Pakistan’s Hunza Valley (Photo Essay)
High Literacy And Gender Equality in a Valley Flanked by Majestic Mountains and Glaciers
Pakistan’s Hunza Valley lies south of the China border along the Hunza River
Located in the far north of Pakistan, the Hunza Valley lies in the Gilgit–Baltistan region just south-southwest of the China border and southeast of the Afghan Wakhan Corridor. Stretched along the Hunza River at an elevation of 2,500 m on average, the valley is flanked by a few spectacular peaks higher than 6,000 metre, including Rakaposhi (7,788 m), Hunza Peak (6,270 m), Passu Peak (7,478 m), Bublimotin (Ladyfinger Peak) (6,000 m), Diran Peak (7,266 m), and Ultar Sar (7,388 m).
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The valley is dotted with quaint villages such Nasirabad in the Lower Hunza Valley, Karimabad in the Central Hunza Valley, and Gulmit in the Upper Hunza Valley. Some villages have ancient fortresses standing such as the Altit Fort in Altit Village and the Baltit Fort in Karimabad.
Apart from the spectacular peaks, glaciers, the river, and the quaint villages, the people of the Hunza Valley are quite friendly. Most of the inhabitants of the valley are Ismaili Shia Muslims and also followers of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV (a few small villages are mainly Shia Muslims). Many of these Ismaili Shia people are fair skinned and trace back their ancestors to Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan to the north.
The Lower Hunza Valley is home primarily to the Shinaki people who speak Shina while the Central Hunza Valley is mainly inhabited by the Burushaski speakers. In the Upper Valley (referred to as the Gojal Valley) are the speakers of the Wakhi and Burusho languages. Most of these people are very friendly and happily agree to be photographed, in stark contrast to some of the Shia and Sunni communities, in particular, those at the Fairy Meadows near Nanga Parbat Peak.
How to get to the Hunza Valley?
Fly from Islamabad up to the town of Gilgit where you will meet your guide who will drive you up to the Hunza Valley, and guide you around the villages, along scary paths up the mountains, across the glaciers, and straight to the apricot and cherry trees back down in the valley.
Flying over the Karakoram Highway (KKH) which is the highest paved international road in the world, north of Gilgit, Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Lower Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Baltit Fort, Karimabad, Lower Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Views over Karimabad, Lower Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Views of Karimabad from “Eagle’s Nest Hotel” in Duker Village, Lower Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Views of Rakaposhi Peak (7,788 m), Karimabad and Hunza River from “Eagle’s near Nest Hotel” in Duker Village, Lower Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Altit Fort stands in front of peaks near Ultar Peak seen from KKH highway, Lower Hunza Valley, PAKISTAN
Southern end of Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Bridge south of Passu Glacier, north of Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Passu Cathedral Peak, South of Passu Glacier, north of Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
South of Passu Glacier, north of Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
South of Passu Glacier, north of Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Around Passu Glacier, north of Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Passu Glacier, north of Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Around Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Crossing the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Girls in Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Girls in Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Girls in Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
An older lady in Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
A lovely family in Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Near Gulmit Village in the Upper Hunza Valley north of the Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Altit Fort near Karimabad, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
South of Karimabad, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Minapin Glacier at Rakaposhi Base Camp, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Minapin Glacier at Rakaposhi Base Camp, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Minapin Glacier at Rakaposhi Base Camp, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Minapin Glacier at Rakaposhi Base Camp, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Minapin Glacier at Rakaposhi Base Camp, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Minapin Village, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Campling next to Minapin Glacier at Rakaposhi Base Camp, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
Crossing Attabad Lake, Hunza Vallay, PAKISTAN
TRAVELER’S GUIDE: Nasir Ahmed, Gilgit, northern Pakistan
The Hunza Valley: A Paradise Of High Literacy And Gender Equality In a Remote Corner Of Pakistan