Gasherbrum I (11th highest peak of the world)

Gasherbrum I is the 11th highest peak of the world. It is located in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It lies on the Pakistan-China border. Gasherbrum I peak is also known as “Hidden Peak” or “K5”. It is Pakistan’s 3rd highest peak. It is at the elevation of 8,080 m (26,509 ft).It’s Prominence is 2,155 m (7,070 ft). It has coordinates : 35°43′28″N 76°41′47″E / 35.72444°N 76.69639°ECoordinates: 35°43′28″N 76°41′47″E / 35.72444°N 76.69639°E. Gasherbrum I is located in Karakoram range.

 

Gasherbrum is often claimed to mean "Shining Wall. It comes from "rgasha" (beautiful) + "brum" (mountain) in Balti which means "beautiful mountain." There are six Gasherbrum Peaks. The reference is may be due to the highly visible face of the neighboring peak Gasherbrum IV.

 

Gasherbrum I is listed in eight-thou sanders ultra. The eight-thou sanders are the fourteen independent mountains on Earth that are more than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) high above sea level. They are all located in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges in Asia. Gasherbrum I is part of the Gasherbrum massif, located in the Karakoram region of the Himalaya. It is one of the four 8,000m peaks located in a tight cluster on the upper reaches of the Baltoro glacier, the main access route to the mountains which cuts through the center of the Karakoram. Of the world's fourteen highest mountains, four are located within the Karakoram Range: K2, Gasherbrum I and II, and Broad Peak. There are six Gasherbrum Peaks., namely Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum III, Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum V and Gasherbrum V.Gasherbrum is a remote group of high peaks in the Karakoram, located at the northeast end of the 36-mile Baltoro glacier.

 

Gasherbrum I was designated K5 (meaning the 5th peak of the Karakoram) by T.G. Montgomery in 1856. He sighted a group of high peaks in the Karakoram from more than 200 km away. He named five of these peaks K1, K2, K3, K4 and K5 where the K denotes Karakoram. Today, K1 is known as Masherbrum, K3 as Broad Peak, and K4 as Gasherbrum II and K5 as Gasherbrum I. Only K2, the second highest mountain in the world, has kept Montgomery’s name. William Martin Conway provided the alternate name, Hidden Peak, in reference to its extreme remoteness.

Gasherbrum I was first climbed on July 5, 1958 by an eight-man American expedition led by Nicholas B Clinch. Pete Schoening and Andy Kauffman.were first to reach the summit.

 

The peak was also the venue of the world’s first 8,000 meter climb in pure Alpine Style. This means that the start of the climb is done from the bottom of the mountain and all gears are carried on the way, if any bivouacs, they will be found on the way Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler on 8 August 1975 summitted the peak and thus introduced pure Alpine style climbing to the Karokaram.

The most common way to climb the peak is to from the western side and all routes here leads to "The Japanese Couloir", which is located on top of the north-west face.

June to September is the normal climbing season. Gasherbrum I has never been climbed in the winter season due to  extreme cold, high avalanche risk, difficult logistics and deep snow.

World’s largest fort (RaniKot fort) PAKISTAN-SINDH

    

                         

RaniKot fort is world’s largest fort. Rani fort is situated in Sindh province of Pakistan. The fort is in Lakki Mountains of the Kirthar range at a distance of about 30 kilometers away from town of Sann. The way leads through Kotri and the town of Sann.  It is located approximately 270 km from Karachi and 90 km north of Hyderabad.

This magnificent and well-designed fort is symbol of best architecture a by gone era. It is reputed to be the largest unexplored fort in the world. Its walls are about 26 km or 16 miles in circumference. The walls of fort are made of gypsum and lime cut sandstone. Some walls are of crest stones Different types of bricks are used to build the wall which indicates its construction in different period of time. Its huge undulating walls weave and immerse over the hills are built with dressed sandstone and reinforced with 45 bastions along the outer wall, of which 7 are rectangular and the remaining are round.  Its wall is divided into two parts. First portion is 8.25 km long wall, which is man-made, built with yellow sandstone and 30 ft high. While other twenty six kilometers long wall is made of natural cliffs and mountains which at places rise as high as two thousand feet above sea level. A mountainous ridge, Karo Takkar (Black Hill), running north to south, forms its western boundary and the 'Lundi Hills' forms its eastern boundary.

