Places to remember while going to Baltistan Region, Pakistan

Skardu Baltistan 

Skardu is the main town of Baltistan region and the capital of Skardu District. Skardu is one of the major tourism, trekking and expedition hubs in baltistan. The town is sorrounded by grey-brown colored mountains and has beautiful lakes. Mountainous terrain of the region, including four of the wolid's fourteen, eight-thousander peaks (8000 m and above), attracts the attention of tourists, trekkers and mountaineers from around the world. Skardu vally is located in the 10 km wide by 40 km long.

K2 base Camp

K2 Base Camp Gondogoro Pass Trek is a circular trekking route in Baltistan region which connects Askole to Hushe region of Baltistan. There is an option to avoid Gongodor La and reach retrace back to Askole village however most trekkers prefer to cross the pass as it gives an immense adventure experience to the trekkers.

This 15 night 16 days trek is an adventure of the lifetime. Connecting four major places in Baltoro glacier; Hushe valle, Gondogoro La, and K2 Base Camp, this trekking route is a combination of adventure and nature’s wonders. Flying in to Skardu, explore the mountains and valleys around the towering peak, learn about the traditions and cultures of the famous porters.

Ghanche District

Gilgit-Baltistan's Ghanche district stands almost aloof with its beautiful valleys and settlements inhabited by the most hospitable locals and river irrigated lands.

The central location in the district is Khaplu, which is a beautiful landscape with high summits, flowing blue waters and waterfalls.

The people of this small settlement on the bank of River Shyok, are warm and loving, as they were centuries before, when travellers, wandering through Yarkand and Saltoro, first arrived here.

As soon as one leaves Skardu, a narrow, paved road with poplar trees lined up on both sides provides a soothing shade for the travellers as they make their way through small specks of sunlight filtering through the leaves; casting shadows on the darkened road, leaving an aesthete spellbound.

Shigar Valley

Shigar is one of those places where Everyone would love to go any time. The beauty is enchanting, specially the beautiful Shigar Fort and the Katpana Cold Desert. It's spellbinding.

Variety of gemstones In Shigar: 

A variety of gemstones is being mined in the Shigar valley, Skardu, Pakistan. These include beryl (goshenite and aquamarine), tourmaline (schorl), garnet (almandine–spessartine), apatite, topaz, fluorite, zoisite, clinozoisite, and axinite, mostly occurring in complex or zoned pegmatites and metamorphic rocks. These have been analyzed using electron probe micro-analyzer and X-ray diffractometer. The mineral chemistry of each gemstone is similar to its respective typical gemstone variety with homogenous chemical composition. Field and chemical characteristics suggest that beryl, tourmaline, garnet, apatite, topaz, and fluorite are occurring in zoned pegmatites which are largely formed by magmatic hydrothermal fluids in the cavities and vugs within the intermediate zone. However, zoisite, clinozoisite, and axinite may have a metamorphic and/or metasomatic origin.

Photographs of various gemstones from Shigar valley. a Goshenite and aquamarine from various pegmatites of the Shigar valley. The colorless, transparent crystals are of goshenite while the pale blue ones with rectangular prism faces are aquamarine; b A crystal of black tourmaline (schorl) from the Kashmol pegmatite, Shigar valley. Striations along the prism faces are visible; c a crystal of reddish brown garnet from the Yuno pegmatite mine. An aggregate of yellowish white calcite crystals from the same pegmatite is also shown; d an aggregate of light pink apatite crystals from the Yuno mine, Shigar valley; e Specimen showing an aggregate of light pink apatite, green fluorite, reddish garnet, and large books or sheets of muscovite from the Yuno mine, Shigar valley; f colorless, transparent crystal of topaz (∼1–2 cm across) from the Kashmol pegmatite; g three light green to green crystals of fluorite collected from pegmatite at Kashmol, Shigar valley; h a transparent light green fluorite crystal (∼2 cm across) represents the Yuno mine, Shigar valley; i two crystals of zoisite from Alchuri, Shigar valley; j an aggregate of dark brown crystals of clinozoisite from Hashupa, Shigar valley; k light brown to greenish brown crystals of clinozoisites (epidote), Alchuri, Shigar valley. A twinned crystal of clinozoisite can be seen near the top of the picture; l brown crystals of axinite from Alchuri, Shigar valley. 

          

                                                                                                                                              ~Zulfiqar Ali