Khaplu Valley

Khaplu ValleyUrdu is a valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Lying 103 km east of Skardu town, it was the second-largest kingdom in old Baltistan.

Ghanche District (Urdu: ضلع گانچھے‎) (Balti) is the easternmost district of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan. With its administrative headquarters in the historic city of Khaplu, Ghanche is famous as a tourist destination for its outstanding scenery and high altitude landscapes.

Geography

The 7,821 m (25,659 ft) tall Masherbrum as viewed from Surmo.
ghursay valley
Ghursay village in front of shyok river picture from sailing bridge
To its northeast is Xinjiang (China), to the north and northwest is Skardu District, to its southwest is Kharmang District and to its south is Ladakh of Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) at the easternmost part of Ghanche District is located across the Saltoro Ridge. Territory east of the AGPL is currently controlled by India including the entire Siachen Glacier. It has been proposed by moderates in Pakistan and India to make the Siachen Glacier region a Peace Park. Pakistan controls west of Saltoro Ridge.

The capital of Ghanche District is Khaplu. This region is the coldest place within Pakistan also called the “Third Pole” with temperatures reaching below -20 °C in the winter. Khaplu Valley and Hushe Valley form the gateway for the great Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of Karakoram that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), Gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and Masherbrum (7,821 m) (all of which are included in the Skardu District).