The majestic fort is visible at glance from the distance.  Some of the walls bear a resemblance to the Great Wall of China as they weave through the hills. Therefore the fort’s wall is also called “The Great Wall of Sindh” and “Deware Sindh by locals.

Within Ranikot, there are two more fortresses; Meeri and Shergarh, each have five bastions. Meeri is small fortress. Meerikot have entrances, curved and angulated with a safe tortuous path. From the military point of view, Meerikot is located at a very safe and central place in the very heart of the Ranikot with residential arrangements including a water-well. The second fort looks like a giant eagle’s nest called Shergarh fort (house of lion) is roughly 15km. It can be seen from Meerikot. Shergarh is built with whitish stone, it too has five bastions. Though its location at 1480 feet above the sea level makes this fortress a unique structure, it also makes it equally hard for available of water, which can only be had from the brooks and rain streams, hundreds of feet below. The steep climb up to Shergarh gives a commanding view down over the whole fort and its entrance and exit points. On a clear day one can even see Indus, 37 kilometers away to the east.

A rain stream named “Mohan Nai” enters the fort from its rarely utilized western 'Mohan Gate'. It runs through it, fall downs in a series of turquoise pools to irrigate fields and leaves the fort from its most used 'Sann Gate' on the eastern side. It then floods about 33 kilometers more to enter the Indus River .A spring coming out from underground near the Mohan Gate is named as 'Parryen jo Tarr'  Another spring is Waggun jo Tarr or "the Crocodile Spring", named so as crocodiles were resided there.

The terrain inside the fort is plentiful with greenery, hills, valleys, streams, ditches, ponds, collections, fossils, building structure, bastions, watchtowers, ammunition depots, fortresses. The streams are abundant in tropical fish. Every structure in the Ranikot has its own uniqueness and beauty. Some of the area of the fort has been cultivated. Scattered animal skeletons and prehistoric fossils can be found on the top of Lundi Hills.  

The original aims and causes to build this marvel fort are unknown. There is no trace of any old city inside the fort and the present construction has little evidence of prehistoric origins. The present structure was reconstructed on the site of a much older fort by Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur and his brother Mir Murad Ali in in the early 19^th century, probably for the purpose to protect the trade route from Thatta through the Khirthar hills to Central Asia.

Beside the Mohan Gate and the Sann Gate, there are two more gates, rather counterfeit gates. One is towards the side of ancient town of Amri. This 'gate' is called the 'Amri Gate'.  There is a bridge over rain stream 'Toming Dhoro' exiting from the fort called 'Budhi Mori'. The breach in fort wall due to the river stream has been referred as a gate. Similarly, the Shahpir Gate to the south also appears to be a pseudo gate taking its name from a limestone rock with a rough shape of sacred foot imprinted on it presumed some religious personality .It seems to be a later breach in the fort wall instead of a formal gate because one can't find any bastion or watchtower or their remains at the site, needed to guard any formal entrance or exit points. A mosque found in the fort appears to be a later modification of a watchtower or a later construction.

One of the three graveyards has about four hundred graves made of Chowkundi like sandstone with engraved motifs of sunflowers and peacocks. Another one appears to be a graveyard of Arabs. The third one had sixteen or seventeen graves earlier but now there are only four graves. The local inhabitants call it the Roman's graveyard.

Ranifort stand in uninhabited terrain of the Kirthar range It is an international tourist site and been on the list of tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1993. The best way to reach this spectacle site of ancient times is by either jeep or camel. The camel is easily available from Sann Town.

