Karakoram Highway

Coordinates: 35°36′N 74°39′E / 35.600°N 74.650°E / 35.600; 74.650
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

35°36′N 74°39′E / 35.600°N 74.650°E / 35.600; 74.650

National Highway 35 shield}}
National Highway 35
قومی شاہراہ ٣٥
Karakoram Highway
شاہراہ قراقرم
Asian Highway
Maintained by
National Highway Authority (Pakistan) and Transport Department of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (China)
Length1,300 km (810 mi)
Pakistan: 887 km (551 mi)
China: 413 km (257 mi)
Existed1966–present
HistoryCompleted in 1979, open to the public since 1986
Major junctions
North endChina Kashgar, Xinjiang, China
China National Highway 314 (Khunjerab Pass–Kashgar–Ürümqi)
ChinaPakistan Khunjerab Pass
Major intersections35 N-35
N-15 N-15
South endPakistan Hasan Abdal, Punjab, Pakistan
Location
Country
Tashkurgan, Upal, Kashgar
Highway system
Map
Karakoram Highway
Chinese name
Hanyu Pinyin
Kālākūnlún Gōnglù
The Karakoram Highway
Aerial View of The Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway (

national highway which extends from Hasan Abdal in the Punjab province of Pakistan to the Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan, where it crosses into China and becomes China National Highway 314. The highway connects the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plus Gilgit-Baltistan with China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The highway is a popular tourist attraction and is one of the highest paved roads in the world, passing through the Karakoram mountain range, at 36°51′00″N 75°25′40″E / 36.85000°N 75.42778°E / 36.85000; 75.42778 at maximum elevation of 4,714 m (15,466 ft) near Khunjerab Pass.[1][2][note 1] Due to its high elevation and the difficult conditions under which it was constructed, it is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.[3][4][5] The highway is also a part of the Asian Highway AH4
.

History

Aerial view of Karakoram highway (Credit: hunzographer)

The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Friendship Highway in China, was built by the governments of Pakistan and China. It was started in 1962 and was completed and opened to the public in 1978. Pakistan initially favored routing through

landslides and falls, while building the highway. Over 140 Chinese workers who died during the construction are buried in the Chinese cemetery in Gilgit.[8] The route of the KKH traces one of the many paths of the ancient Silk Road
.

On the Pakistani side, the road was constructed by

FWO (Frontier Works Organisation), employing the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers. The Engineer-in-Chief's Branch of the Pakistani Army completed a project documenting the history of the highway. The book History of Karakoram Highway was written by Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Mumtaz Khalid in two volumes. In the first volume, the author discusses the land and the people, the pre-historic communication system in the Northern Areas, the need for an all-weather road link with Gilgit, and the construction of Indus Valley Road. The second volume records events leading to the conversion of the Indus Valley Road to the Karakoram Highway, the difficulties in its construction, and the role of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers and their Chinese counterparts in its construction.[9]

The Highway

Jingle trucks
on the Karakoram Highway.

The highway, connecting the

N-5, at Hasan Abdal
, Pakistan.

The highway cuts through the

Indian plates, where China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan come within 250 km (160 mi) of each other. Owing largely to the extremely sensitive state of the Kashmir
conflict between India and Pakistan, the Karakoram Highway has strategic and military importance to these nations, but particularly Pakistan and China.

On 30 June 2006, a

State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
(SASAC) to rebuild and upgrade the Karakoram Highway. According to SASAC, the width will be expanded from 10 to 30 m (33 to 98 ft), and its transport capacity will be increased three times its current capacity. In addition, the upgraded road will be designed to particularly accommodate heavy-laden vehicles and extreme weather conditions.

China and Pakistan are planning[

Balochistan through the Chinese-aided Gwadar-Dalbandin railway, which extends to Rawalpindi
.

On 4 January 2010, the KKH was closed in the

Karimabad created the potentially unstable Attabad Lake, which reached 22 km (14 mi) in length and over 100 m (330 ft) in depth by the first week of June 2010 when it finally began flowing over the landslide dam. The landslide destroyed parts of villages while killing many inhabitants. The subsequent lake displaced thousands and inundated over 20 km (12 mi) of the KKH, including the 310 m (1,020 ft) long KKH bridge 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Gulmit.[10][11][12]

It is highly questionable whether the lake, which reached 27 km (17 mi) in length in 2011, will drain. Goods from and to further north were transported over the lake by small vessels, to be reloaded onto trucks at the other end.[13] In July 2012, Pakistan began constructing a revised route around the lake at a higher elevation with five new tunnels, with a total length of 7.12 km and two new bridges. The work was contracted out to the China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and was completed in September 2015.[14]

Pakistani section

Milestone near Besham in Pakistan.

At 806 km (501 mi) in length,

glaciers in Karakoram can be seen in this section. The highway meets the Pakistani-Chinese border at Khunjerab Pass
.

