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Baltistan - A Northern Region Of Pakistan

Baltistan (Urdu: بلتستان) , also known as بلتیول (Baltiyul) in the Balti language, is a region in northern Pakistan, Kashmir, bordering Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. It is situated in the Karakoram mountains just to the south of K2, the world's second highest mountain. It is an extremely mountainous region, with an average altitude of over 3,350 m (11,000 ft). It is inhabited principally by Balti Muslims of Tibetan descent who converted from Tibetan Buddhism prior to the 16th century.

Baltistan was an independent state but was occupied by the Raja (King) of Kashmir in the nineteenth century.
Karakorum Highway and IndusBaltistan is often called "little Tibet". The adjoining territory of Baltistan forms the west extremity of Tibet, whose natural limits here are the Indus from its abrupt southward bend in 74 45 E., and the mountains to the north and west, separating a comparatively peaceful Tibetan population from the fiercer Aryan tribes beyond. Muslim writers about the 16th century speak of Baltistan as Little Tibet.

Baltistan is a mass of lofty mountains, the prevailing formation being gneiss. In the north is the Baltoro glacier, the largest out of the arctic regions, 35 miles long, contained between two ridges whose highest peaks to the south are 25,000 ft and to the north 28,265 ft.

The capital, Skardu, a scattered collection of houses, stands here, perched on a rock 7250 ft. above the sea. The house roofs are flat, occupied only in part by a second storey, the remaining space being devoted to drying apricots, the chief staple of the main valley, which supports little cultivation. But the rapid slope westwards is seen generally in the vegetation. Birch, plane, spruce and Pinus excelsa appear; the fruits are finer, including pomegranate, pear, peach, vine and melon, and where irrigation is available, as in the North Shigar, and at the deltas of the tributary valleys, the crops are more luxuriant and varied.

Baltistan, actually a complex of beautiful valleys, is situated amid the famous ranges of Himalaya and Karakoram, straddling the river Indus, between Ladakh and Gilgit. Some of the highest peaks of the world - Chogo-ri (K-2), Mashabrum (K-1) and Gashabrum group of peaks besides beautiful glaciers like Sia-chen, Baltoro, Biafo and Chogo-lungma are situated in this region. The dimensions of Baltistan have been fluctuating over the course of history. It is currently smaller than ever before, with an area of 17,000 km² and an estimated population of 4,00,000. Baltistan consists of six major valleys like Skardo, Rongdo, Shigar, Khaplo, Kharmang and Gultari. Baltistan presents a beautiful contrast of high peaks, deep gorges, straddling glaciers, vast deserts, sandy plains, turquoise blue lakes, colourful panorama, lush green oases and villages.

Baltistan consists of five valleys namely Kharmang (Kartakhsha), Khaplu, Skardu, Shigar and Rondu (Rongyul). Important villages include Kharmang, Tolti, Ghasing, and the beautiful valley of Mehdi Abad (Parkuta) in Kharmang valley.

Baltistan has two districts namely Skardu and Ganche districts of Baltistan.
Ghanche (Gangche) is the main part of Baltistan. Ghanche's population is about 0.5 million and purely Balti-speaking. 95 percent of the population belong to the sofi noorbakhshi sect. surmo, Khaplu, Ghwari,, Thaly, Brah, Chourbat, Saltro and Hushey are the main valleys of the district.
Surmo is the one of the most important region of Baltistan.it has much cultural heritage and civilization and Islamic values. Surmo consisted of the valleys of Tarkary, Khar, gund, Langkhun, chughugrong and Tishary, cumulatively it includes 800 houses and approximately 9000 population. At most large area of cultivated area and noncultivated area covered the 25%of the district areas. There are so many cultural symbols like rigalmo khar, surmo shagharun khar minduq sar (flower garden) and so many other attribute find like make picture on hill are the very old civilization the baltistan region which is the effect of the old chinese civilization. surmo is also a very old valley of Baltistan, to prove this point i must support the walnut trees in the region found with 150 years ago. Geographically is very important region with respect to military and other network of transportation. The biggest bridge named "surmo bridge" situated in surmo which linked siachen region with the district headquarters khaplu and also linked churbut velley as well. The people of this area are hardworking, honest in dealing. Unfortunately the most cultivated fields deprived due to river flood of shoyke river. The Young generation of the surmo struggling in education and deram of surmo as a modern village in future era. Therefore two NGOs named "AL-MUSTAFA WELFARE ORGANIZATION" and "AL-ZEHRA WELFARE FOUNDATION" are playing a vital role in various field of life like health care and emphasise on education as well as environment of the area. The above administrative divisions were created by the Government of Pakistan.

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