ANSOO LAKE

Ansoo Lake is located in Pakistan in the Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. It is a high-altitude lake with the elevation 16,492 feet or 5,027 metres near famous mountain Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.

Ansoo means “Tear” in Urdu language. The name comes from its drop-like shape. It looks like the shape of tear" from far off place. This Lake also resembles Human Eye with central ice land resembling Iris of Human Eye and a ridge resembling Eyebrow.

The lake is still in pristine state and an unspoiled paradise. Surrounded by majestic mountains of Himalayan range this beautiful Lake is mysterious and isolated. The weather is extremely cold, windy and unpredictable. Frequently it rains, which make the weather more freezing. Best time to trek the lake is from July to mid of August.

Ansoo Lake was discovered just few years back. Pakistan Air Force Pilots who were flying low in this area discovered it. Before its discovery, lake was not even known to the locals. The weather is extremely cold because of very high altitude and not much explored as of its unsafe approach and limited resources in that area.

The lake is accessible through hiking only because no jeep or car could go to Ansoo Lake.  Mules and Horses are hired for some distance but still, they may not be able to walk off all the way. The trek is steep and tough climbing through mountains and one has to travel by his own. Guards and tourist guides are necessary because this lake is in far off, deserted and risky area and at the top of mountains.

The trekking to the Lake is an exhilarating experience. It provides adventurous and challenging track and most fascinating trail through valleys and mountains. This Lake can be reached by two different routes. First one is short but vertical trek from Saiful Mulook Lake. This trek can be further divided into two parts. First half, which is towards Saiful Malook, is valley along the river and it goes up to Malika Parbat base camp. Second half is steeper starting from Malika Parbat base camp and ends with Ansoo Lake. This part is all about difficult climbing on the mountain.

Second hike to Ansoo Lake starts from the village Mahandri, which is 40 km south to Naran Village, and it, goes through Manoor Gali and Kach Gali. This trek takes at least three days of 12 hour trekking to get to Ansoo Lake. Steepness of this trek may be the same as of other one but travel in the valley is lot more. This gives an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to camp along the beautiful rivers, picturesque valleys cascading waterfalls, in jungles, on the top of mountains and in abandoned towns. The beauty of the trek is better seen than described. The whole trek is full of marvelous scenes of mountain peaks covered with snow and it is so beautiful that despite of difficult mountaineering and hiking is thrilling.

Apart from fascinating views of valleys and mountains, the sight of Malka-e-parbat is remarkable in full moon. The moon raising from behind the Malka-e-Parbat it is outstanding. But the air pressure is lower at high altitude and can cause bad breathing problems due to tough hike.  People having Asthma, are not recommended to come to this place. Physical fitness is necessary for such difficult, sturdy and steep trekking. As this area is completely isolated from the outer world, it is recommended to have plenty of water, enough food and other edible source of energy.

Both treks run in opposite direction from Ansoo Lake and are connected via mountains top above the lake waters. From this altitude, there is an amazing scene of lake, on one side and top of Malika Parbat and beautiful skyline of high altitude mountains covered with snow on the other side. The heart warming spectacle is most soothing in the eye. There is no risk free way to reach lake waters because it lies in the hollow with steep snow covered walls. There is no apparent drainage of lake water Mostly it is covered with clouds and heavy fog. But one can get moments to take glorious pictures of it

The whole trek is full of thrill, adventure and lot of undefined beauty, which can not be defined in words. Ansoo Lake is splendid and greatest gift of nature. It is a Paradise for the lover of nature photographers, enthusiastic & adventurer hikers who love thrill and adventures. It is no doubt the superb long trek through greatest mountains of the world and fabulous sights of nature.

KUNRI, (SINDH, PAKISTAN)

                                KUNRI        

Kunri town is located in Sindh province of Pakistan. Kunri is famous for its largest production of excellent red chili .Kunri is a small town and is about 300 miles (480 km) from Karachi. It has a population of about 100,000, composed of mostly Muslims; however, there is a large Christian, Kashmiri, and Hindu minority.

