Kharkoo
Kharkoo is a beautiful valley in Ghanche District (Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan). Kharkoo is located on the right bank of Shayok river between Daghoni and Saling and thus on the old connecting route between Khaplu and the other regions of Baltistan. Kharkoo belonged to the Kingdom of Khaplu before 1840 according to Tibet-encyclopaedia.Due to its longitude side location it has hot climates normally hotter than other areas of Gilgit Baltistan.
Etymology
According to some people it's Khar is Balti word, means Fort and Koo or Koh means below. 2ndly its refer to KhaaSkos, Its means thieving snow due to hot climate.Other says that originally Kharkoo is ″Kharrgu″, ″Khar″ mean Fort and ″rgu″ mean ninth(9),because there were nine Fort on the top of the hill.[1]
Location
It is located in the series Karakorum Mountains and along the Shyok River off side of Siachen Road nearby Khaplu Town Ghanche District. It borders with Daghoni, Balghar to the west, Macholu and Hushe to the east, Thally valley to the northwest. Barah is located in south of Kharkoo across the river. Kharkoo is surrounded by grey-brown colored mountains, which hide the 8,000 meter peaks of the nearby Karakoram Range.
There are total 12 Mohala (Sub Villages) namely Mandik, Arapa, Malayar, Thana, Gamba Trangzong, Gongma Trangzong, Garbong, Youskil, Piyara, Shopacholi, Lahar, Sogha. Its population is approximately 5000. Kharkoo Ghola, Lahar Goro Chomik, Ranga, Sogha Fish form, Shahi Polo Ground Kharkoo and Garbong Aol is visiting points in Kharkoo Valley. It is famous with most honest and energetic people. They are most educated male and female in the region. Kharkoo has own hydropower station with 1 megawatt power and its fulfilling their electricity requirement.
Accessibility
Kharkoo Valley is accessible by the bridges of Kharfaq, Balghar from west and Saling from east connecting to Siachen Road (Skardu to Siachen Glacier )
Villages
There are 10 villages in Kharkoo by namely Mandik, Arapa, Malayar, Thana Trangzong (Gamba and Gongma), Garbong, Youskil, Piyara, Shopacholi and Lahar]. There is a Federal Government boy's and a girl’s High school and many private and community school . The Kharkoo Polo Ground is the old and historical polo ground in this region.
Places to Visit
- Kharkoo Ghola
- Lahar Goro Chomik
- Kharkoo Ranga
- Kharkoo Hydro Station
- Garbong Ol
- Mandik Shahi Polo ground
- Sogha Fish Form
- Sogha forest form
- Naqpocho Khar
- Khanq Kharkoo