Northern areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq.Km.
are as fascinating as its southern region. Amidst towering
snow-clad peaks with heights varying from 1000 m to over
8000 meter, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu recall
Shangri-La. The cultural patterns in this region are as
interesting as its topography.
The people with typical costumes, folk dances, music
and sports like polo and buzkashi provide the traveler
an unforgettable experience. Nowhere in the world there
is such a great concentration of high mountains, peaks,
glaciers and passes except Pakistan. Of the 14 over 8000
peaks on earth, 4 occupy an amphitheater at the head of
Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram range. These are: K-2
(8611 m, world second highest), Broad Peak (8047m), Gasherbrum
I (8068m) and Gasherbrum II (8035m). There is yet another
which is equally great, that is, Nanga Parbat (8126m)
at the western most end of the Himalayas.
In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over 7000 m and
hundreds which are over 6000 m. The Northern Pakistan
has some of the longest glaciers outside Polar region;
Siachen (72 km), Hispar (61 km.), Biafo (60 km.), Baltoro
(60 km.), Batura (64 km.), Yenguta (35 km.), Chiantar
(34 km.), Trich (29 km.) and Atrak (28 km.). The lower
Himalayan valleys of Swat, Kaghan and Chitral in the Hindukush
range equally share the beauty and diverse culture of
the Northern Pakistan.