like a tiny ibex. Her small house stood on a cliff in upper Karimabad. It was clean, but lacked any comforts. She had a roof over her head, but with only a bedroll, a plate and mug, she owned little more than a nomad. Squatting on the dirt floor, she spoke through the usual boy interpreter. She lived alone, never wore shoes. And her age? 'Three hundred and ten', he said in perfectly accented English!"

Though exaggerated, longevity of the Hunzakuts is proverbial. In Hunza, one may come across many old people at the peak of their health. When asked their ages, they will not set it below ninety. One hundred is not a rare figure. However, according to the research of Dr. Muller Stellrecht, tales of people living great ages are not true. Some may survive to live seventy and even ninety years but tales of centenarians are false. Somehow, Hunzakuts are healthy and strong. It is largely due to their vegetarian diet of cereals and fruits. They do suffer from goiter, tuberculosis and bronchitis but mostly meet their natural deaths.


Hunzakuts live in gray mud-rock houses. Most of the houses have two or three stories. The people live in lower storey in winter and upper storey in summer. Usually, they do not keep windows or ventilators but a skylight in the roof. Houses face west with their backs to cold Ultar Glacier. Verandas and roofs are used for drying apricot and maize.

Cattle breeding and farming are popular professions in Hunza. Sheep, goats, yak and horses are domestic animals. Hunzakuts use sheep wool and goat hair to spin a rough cloth. This is used to weave caps and long coats. Traditions are still intact. Men spin goat hair and women only sheep's wool. Despite brief summer, industrious people of Hunza cultivate two crops a year. They work in terraced fields, which rise from the foot of hills to the top. Each terrace is walled with stones. Hunzakuts work long hours in their fields moving from one terrace to the other. One can count as many as thirty terraces in a single field.

Before the British occupation, a reasonable arms industry also existed in Hunza. Skillful craftsmen used to manufacture old muzzle-loading rifles. However, the profession is dying out slowly. Christine Osborne cites General Hamid's interesting description of the old rifles in these words:

"There is nothing like it in the rest of the world…The trigger is fixed somewhere near the end of the butt. When it is pulled, it brings down a big semi-circular hammer. The trigger and hammer are so situated that an inexperienced man using the gun might have his nose caught between the hammer and the butt… The owner of the gun has to carry such additional items required in connection with the firing… a pouch for the gunpowder, pieces of iron or garnets to be used as pellets, a piece of flint, an iron edge tightly secured in a wooden handle, cotton wool for wicks etc… A wick impregnated with a little powder is tied to the cocked hammer of the gun…When the trigger is pulled the dangling wick descends. When it correctly falls into the upper recess containing some powder, spark is produced which, traveling inward into the barrel, fires off the main charge. It will thus be seen that several conditions must get fulfilled before the gun can be made to fire… any bird or animal which allows itself to be shot with this gun deserves death… the animal must be either asleep, deaf…and requested to keep still for a few minutes while the whole process of shooting is gone through."

Hunza Adventure

Hunza, a remote mountain kingdom, may have been the inspiration behind James Hilton's "Shangri-La." The area opened up in the 1970s following the completion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH); an engineering marvel tracing the old silk route from Pakistan into China.

The fair skinned and light-eyed Hunzakuts claim to be descendants of soldiers lost from Alexander's army as he invaded India. Their language, Burushaski, provides linguists an enigma as it is unrelated to any other language known to man.

The beauty of this mountain paradise is matchless; from the soft blossoms of the apricot trees to the dark snowcapped rock monuments of Rakaposhi (7788 m.) and recently climbed Ultar (7388 m.) jabbing a vivid blue backdrop high above.

We begin our journey with a plane flight from Islamabad to Gilgit. If weather does not permit the flight, we will travel via the famous KKH. From Gilgit we proceed over the Karakoram Highway to Karimabad (2440 m.), capital of Hunza. En route Rakaposhi appears with its sheer ice covered walls to awe passersby.

One night is spent in Karimabad before we begin a brief, but strenuous walk to the base of Ultar Peak. We camp for two days on the high meadows overlooking Hunza valley and then return to Karimabad ready for our next adventure.

A short drive on the KKH takes us to Passu where we begin our trek on the Batura Glacier (63 km.). We spend about a week on the Batura; walking over rocks and sand laid between jagged peaks, through pine strewn hills with occasional wild roses, to high shepherd meadows with staggering views of the Batura massive and the largest ice fall in the world. The people in this area are of Persian/Turkish origin and speak a language with ties to Persia. The Wakhi people are very hospitable with bright pink cheeks topping a ready smile.

The last segment of this journey begins with our return to Passu or Gulmit village. After an overnight rest there, we drive on the KKH to the Khunjerab Pass (4833 m.) on the border between China and Pakistan. After enjoying the rolling green highlands, we return the same day to Karimabad. An overnight stay in Karimabad and then on to Gilgit by means of the KKH.

The last leg of our trip takes us back to Islamabad by plane or road depending on the weather. The Hunza adventure is a grand introduction to the mountains of Pakistan. The traveler follows the most spectacular segment of the ancient silk route through an enchanting mountain kingdom to Pakistan's border with China. The Batura Glacier provides a glacial excursion with less difficulty than either the Baltoro or Biafo-Hispar glacial traverse.

