Ghanche District

Ghanche District
ضلع گانچھے‬
District
The Ghanche region features serrated peaks typical of the high Karakorams

Map of Gilgit–Baltistan with Ghanche District highlighted in maroon.
Country  Pakistan
Autonomous territory  Gilgit Baltistan
Division Baltistan
Capital Khaplu
Government
 • Deputy Commissioner Adeel Haider (PAS)
Area
 • Total 4,052 km2 (1,564 sq mi)
Population (2017)
 • Total 160,000
Time zone UTC+5 (PST)
Website www.visitgilgitbaltistan.gov.pk

Ghanche District (Urdu: ضلع گانچھے‎) (Balti: Gangchay) is the easternmost district of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan.[1][2][3] With its administrative headquarters in the historic city of Khaplu, Ghanche is famous as a tourist destination for its outstanding scenery and high altitude landscapes.

Geography

The 7,821 m (25,659 ft) tall Masherbrum as viewed from Surmo.

To its northeast is Xinjiang (China), to the north and northwest is Skardu District, to its southwest is Kharmang District and to its south is Ladakh of Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir. The Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) at the easternmost part of Ghanche District is located across the Saltoro Ridge. Territory east of the AGPL is currently controlled by India including the entire Siachen Glacier. It has been proposed by moderates in Pakistan and India to make the Siachen Glacier region a Peace Park. Pakistan controls west of Saltoro Ridge.

The capital of Ghanche District is Khaplu.[4] This region is the coldest place within Pakistan also called the "Third Pole" with temperatures reaching below -20 °C in the winter. Khaplu Valley and Hushe Valley form the gateway for the great Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of Karakoram [5] that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), Gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and Masherbrum (7,821 m) (all of which are included in the Skardu District).[6]

Etymology

The word Gangchay is Balti and means "glacier". It is locally used by natives of the Khaplu Valley for Ghanche Nallah (a Seasonal Stream) which flows in between the Khaplu town during summer season. When the Pakistani government gave it the grade of district, people of the valley selected the name of "Ghanche" willingly.[7]

Administration

The historic village of Machlu features a mosque built in the style typical of the Baltistan region.
An evening at Goma village

Khaplu consists of 56 blocks, each block containing many villages and these blocks have been divided into three subdivisions: Khaplu, Daghoni and Masherbrum. Four villages of Chorbat Valley were lost by Indian invasion in 1971.[8][9] They were Chalunka, Tyakshi, Thang and Turtuk.[10] Some of them are given in the chart below.

Name of Village/Town[11]Muhallahs in the Village/Town
Khaplu BalaMouldomar, Sargaib, Stodkhoor (Braqchansar, Khansar, Banpi, Hundili Gharalti, Laxar), Khanqah, Naqzigroung, Gamba Bathong, Goma Bathong, Goma staqji (Muhsinabad), Langkhong (Islamabad), Hatchhe khar, Hatchhe, Hatchhe, Dinis(faizbaksh sector), Gamba Bngriya, goma Bngriya, Doqsa Garbochung,
Khaplu PainKraming, Malaliwa, Ansoq, Kongbozang, Gongmayar, Baqerpi gund. Mekxerpi, Goqpi Mirpiser, Thaskong, Ghares, Morgoto, Helam groung, Braqchan, Chaqchan, mongrong, Beadenday, Hipi, Askari gond, Chilabatigond, Kowakhong, Stronpi, Konowa, Khsergroung, Garboung
KharkooMandik, Arapa, Malayar, Thana Gamba Trangzong, Gongma Trangzong, Garbong, Youlskil, Piyara, Shopacholi, Lahar, Sogha
Haldi
ChorbatSiksa (Kalan, Sokhmos), Chowar, Siari, Pion, Hassanabad, Ameerabad, Dawoo, Marcha, Partook, Thoqmus, Franu
SalingBanpi Gabkhore, Doqbar, Biliggrong, Sotol, Gond
Thagas* Newti Chan, Olday Groung, Garbi Groung, Kharat, Arif Abad, Chansoq,

, Farol, Baqmacho, Kharkhor, Bandy Groung, Arappi Groung, Ool, Tholdi, Dung,Lhangkhani Groung.

YugoBaqir Colony
GhawariGhulu Khor, Manjar, Sain (Hill Town), Chogo Grong, Shahoba, Zangi Ba, Manowa, Sobi Gon, Rahinpi Khor, Mala Abdul pi khor, Mayokhor, Duskhor, Soq, Gintha
KuroFarool, Khankah grong, Sato, Gharaqpi gond, Katchurdas,
Gulshan-e-KabirTranzong, Gonpon, Kharkhor (Kharkhor & Bongri), Farol (Gapkhor & Yarol)
Dumsum mallon, gabser, mongron,khachepa,yarkhor,oling,skoungoa, barngmalla,
Ghursay
Sino
TalisNima bazar, hussani chock,
Saltoro
SurmoChoghogrong, Tarkari, Tishari, Gond, Khar
KundosKarmanding, Choghogrong, Lachat, Thang, Hano, Khorkondo
MachuluAshurpi, Malikpi, Manthalpi, Khadi, Badawa, Hilbi, Mallon, Teshari, Marin, Bongri, Baqdurpi
BalgharLahar, marmung
Hushe
BARA Valley BaltistanGumba BARA (Hilfiyuoq, Kharfiyouq, Bara Gond, BrouqPa, Thupori), Gungma BARA (Spinpa, Sampa, MantholPa, Khanka, Pandiva, Darussalam, Mirikpa, Shourova, MominPa, QadeerPa, Tatous)
ThalayHaltagari Baltoro, daltir, yarkhor, taso, harangus, parangus, chondu, khasomik, bordas, gaworic, lodas.

|[ Keris] Oroba, Sumalsa, kashiba, Sadat colony, Barchong, Khargrong, Dangah, Youljuk, Charathang, Ural Gone, Banpa,Mustafaabad,Shagaran,barchong.

Religion

The Chaqchan Mosque dates to 1370, around the time the regions inhabitants converted to Islam.

All the people living in Ghanche are Muslims and mostly people belong to Fiqah jafaria (90%) branch of Islam whereas rest of the 10% are Noorbakshshia and Sunni Muslims. A religious leader locally called ‘Bowa’ has very important place in society.

Education

According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, Ghanche is ranked 54 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 98 out of 148.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The serenity of Ghanche: Of mountains, rivers and valleys".
  2. ↑ "Mapping education in Pakistan 2015".
  3. ↑ "Rifts within Nurbakhshiyas: Dozens arrested after clashes in Ghanche Valley".
  4. ↑ "Khaplu — off the beaten path".
  5. ↑ Balghari, Sajjad H:"Sayyid Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani", Monthly Nawa-i-Sufia, Islamabad, Issoue No.12, 1995
  6. ↑ "History of Ganche and places to see". Archived from the original on 2013-06-18.
  7. ↑ Arz-e-Shimal by Alhaj Muhammad Ibrahim Zair
  8. ↑ "Turtuk, a Promised Land Between Two Hostile Neighbours".
  9. ↑ "An encounter with the 'king' of Turtuk, a border village near Gilgit-Baltistan".
  10. ↑ "geography of baltistan".
  11. ↑ District Body Ghanche
  12. ↑ "Individual district profile link, 2015". Alif Ailaan. Retrieved 2015-05-07.

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