The Hunza Valley is in Pakistan, a country that according to the western media is almost a hell of fundamentalism. I do not know if it is the quietest place on earth but sometimes the media does not transmit rigorous information, and in the case of Pakistan there are many travelers who say that in truth, except for a part of the country, it is a very peaceful destination.
Needless to say that it is a country with many natural beauties and a lot of history, and the Hunza Valley is an example. A myth has weighed on him for some time: that his vegetarian diet makes him people live more than a hundred years and furthermore, that this is Shangri-la. Let's see what this is about.
The Hunza Valley
It's at northern Pakistan, 2.400 meters high, and it is formed by the Hunza River. This in Giglit-BaltistanToday an area under Pakistani control, mountainous and inhabited by just over a million people who are divided between the Burusho and Wakhi ethnic groups.
The capital of Hunza Valley is the city of Karimabad with mountains over seven thousand meters high. The landscapes are beautiful so if you like this do not miss the opportunity to visit this part of Pakistan. You will never forget it.
The valley is also one of the main stops on a mythical highway, the Karakoram Highway, or KKH, a route that runs around 1300 kilometers from Abbotabad in Pakistan to Kashgar in Xianjiang province in western China. The road is a 4.800th century civil engineering masterpiece and today is the highest international border in the world. It reaches XNUMX meters at the Khunjerab Pass.
You can rent a car or you can do it Bus. Long-distance buses from the Pakistani capital to the country depart from Rawalpindi, not from Islamabad, about 14 kilometers away. Here the bus station is huge and chaotic. There are two VIP buses and minibuses that leave from here at 4 pm and arrive at 6 pm the next day. There are about three stops to go to the bathroom and one to eat and the police stop the car several times so you have to show documents.
Gilgit is the largest city in northern Pakistan And even when you want to go to the Hunza Valley right now, the best and recommended thing is to stay here one night. Also, it is the only site with ATMs. Then it's time to hire a jeep or minibus to go to the valley. The trip is beautiful with views of mountains everywhere until you reach Aliabad, the main city of the Hunza Valley. From here you can take another jeep to Karimabad, another 20 minutes.
It must be said that Karimabad is more beautiful, it is above Aliabad and you have a beautiful view of the valley that allows you to appreciate the absolute beauty of this site. Finally, before talking about what you can do here, we must talk about the myth that weighs on the valley: that of the perennial youth. Much has been said that people here live for more than a hundred years and that those in their 60s seem to be 40 years old ...
It has been said that the cause of this is the vegetarian diet which are still based on raw fruits and vegetables, sprouted grains, pecorino cheese, almost no protein. You will read that they do not get sick, that they bathe in icy waters in winter and much more.
However today that myth has been demolished because a doctor, Jhon Clark, went to live with them for a whole year and then commented in his book that in fact people here register the same diseases as other populations in the area, that they are not managed with a strict calendar and do not calculate then his birth according to a date of birth but to the wisdom or leadership of the person, for example. Myth solved.
Of course, despite being a muslim people women have considerable autonomy and independence and are not forced to wear a veil. They are highly literate, have Caucasian features, and are very friendly, courteous, and tolerant.
What to do in the Hunza Valley
One of the first things to do is climb the mountains that surround the valley a bit and walk to the Eagle's Nest, a restaurant and hotel that is on one of the hills overlooking the valley. Local people claim to be able to climb in an hour but in truth it takes almost three hours on an extremely steep path. Worth it? Yes, the sunset view is phenomenal and dinner is worth it too.
For these beauties is that Karimabad is considered Shangri-la. You'll see ... Then yes, you can follow the road on the highway to the next stop, which is the Attabad Lake, just an hour away. The lake was formed very recently, in 2010, when there was a massive landslide that buried 19 kilometers of the road and killed 600 people.
The remaining lake is 21 kilometers long and 100 meters deep and can only be crossed in small boats that take 40 minutes. A pretty cool trip. Luckily the Chinese are working on another way to cross the mountain so in the future these boats will surely be the second option. In the future, today you still have to cross like this so you will see several jeeps and minivans on the coast waiting to continue their journey to the next stop on the Karakoram Highway, the small village of I pass.
In Passu, in season, you can climb the Cathedral cliff, a fantastic world-class mountaineering experience. Otherwise, here you can still choose to stay the night because there are a handful of guest houses and very friendly people. Finally, you can after follow the route to Sost, a typical border town, nucleus of the commercial exchange between Pakistan and China.
This jump from town to town can be done in a week to travel with time and calm, with time to appreciate the natural beauty and the friendliness of the local people. Obviously there is almost no internet anywhere, so it's also a good way to detox from tech-dependency.
The moments you spend in the Hussaini Bridge, in suspension, the crossing of the Step Glacier from which you can see a glacier intimidating you with cones that make it look like the cathedral of Barcelona, with Gaudí's signature, dinner at the Eagle's Nest With seven peaks in sight, the purchases you make in the Karimabad flea market with its carpets woven by local women and finally, why not, the safari flight that they offer you and you must accept to appreciate the Himalaya mountains, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram from up close ...
Information to keep in mind before traveling to the Hunza Valley
- You can fly to Islamabad and from there take another plane to Gilgit, a two-hour drive to Hunza. Or move on buses.
- To visit Pakistan it is necessary to process a visa at the Pakistani embassy in your country.
- There is not much accommodation in Hunza so reservations are required.
- The best time of the year to go is from April to October because in winter there are fewer flights and there is a lot of accommodation that closes its doors.