Detailed Itinerary - Hunza Adventure

Day 1, Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Hotel, trek briefing. We will have ample time for sightseeing and shopping in colorful old bazaars of Rawalpindi and new markets of Islamabad. We may also drive to the huge modern Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

Day 2, Gilgit (1,500 m 4,920 ft)

Hotel, flight. One of the most thrilling mountain flight in the world. We will fly in a Fokker Friendship turboprop plane which seats about 40 people. The plane flies at an altitude of about 4,500 m. in the Indus valley. It is surrounded by high peaks including Nanga Parbat (8,125 m.). In Gilgit we have time to shop and do some sightseeing.

Day 3, Karimabad (2,440 m 8,000 ft)

Hotel, drive. This is a 3 hour drive into the heart of the Hunza valley. Rakaposhi (7,788 m.) towers above the KKH. Hunza valley is a Shangri-La!

Day 4, Ultar (3,600 m 11,800 ft)

Camp, trek. Today we will climb up to the Ultar meadows over looking the Hunza valley. This is a brisk and steep climb behind Baltit Fort. It takes about 4 hours of trekking.

Day 5, Ultar (3,600 m 11,800 ft)

Camp, rest. Nice day just to relax in the beautiful surroundings. We can mingle with the shepherds here. The mica Ultar Glacier lies in front of us and the Ultar peaks along with ‘Ladies Finger’ towers above us.

Day 6, Karimabad (2,440 m 8,000 ft)

Hotel, trek. After our quick two day trek up the Ultar Meadows we now return to Karimabad. This gives us a day to relax and shop in local bazaars.

Day 7, Pasu (2,400 m 7,870 ft)

Hotel, jeep. A short couple of hours drive up the KKH brings us to the village of Pasu. The view of Tupopdan needles towering above the Hunza river in Pasu is breathtaking. In the afternoon we have time to walk in the old village.

Day 8, Yunzben (2,700 m 8,860 ft)

Camp, trek. The Batura Glacier trek begins. It takes about 4 to 5 hours walking on dusty trails at the snout of the huge Batura Glacier. The Batura is even longer than the famous Baltoro Glacier in the K2 region.

Day 9, Yashpirt (3,100 m 10,170 ft)

Camp, trek. Today we diagonally cross the Batura Glacier. This is a tiresome day with lot of walking on rocks and the moraines of Batura. Yashpirt is a beautiful high meadow with many shepherd huts and fantastic views of the Batura peaks and the famous Batura ice fall across the glacier from us. We can also see Distaghil Sar (7,885 m.) from here. Distaghil Sar is the highest most western mountain in Trans-Himalayan and one has to go around the globe to come back to the eastern Himalaya to find such high peaks. Today’s walk takes about 6 to 8 hours.

Day 10, Guchashim (3,400 m 11,160 ft)

Camp, trek. This takes about 4 to 6 hours and involves crossing mountain streams. On the way we see families from Pasu with their yaks, sheep and cows in their summer homes. On our right is the ever present huge Batura massif wall.

Day 11, Guchashim (3,400 m 11,150 ft)

Camp, rest. We have ample time to wash, read and just explore the beautiful and awesome environment. Some go a little higher for a day hike to visit a side valley.

Day 12, Yashpirt (3,100 m 10,170 ft)


Camp, trek. Return to Yashpirt camp.

Day 13, Yunzben (2,700 m 8,860 ft)

Camp, trek. Return to Yunzben camp.

Day 14, Pasu (2,400 m 7,870 ft)

Hotel, trek. Return to Pasu for some rest.

Day 15, Karimabad (2,440 8,000 ft)

Hotel, jeep. Leaving early morning by jeep we proceed to the famous Khunjerab Pass (4,833 m.). After touching China at the highest paved border crossing in the world where the Pamirs meet the Karakoram we return to Karimabad on KKH. We arrive back in town in the late afternoon.

Day 16, Gilgit (1,500 m 4,920 ft)

Hotel, drive. We return to Gilgit and have ample opportunity to visit the Central Asian bazaars and do some sightseeing.

Day 17, Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Hotel, flight and trek debriefing. Here we go again and find ourselves looking forward to being on this world famous flight. One can never get enough of the sight of Nanga Parbat which is so huge that the plane takes about ten minutes to cross its northern face!

Note: On day 17, if the weather is bad and flights are canceled then we will leave Gilgit by road on KKH to return to Rawalpindi/Islamabad. This will be a long day and we will arrive back in Rawalpindi/Islamabad sometimes during late evening of the same day. On the other hand the flight takes under 2 hours.

This is a tentative itinerary. For the enjoyment of your trip a ‘go with the flow’ attitude is necessary. Many factors will influence your trip, such as weather conditions, health, route conditions, etc. Please do not take this itinerary very seriously!

Hunza Guide Line

the guide line to the tourist from all over the world that how to get to the hunza valley is as follows.
if tourist enters the islamabad airport then either he should buy a air ticket if he or she wants to fly to the gilgit or else if anybody wants to get to gilgit or hunza by road then he has to buy a ticket of bus which is approx Rs 2100 from rawalpindi to hunza,after buying the ticket the bus leaves rawalpindi at 2.00 pm for hunza. the bus travels through KKH and passes through different cities of KHYBER PAKHTUN KHWA province.it takes almost 18-20 hrs to reach Hunza because of the rough road and the maintainence of Karakurum Highway.After 20 hrs of journey it enters the land of beauty called as HUNZA. In Hunza the karimabad is the most visited place which is the capital of Hunza and where most of the tourist stay and dine. if you want to have a stay at a hotel then you need to think that which hotel you want to stay at. there are many hotels of different range. the range is from 200-4500 and it depends on the different qualities of the hotels.