Kunri is relatively cold in winter. In summer the temperature is very hot, reaching up to 46 Celsius, and dust storms are frequent. The average rainfall is about 100 millimeters.

Kunri has a conservative culture. Some Hindu and even Christian women wear ghagra and the bangles from shoulders to wrists, as is the cultural and historical dress. It is uncommon for women of Kunri to work outside their homes; most of their work is handicraft. Much of these chilies are picked by Hindus, who form bulk of labor in and around Kunri. These laborers also bring in their children for collecting chilies.

Kunri's economy is mostly based on agriculture. The most popular crop is the red chili, which sustains the financial structure of the town .Kunri is known as the biggest red chili market in Pakistan. Much of this chili is exported to countries around the world. Other grades are sold locally in markets from Karachi to Peshawar Apart from this; the region produces different types of crops, including red chilies, cotton, sunflower, sugar cane, and mangoes. There are few small and one big (and solvent) cooking oil plant located in Kunri, most of which only provide employment to needy people in the city.

Transportation in this town consists mostly of rickshaws, three-wheeled motorcycles, and bicycles. Jeeps are widely used instead of cars in this area .Air-conditioned coaches have been running from Kunri to Karachi, which makes travel much easier than from other small towns. Recently, the transportation system has been improved even further. Kaykra" desert runner trucks are used to travel in the desert area near Kunri, while there are many services for transportation of Goods, including crops. These various efforts are improving the transportation of goods between cities.

Masjid-e-Tooba, Karachi Pakistan

Masjid e Tooba is well-known for its largest single dome mosque in the world. Masjid e Tooba is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is the 18th largest mosque in the world. It is the icon of modern architecture and exquisiteness. Located off main Korangi road in Defence housing society, is one of the major tourist attraction in Karachi.

It was built by Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Society Karachi. Its construction was started in September, 1966 and completed in November, 1969. It was designed by talented Pakistani architect Dr.Baber Hameed Chauhan and the engineer was Zaheer Haider Naqvi.

The Mosque is built on vast area and contains the great capacity for praying persons. Area of entire mosque is 5570 sq yards and built up area of the mosque is 35312 sq feet. Surroundings are terrace and lawns which are also in use during prayer when prayer Hall is filled. The capacity for praying people in the Hall is 5000, including terrace is 8000 persons and including lawns is 30,000 people.

Masjid e Tooba is built with pure white marble. In the interior, the mosque is embellished with mirrors in foam concrete tiles which are 70,000 in quantity. Onyx pieces are on the retaining walls, which are 76, 8000 in numbers. Masjid e Tooba has a single minaret which‘s height is 120 ft high.

The dome of the Masjid e Tooba is 212 ft in diameter and height is 51.48 Ft. it is balanced on a low surrounding wall with no central pillars. It has excellent acoustics. A person speaking inside one end of the dome can be heard at the other end.

Locally, this mosque is also known as the Gol Masjid. It is an impressive modern mosque and marvelous symbol of Islamic architect.

Makli, Pakistan

 

Makli Hills are located in the province of Sindh of Pakistan and it is known as one of the largest Necropolises of the world. The Makli hill lies near Thatta and is at a distance of some 98 kilometers east of Karachi. This Makli graveyard is located on a raised ground spread over 6 miles, having over 500,000 graves out of which 125000 graves are of Sufi saints.

Makli is the common resting place of a million, both nobles and commoners.  In this resting place are the grave of kings, queens, governors, Sufi saints, Scholars, Philosophers, poets, soldiers and military commanders of a by-gone era. That era was renowned for its culture and learning. There are tombs and mausoleums date back to 16^th to 18^th century. Many of there tombs belongs to kings, queens and governors and were probably built to their own design while they were still alive.

