Skardu District

The Skardu District is one of seven districts of Gilgit -Baltistan Autonomous Region (formerly Northern Areas ) of Pakistan. The district is located in the southeast of the Karakoram in the upper reaches of the Indus, east of Hunza and Gilgit district ), west of the Indian Ladakh and north of the West Himalaya.

The Skandu district is a barren mountainous landscape with four mountains over 8,000 meters high. In the town of Skardu is the head office of the Skardu District.

History

The founder Skardus was the last Buddhist ruler Bokha ( The Mute), which was replaced by the Islamization of the 15th century. Skardu was then fragmented by independent absolute rulers who ruled in different valleys and fight each other or allied. Beginning in 1842, they were ruled by the Hindu Dogras of Kashmir. The population of Baltistan, the people of Balti especially from Skardu was against this foreign rule and therefore closed in 1947 Pakistan. The abolition of local principalities took place in 1972.

Economy

In Skardu District of traditional cultivation of barley, millet and buckwheat is operated. The livestock consists of goats, sheep, chickens, yaks ( Tibetan cattle) and Dzos (cross between yak and lowland cattle). As it is raining, can be planted only on fields of the fertile flood plain of the side arms of the Indus or artificially developed and irrigated mountain terraces. The winter is long and hard, the average temperatures are -10 ° C, but can drop to -25 ° C.

In addition to the Gilgit District of Skardu District is an important area for trekking, expeditions and tourism in the region of Gilgit -Baltistan. The four eight-thousanders and a mountain landscape at high altitude, which are located in this district are visited from April to October by tourists. In winter, the district is partially cut off from the outside world since the passes can be icy and are destroyed by avalanches.

The town of Skardu is the starting point for tourists and climbers where their supply and demand for goods can be covered and accommodation facilities are available.

Location and Links

The Skardu District is bordered on the east by the Ghanche District, on the southeast by the Kargil district, in the north- east he comes close to the border of China, in Xinjiang. To the west is Astore District, in the south of Baramulla district and in the north bordering the Skardu District of Gilgit the district.

The Skardu District can be reached via an outgoing from the Karakorum Highway road through the Skardu valley. The Gilgit district is approached via the Hispar pass, nine months is not passable, however. Furthermore, there are road links to Kashmir and Ladakh. The town of Skardu can be reached via its own airport, the Skardu Airport.

Ethnic and religious

In this district the Balti, Pashtuns, Panjaber, Hunzukuc and Uyghur life that are of Muslim faith. But there are also people of other tribes who came to this district, as those who emigrated for example from Tibet and Afghanistan.

The religion was until 500 years, the Buddhists, a document here is the Buddha - rock in Skardu, before that it was the Bon religion. Now around 70 % Shiites who were evangelized by Kashmir, 25 % Nurbakshis, 4% of the Sunni Wahhabi missionaries from Saudi Arabia, going about their faith in the Mosque in Skardu.

Landscape

In Skardu District is a typical high mountain. The Deosai National Park with an area of ​​about 3,000 km ², which lies on a plateau at an altitude of 4,100 m, is the second highest national park in the world, after the Chang Tang in Tibet. In Skardi district live snow leopards, ibex, Himalayabär and wild horses.

There are several lakes such as lying near the city Kachura Upper Lake and the Lower -known Kachura Lake.

Mountains, glaciers and rivers

In Skardu District is located in the Karakorum. The highest mountain in the Skardu District is K2 8,611 m in the Baltoro Muztaghn. Other high mountains are the Broad Peak with 8047 m, the main summit of Gasherbrum I 8,080 m), Gasherbrum II with 8034 m and the Masherbrum 7,821 m.

The Biafo Glacier, the Baltoro Glacier, and the majority of the Hispar glacier are part of this district. The Skardu District shall notify the Indus into two parts, which is in the district of tributaries such as the Braldu River, fed.

Cities and passports

The lying in the district towns are next to Skardu, Shigar, Rondu, Kharmang, Parkutta and Gultari which is close to India at the Line of Control. The high mountain passes that lead into the Skardu District, are the Hispar Pass, the only pass connecting with the Gilgit district, and Gondoghoro Pass, these are merely unpaved airfields that are passable only with four-wheel vehicles.

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