Pakistan is an immensely beautiful country spread over a widely diverse geographical area which allows it to witness all types of landscapes, whether it be lush green valleys, majestic mountain ranges, cold and hot deserts, or breathtaking hill stations. It is no wonder tourism in the country is rising slowly as people are becoming aware of the hidden gem of locations Pakistan holds. If we talk about Northern Pakistan, we have some of the tallest mountains in the world and the largest mountain ranges.
Pakistan has over 7,000 glaciers, more than a hundred above 7000-meter mountain peaks, and five (8,600 meters to 28,000 feet) of the world’s highest 14 standalone peaks most of which are found in the grand Karakorum Range (which is the second highest in the world). This is one of the reasons international mountaineers and hikers come to Pakistan to summit these peaks. The three major mountain ranges Karakoram, Himalaya, and Hindukush, have a convergence point located near Indus and Gilgit rivers in Jaglot.
In this article, we will discuss some of the top mountain ranges in Pakistan that are truly a wonder and you must visit them at least once in your life, especially if you live in Pakistan.
1. Himalayas:
The largest mountain range in Pakistan and the largest mountain range in the world is the Himalayas. Himalaya is home to the mighty Mount Everest and is located in the Kashmir valley. It is situated on the east of the Indus River and is dominated by Nanga Parbat. Although Himalaya runs across five international borders of China, Nepal, Bhutan, and India, the western part of the range is in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It is one of the major tourist attractions that lure hundreds of international climbers and adventure enthusiasts to Pakistan.
Elevation: 29,031.7 ft
Countries: China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan
Highest Peaks: Mount Everest
2. Karakoram:
The second highest mountain range in the world, the Karakoram Mountain range extends from the Himalayan range and is nestled between three international borders Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan), India (Ladakh), and China (Xinjiang). Karakoram range is also home to Mount Everest, which is the highest mountain on Earth. With over 60 peaks that are 7000 meters above, the Karakoram Mountain range is home to the deadliest mountain peak in the world, K2. It is also home to Siachen Glacier which is ranked as the second longest and Biafo Glacier, known as the third largest in the world, outside of the polar regions. K2 was named by a member of a European team, Thomas Montgomerie, who attempted to climb the Karakoram in 1856 for the first time. The peak was named K2 as it is the second one in the range although now, K2 is also known as “Savage Mountain” due to its difficult ascend and fatality rate of 25%.
Elevation: 28,250 ft
Countries: China and Pakistan
Highest Peak: Mount Godwin Austen (Everest)
3. Hindu Kush:
Located in the northwest of Pakistan and rising in the southwest of Pamirs is the Hindu Kush Mountain range. The eastern part of the mountain ranges is located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Hindu Kush can also be seen from Yasin Valley, Ishkoman, and Ghizar in the north of Pakistan. The mountain range was discovered in 1830 and the first successful attempt to summit it was made by a Norwegian team along with some Pakistani climbers in 1950. The highest peak of this mountain range is Tirich Mir (25,230 ft.) which is located in Chitral, Pakistan whereas, the second highest peak is situated at the Pak-Afghan Border named Noshaq (24,580 ft). The Hindu Kush is separated from the Karakoram range in the east of Pakistan by the beautiful River Indus.
Elevation: 25,289 ft
Countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan
Highest Peak: Tirich Mir
4. Nanga Parbat:
The ninth highest mountain range in the world is Nanga Parbat, which is also known as the ‘Killer Mountain’, as well as known as ‘Diamir’ by locals which means “King of the Mountains.” Nanga Parbat is located on the western side of the Himalayas, at the south of River Indus. The north side of the mountains drops 23000 feet into the River Indus. The severe weather conditions have caused more than 30 climbers to lose their lives on this deadly mountain. The first attempt to ascend was made in 1895 by Albert F. Mummery but resulted in his death. The first successful attempt was then made by Hermann Buhl in 1953.
Elevation: 26,660 ft
Countries: Pakistan
Highest Peak: N/A
These are the top most mountain ranges in Pakistan, some deadlier than others, their ascend is not so easy. Although some of the most famous mountain ranges in the world are found in Pakistan, due to the lack of prominence there are many more which have not been discovered yet. Pakistan is truly a wonder when it comes to mountains and you should visit one of these ranges at least once in your life to witness the majestic and scenic view.