Makli graveyard is an ancient symbol of architect, all the monuments, shrines are of high quality in stone and brick. These monuments are master piece with their stone carving, surface traceries, and color tiling.  some graves of rulers are notable specimens of architecture. The grave stones and mausoleums stones represent the different eras and dynasties. There are monuments of Summa period (14th to 16th centuries), the Tarkhan & Arghun period (16th century), and the Moghul period (16th to 18th centuries).

T

he artwork on the graves and the artisan work is delightful and only one of its kind. This graveyard contains countless graves, rectangular in shapes and inscribed with glorious Islamic calligraphy, the vault domes and arches. The quality of this structure is that these are strong as well beautiful. The main stone using in the construction of these monuments are marble and granites which are generations lasting. There is resemblance in skill of construction in these monuments and are either built in brick or stone. The bricks are dark red and so perfectly baked that they look like metal and break as glass. Colored enamel tiles have also been used lavishly to adorn the brick structures. The stone structures are prominent for their carving and tracery which has been truly described as lace-work in stone. The mausoleums are mainly made of sandstone and exquisitely carved with geometric and floral designs. The carvings are so regular they seem to have been stamped into the stone. Some of the mausoleums are being restored. The foundations of these buildings are made of stone.

This graveyard reveals the history and craftsmanship of Sammas, Arghuns and Tarkhans and Mughals dynasties, spanning over four centuries.

The first Mughal group includes the tombs of Jan (or Jani) Beg, Ghazali Beg, Tughril Beg, Jan Baba, and others. North to this is the imposing mausoleum of Nawab Isa Khan, the Mughal Governor of Sindh. Its designed a low building little to east, houses the tombs of the women this part of house segregated for women. There is a fine view from here across the lake of the Thatta city . Jan Baba tombs lies near Isa Khan’s tomb covered with design as fragile as the spider web.

The second group belongs to Tarkhan and Arghun includes the tombs of Isa Khan Tarkhan (the elder), Baqi Beg Tarkhan and Ahinsa Bai among others. Amongst the more important tombs is that of the Mirza Jami Beg. Built in 1599 fir the last of the Turkhan rulers, it is made of glazed bricks. The tombs of his son Mirza Ghazi Beg Tarkhan is located next to the his tomb.close to his tomb is the tomb of Mirza Tughril Beg who was commander in chief of the Turkhan army. The tomb of Mirza Bagi Beg Turkhan and Ahinsa Bai extend over several enclosures. Their inside walls are carved in the tracery method of roses and sunflowers.

And the third group on extreme north relates to the Summa and comprises the tombs of Jam Nizamuddin, Mubarak Khan, Malik Rajpal and others.The tomb of the Samma King, Jam Nizam al-Din (reigned 1461–1509), is an impressive square structure built of sandstone and decorated with floral and geometric medallions.

Locals believe Makli means Little Mecca or Mecca, some relate the name after a pious women “Mai Makli”, whose prayers saved Thatta from conquest of Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq, till she lived.  Mai Makli’s grave is simple, without carving or headstone and covered with a green cloth. Legends abound about its founding, but it is generally believed that the cemetery grew around the shrine of the fourteenth-century Sufi, Hamad Jamali. Surrounding the ancient graves at Makli Hills there are many shrines devoted to various religious figures.

Makli Necropolis is listed with the United Nations World Heritage. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981under the name, Historical Monuments of Thatta.

K-2 (World 2nd largest mountain)

    

  

K2 is the 2nd highest mountain in the world. It is located at 35°52′57″N 76°30′48″E / 35.8825, 76.51333 with an altitude of 8,611 meter (28,251 ft. It is located in vast mountain range of Karakoram in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. K2 stretches from Pakistan to China border. K2 is a rocky mountain up to 6,000m, beyond which it becomes an ocean of snow. The glacier- and snow-covered mountain rises from its base at about 15,000 feet (4,570 meters) on Baltoro Glacier. It is the highest mountain peak of Pakistan.

