Gilgit Baltistan (Northern Areas of Pakistan) Or Balawaristan

Gilgit Baltistan:

Gilgit- Baltistan along with Chitral is the northern most area of Pakistan. Formerly known as the Northern areas, it is now a self- governing region with its own Assembly and High court. Home to the Karakoram Range, it covers 72,971 Sq. km, representing 9 percent of the total area; its population of about 1.8 million is 0.8 percent of the country’s total population. Gilgit Baltistan lies northern- east is china, and to its south east are the Lines of control and Azad Kashmir, further east is the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir Gilgit, with a population of 216,70, is the largest city as well as the capital of Gilgit Baltistan. The high literacy rate of this region, about 70 percent, is significant feature.

Historically this has been an important region, especially during the British raj. The geographical features of this region – high peak glaciers, scenic valleys and plains- make it a major tourist attraction.

Gilgit:

Gilgit is the headquarters of self-governing territory of Gilgit Baltistan, earlier known as northern areas. It is located at a height of 1454 meters; Gilgit is a picturesque tourist spot. Besides the scenic beauty of the Gilgit valley its self, a road goes north ward to the Hunza valley which is well known for its tourist attractions and southward is Ghizer district and valley of Hawaldar lalik Jan shaheed Pakistan army awarded Nishan-e-Haider to him for his bravery in war of kargel, Gilgit is linked to Islamabad by air, The karakoram Highway linking Pakistan and China through the khanjerab pass is very close to Gilgit . The main tourist season is from May to mid-October although tourists came around the year.