Ghanche District

It is the eastern-most district of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is the coldest place within Pakistan as it is situated on the "third pole", with temperatures reaching below -20 °C in the winter. The Khaplu Valley and the Hushe Valley form the gateway for the great Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of the Karakoram Mountains^[6] that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), the Gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and Masherbrum (7,821 m).^[7] Overall less than half the area of district is covered by forests, and a major portion is permanently snow covered.^[8]

The word "gang" in the Balti language means "glacier", and '"che" is used as a superlative term to indicate "an abundance". The word is used by the residents of the Khaplu Valley in the name of the Ghanche Nallah, a seasonal stream which flows through the town of Khaplu during the summer season. When the Pakistani government elevated the status of the Ghanche Tehsil to that of a district, the people of the valley willingly selected the name "Ghanche".^[9]

The Ghanche District is divided into Six tehsils:

• Khaplu Tehsil
• Daghoni Tehsil
• Masherbrum Tehsil
• Chorbat Tehsil
• Ghowari Tehsil
• Keris Tehsil

The six tehsils are divided into 56 union councils, with each council containing many villages. Four villages of the Chorbat Valley were lost in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.^[10][11] Those were the villages of Chalunka, Thang, Turtuk, and Tyakshi. .^[12] Some of them are given in the chart below.

The majority of the people living in Ghanche District belong to Noorbakshia Sufi Islam, with the rest belonging to the Sunni and Shia sects. A religious leader locally called a "bowa" has a very important place in Ghanche society.

Ghanche is one of the most visited tourist destination in Pakistan. Famous places to visit in Ghanche are:^[14]

• Barah valley
• Chaqchan Mosque
• Hushe Valley (K2 Gateway)
• Thalay valley
• Yabgo palace Keris

This section may contain unverified or indiscriminate information in embedded lists. (September 2024)

• Aastana Mir Mukhtar Keris (Tomb)
• Balghar Ranga
• Crystal Lake Soga
• Dongsa Rock View Point Kuro
• Frano Border (Last village on Pakistan/Indian border)
• Gyari Yadgar e Shuhada
• Haldi Coneas
• Dumsum Valley
• Dumsum WaterFall
• Dumsum Rock Carving l
• Hot Spring Kondus
• Jerba So Keris (Lake)
• Keris Valley View Point (Chanma)
• Khashal Agri Tourism Park Ghowari
• Machulu Valley
• Mashbrum View Point
• Saling Spangtoq (Trout Fish)
• Thoqsi Khar Khaplu
• Yabgo Palace Khaplu (Sereena Palace)

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, Ghanche is ranked 29th out of 141 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 118th out of 155.^[15]

• Districts of Gilgit–Baltistan
• Constituency GBLA-24
• 2012 Gayari Sector avalanche
• Noorbakhshia
• Saltoro Ridge