                                                       

  

The name K2 is derived from the notation used by the Great Trigonometric Survey. Thomas Montgomerie made the first survey of the Karakoram and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labeling them K1 and K2 K2 is taken from the first letter of Karakorum, and the number indicates that it was the second peak in the range to be measured. K2 is known as the Savage Mountain due to the difficulty of ascent and the 2nd highest fatality rate.  K2 Mountain is believed by many to be the world's most difficult and dangerous climb. This is due to its more inclement weather and comparatively greater height from base to peak.  K2 is also known as “Chogo RI” which means “The Great Mountain”. This is local name of K-2, derived from two Balti words which mean big mountain. But widely it is known as K-2.

 

The traditional route to K2's base camp goes from Skardu, which is linked with Islamabad by a good road. From Skardu the route goes via Shigar-Dassu-Askole up to Concordia over the Baltoro glacier. K2 has never been climbed in winter.The best trek season to climb k-2 is from April to October. It is typically climbed in June, July, or August.

                                                              

 

K2 Mountain is very difficult to climb up that many people lost their lives in trying. For every four people who have reached the summit, one has died trying. As of July 2010, only 302 people have completed the ascent. At least 77 people have died attempting the climb. Because K2 is prone to frequent and severe storms that make the already treacherous climbing conditions on its slopes even more challenging and make difficult functioning at such high elevations. That is the reason only a small fraction of people have reached the top.

 

First ascent was made by an Italian expedition Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli ion July 31, 1954. The team included a Pakistani member, Colonel Muhammad Ata-ullah, who had been a part of the 1953 American expedition. Also on the expedition were the famous Italian climber Walter Bonatti and Pakistani Hunza porter Mahdi, who proved vital role to the expedition's success in that he carried oxygen to 26,600 feet (8,100 m) for Lacedelli and Compagnoni.

K2 has few numbers of tough and fully dangerous routes. As it is on the extreme high altitude resulting into lack of oxygen is one of the difficulties faced by climbers. Second, it has very rough and ever changing weather which .mostly remains in the form of dark storms and coldness for several days. Third is the steep, exposed, and committing nature of all routes on the mountain, which makes retreat more difficult, especially during a storm.

All major climbing routes lie on the Pakistani side, which is also where the base camp is located.The standard route of ascent, used far more than any other route, is the Abruzzi Spur, located on the Pakistani side, first attempted by Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi in 1909. This is the southeast ridge of the peak, rising above the Godwin Austen Glacier. The spur proper begins at an altitude of 5,400 m/17,700 ft, where Advanced Base Camp is usually placed. The route follows an alternating series of rock ribs, snow/ice fields, and some technical rock climbing on two famous features, "House's Chimney" and the "Black Pyramid." Above the Black Pyramid, dangerously exposed and difficult to navigate slopes lead to the easily visible "Shoulder", and thence to the summit. The last major obstacle is narrow couloirs known as the "Bottleneck”, which places climbers dangerously close to a wall of serac which form an ice cliff to the east of the summit.

Almost opposite from the Abruzzi Spur is the North Ridge which ascends the Chinese side of the peak. It is rarely climbed, partly due to very difficult access, involving crossing the Shaksgam River, which is a hazardous undertaking.  This route, more technically difficult than the Abruzzi, ascends a long, steep, primarily rock ridge to high on the mountain (Camp IV, the "Eagle's Nest", 7,900 m/25,900 ft), and then crosses a dangerously slide-prone hanging glacier by a leftward climbing traverse, to reach a snow couloirs which accesses the summit.

The major routes to have been climbed on the south side of the mountain.

1)    West Ridge

2)    West Face

3)    Southwest Pillar

4)    South Face

5)    South-southeast Spur

6)     Abruzzi Spur

 For most of its climbing history, K2 was not usually climbed with bottled oxygen. However the 2004 season saw a great increase in the use of oxygen: 28 of 47 summiteers used oxygen in that year. Acclimatization is essential when climbing without oxygen to avoid some degree of altitude sickness. K2's summit is well above the altitude at which high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), or high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) can occur above the 8000-metre altitude that marks the boundary of the "death zone."