Karakoram Highway reconstruction

Main article: Reconstruction of the Karakoram Highway
Highlighted in red is the route of National Highway 35, which is to be completely rebuilt and upgraded under the CPEC agreement. Highlighted in blue is the 175 km (109 mi) road between Gilgit and Skardu which is to be upgraded to a four-lane highway.

As part of the $46 billion

M1 motorway will intersect the Karakoram Highway. From there, access onwards to Islamabad and Lahore continues as part of the existing M1 and M2 motorways, while Hasan Abdal will also be at intersection of the Eastern Alignment, and the Western Alignment which will lead towards the port city of Gwadar
.

Karakoram Highway Realignment (China-Pakistan Friendship Tunnels)

A large section of the highway was damaged by a landslide in 2010 that created Attabad Lake. The resulting landslides cut off both the Hunza River and Karakoram Highway resulting in the formation of the reservoir. Prior to the completion of the bypass, all vehicular traffic had to be loaded onto boats to traverse the new reservoir. Construction of the tunnels began in 2012 and required 36 months for completion. The 24 km (15 mi) long series of bridges and tunnels was inaugurated on 15 September 2015 at a cost of $275 million[clarification needed] and was hailed as a major accomplishment.[16][17] The route comprises five tunnels and several bridges. The longest tunnel is 3,360 m (11,020 ft), followed by 2,736 m (8,976 ft), 435 m (1,427 ft), 410 m (1,350 ft) and 195 m (640 ft), while the Shishkat Great Bridge on Hunza River is 1,480 m (4,860 ft) long. The realignment restored the road link between Pakistan and China.

Chinese section

China
.
Karakoram Highway near Juglot, where three mountain ranges meet
Construction of Karakorum Highway, Chinese section, August 2005

The Chinese section of the Karakoram Highway follows the north-south Sarykol ("Yellow Lake") valley just west of the

Tashkurgan. Further south, a valley and jeep track leads west toward the Wakhjir Pass to the Wakhan Corridor. Next the road turns west to a checkpost and small settlement at Pirali, and then the Khunjerab Pass, beyond which is Pakistan, the Khunjerab River and Hunza
.

Major towns near Karakoram Highway

KKH passing through Passu in Pakistan.
  • gauge

Tourism

In recent years the highway has sought to become a 'niche' adventure tourism destination although Pakistan attracts few international tourists compared to domestic ones. But in recent years, owing to the improved security situation in the country, the number of foreign tourists[18] coming to Pakistan has more than tripled since 2013, standing at 1.75 million in 2016.[19]

Among the tourist destinations in the country, KKH

Pakistan administered Kashmir.[22]

The Gilgit–Baltistan Administration of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Xinjiang Administration of China have signed an agreement to issue border passes to their permanent residents. This pass is valid for a calendar year and is used to travel through Khunjerab Pass only. Karakoram Highway has been described as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. KKH provides a cross country road trip from Hasan Abdal, Pakistan to Kashghar.[23]

Naltar Valley[24] is one of the most scenic valleys accessed via Karakoram Highway. The valley offers snow clad mountains, sky high peaks, alpine ski slopes, high altitude lakes, glaciers and mountain passes. Bishgiri Lake is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan. While Pakora Pass is famous for its glaciers and meadows.

Mountains and glaciers

Karakoram Highway in Akto County, Xinjiang
KKH along the Indus River, 2001.

Karakoram Highway provides the pathway to expeditions for almost all peaks in

Gilgit–Baltistan, Kashmir and several peaks in Xinjiang China. The region includes some of the world's largest glaciers like the Baltoro and Siachen Glaciers. Two of the Eight-thousanders (mountains taller than 8,000 m (26,000 ft)) of the world that are in Pakistan
are accessible by the highway. The notable mountains that can be directly seen while travelling on the highway are:

  • Nanga Parbat, Gilgit–Baltistan, 9th highest of the world at 8,126 m (26,660 ft)
  • Rakaposhi, Gilgit–Baltistan, 27th highest of the world at 7,788 m (25,551 ft)
  • Diran, Gilgit–Baltistan, most dangerous mountain in Pakistan
  • Shishpar, Gilgit–Baltistan
  • Ultar Peak
    , Gilgit–Baltistan
  • Tupopdan, Gilgit–Baltistan, also known as Cathedral Peaks near Passu

Many glaciers can be seen while travelling on the highway:

Rivers and lakes

Several rivers and lakes are made accessible by the highway. These include:

Rock art and petroglyphs

Main article:
Northern Areas, Pakistan § Rock art and petroglyphs
On the Karokoram Highway near Chilas.

There are more than 50,000 pieces of rock art and

pilgrims who passed along the trade route, as well as by locals. The earliest date back to between 5000 and 1000 BC, showing single animals, triangular men, and hunting scenes in which the animals are larger than the hunters. These carvings were pecked into the rock with stone tools and are covered with a thick patina
that yields their age.

