At an elevation of 1,454 meters lies the Gilgit Valley. The quaint little town of Gilgit has spectacular scenic beauty. The peak tourist season is from May to October, though visitors come all year round.
In May temperatures range from a minimum of 16 °C to a maximum of 33 °C; in September, from 11 °C to 28 °C.
Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. Its ancient name was Sargin, later Gileet — as local people still call it — and in Burushaski it is Geelt. Together with Skardu it is one of the two great hubs for expeditions to the Karakoram and the western Himalaya, and the Karakoram Highway passes just outside the town on its way to Hunza and China.
Is Gilgit Valley right for you?
- Suggested time
- 1 – 2 days, usually as a stop on the way north
- Activity level
- Easy, with optional day trips to Naltar or Kargah
- Best for
- A base for Hunza, Skardu and Naltar; polo fans in early November
- When to go
- May – October
Combines well withHunza ValleySkardu ValleyKaghan Valley
Compare Gilgit Valley with another destination →Places to see
Kargah Buddha
A beautiful 7th-century rock carving of the Buddha at the mouth of the Kargah Nullah, 10 km from Gilgit town.
Taj Mughal Monument
A victory monument built around 700 years ago, a 30 km jeep drive from Gilgit.
Gilgit River Suspension Bridge
At 182 meters long and 2 meters wide, one of the longest suspension bridges in Asia — room for one jeep at a time.
Sher Qilla
40 km from Gilgit, on a trekking route linking with the Nathar valley. Trout fishing in the Sher Qilla Nullah and a small lake.
Gahkuch
Headquarters of Ghizar District and gateway to the Iskoman valley — ideal for trekking, fishing and duck shooting in season.
Naltar Valley
Three hours’ drive from Gilgit: lush alpine forest, small lakes and glaciers, trout fishing and a ski slope.
Meeting of the mountains
Near Jaglot, south of Gilgit, the Gilgit river joins the Indus at the point where the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush ranges meet.
Good to know
- History
- Gilgit’s early rulers carried the title of Ra. Local legend tells of Shri Badat, a cruel king overthrown by the prince Azur Jamshid, who married his daughter and founded a new line — an event still remembered each new year with a juniper procession along the river. The Trakhan dynasty ruled Gilgit until about 1810. After decades of war between neighbouring princes, Gilgit passed to the Dogra rulers of Jammu and Kashmir under the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, and in 1877 the British set up the Gilgit Agency to guard against Russian expansion. On 1 November 1947 the people of Gilgit rose against Dogra rule and the region joined Pakistan.
- Polo
- Polo, which local people claim originated here, is Gilgit’s favorite sport — a more rugged, free-style version than the game played in the plains. The tournament held from 1st to 7th November is a festive occasion that draws many visitors.
- Angling
- The streams and lakes of Gilgit are full of trout — at Kargah Nullah (10 km), Singal (56 km), Gakuch (73 km) and Phander (117 km). Fishing permits are issued by the Fisheries department in Gilgit.
- Trekking & mountaineering
- Trekking in the mountains and valleys around Gilgit is allowed in the “open zone”, which stops short of the Line of Control and the Afghan border. Towering peaks surround the town; mountaineering permits are issued by the Ministry of Tourism in Islamabad.
- Getting there
- By air from Islamabad, weather permitting, or by road along the Karakoram Highway — in summer also over the Babusar Pass through the Kaghan valley.
Header photo: The Gilgit river and Gilgit city — Ahmed Zohair, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons