A quaint little town of scenic beauty nestled at an elevation of 1,454 meters, the Gilgit Valley is a great tourist attraction in the northern region of Pakistan, which is known for its picturesque views and extreme natural beauty. The region is also famous because three major Asian mountain ranges, namely the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindukush meet here. The best time to visit Gilgit Valley is between the months of April to October. Flying in to Gilgit from Islamabad is the most feasible option as it takes only an hour and a half to get there by air. Traveling by road can be very strenuous and can take almost a day to get to the valley from Rawalpindi.
Places of interest in Gilgit Valley include the Kargah Buddha, a beautiful 7th century rock carving of Buddha near the Kargah Nullah, which lies 10 km from Gilgit town. A 700 years old Taj Mughal victory monument 30 km from Gilgit town can be reached by jeep. 38 km from Gilgit is the Sher Qilla Nullah with trekking routes joining the Naltar Valley. At Sher Qilla, you can enjoy trout fishing in the small lake that is located here. If you are interested in trekking then Singal and Gahkuch can be visited. Also at a two hours drive from Gilgit, you arrive at the Naltar Valley where you can indulge in trekking, trout fishing and skiing and rest houses and hotels are available if you wish to stay here.
You can also take a drive over Asia’s largest suspension bridge, the Gilgit Bridge that goes over the Gilgit River with a traditional Gilgit bazaar at one end. For places to stay, you can find well-furnished cottages, motels, inns and rest houses. There are several bazaars and traditional handicraft stores where you can buy souvenirs to take back with you.
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