Travel

There are several transport companies in Pakistan that offer bus service between major towns of the highway and from Rawalpindi and Lahore. The largest company is Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO). Other companies are Masherbrum Travel, Silk Route Travel, K-2 movers, Anchan Travel, and Saeed Travel.

Bus service between Gilgit and Kashghar

On 1 June 2006, daily bus service began between

Gilgit–Baltistan, and Kashgar, Xinjiang, through the Sust and Tashkorgan border area.[25]

Climate

Landslides, particularly during the rainy season, sporadically disturb the traffic for several hours.
Karakoram Highway ahead of Juglot, Gilgit

The KKH is best travelled in the spring or early autumn. Heavy snow during harsh winters can shut the highway down for extended periods. Heavy

landslides that can block the road for hours or more. The border crossing between China and Pakistan at Khunjerab Pass
is open only between 1 May and 31 December.

Alternate road (Xinjiang-GB-Azad Kashmir road)

The proposed Xinjiang-GB-Azad Kashmir road would be linked to

Neelum Valley in the Azad Kashmir
region.

See also
Karakoram Highway view from Altit fort, Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan

Notes

  1. ^ It can be argued that the Chile Route 27 is international since it connects to Argentina and it is 4,810 m (15,780 ft).

References

  1. ^ "Karakoram Hindu Kush". Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  2. ^ Lonely Planet Karakoram Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "World record highways – Karakoram". Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  4. ISBN 978-0801422201
    .
  5. ISBN 978-9231041327. Archived
    from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  6. ^ 刘欣 (3 May 2013). "重寻玄奘之路" [Rediscover the path taken by Xuanzang] (in Chinese). 东方早报. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2017. 1966年，时任新疆军区副司令员的张希钦在主持修筑中巴公路时，为避敌国空袭，放弃了巴方主张的走宽阔的明铁盖达坂的方案，而取道地势高峻的红其拉甫山口。 [In 1966, when Zhang Xiqin, then deputy commander of the Xinjiang Military Region, was presiding over the construction of the China-Pakistan Highway, in order to avoid enemy air attacks, he gave up the plan advocated by Pakistan to take the wide Mingtie Gaida Ban, and instead took the high-terrain Khunjela. Fushankou.]
  7. ^ 25th Anniversary of the Karakoram Highway (1978–2003) Archived 28 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine". Pakistan Post Office, 16 May 2006. Retrieved on 10 July 2006.
  8. ^ Li, Keqiang (23 May 2013). Making New Progress in Growing China-Pakistan All-Weather Friendship (Speech). fmprc.gov.cn. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017. Near the city of Gilgit, there is a Chinese cemetery where over 140 Chinese workers who lost their lives in the construction of the Pakistani section of the Karakorum Highway (KKH) are buried.
  9. ^ Muhammad Mumtaz Khalid (13 June 2013). "History of KKH". www.historyofkkh.info. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2023 – via web.archive.org.
  10. ^ "Thousands at risk due to Hunza river blockade". Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  11. ^ "Search Results rising water threatens villages in hunza ss | Latest news, Breaking news, Pakistan News, World news, business, sport and multimedia | DAWN.COM". Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  12. ^ "Blockage of Hunza river, Landslide blog written by Shakeelgilgity, Gilgit-Baltistan". Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  13. ^ Landslide cuts crucial China-Pak road link, hits military supplies – Indian Express
  14. ^ Khan, Asghar; Khan, Zulfiqar Ali (27 June 2015). "KKH Re-Alignment: 94% work on the project completed so far, remaining to be completed by Sep. 25 this year". Pamir Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015.
  15. ^ "route distance". Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  16. ^ "PM Nawaz inaugurates Pak-China Friendship Tunnels over Attabad Lake". 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  17. ^ "PM inaugurates tunnels over Attabad Lake in G-B". 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  18. ^ shuaib (18 August 2019). "Road Trip on Karakoram Highway". Mehmaan Resort. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  19. ^ "Foreign tourists to Pakistan more than triple since 2013". Dawn. 30 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  20. ^ shuaib (18 August 2019). "Hunza Valley: Insight into Colors". Mehmaan Resort. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  21. ^ Windsor, Antonia (17 October 2006). "Out of the rubble". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  22. ISBN 0-86442-709-3
  23. ^ Karakoram Highway, Road Trip. "Karakoram Highway Cross Country Road Trip". www.skardu.pk. Skardu.pk. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  24. ^ shuaib (18 August 2019). "Naltar Valley: Heaven on Earth". Mehmaan Resort. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  25. DAWN Newspaper. 23 March 2006. Archived from the original
    on 15 February 2009.
  26. ^ "Will a new road between China and Pakistan lead to a military boost against India?". 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. ^ "India-China Bhai Bhai revisited]". India Global. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Karakoram Highway.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karakoram Highway.
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