Ghanche District

Ghanche District (Urdu: ضلع گانچھے‎) (Balti: གངས་ཅེ) 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.

Gangche District

གངས་ཅེ
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
DivisionBaltistan
CapitalKhaplu
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerAdeel Haider (PAS)
Area
 • Total4,052 km2 (1,564 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total160,000
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Websitewww.visitgilgitbaltistan.gov.pk

Geography
The 7,821 m (25,659 ft) tall Masherbrum as viewed from Surmo.
Ghursay village in front of shyok river picture from sailing bridge

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 Indian administered Ladakh. 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 Gang in Balti and means "glacier" and che is used as superlative term showing its abundance. 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 in 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, Piun, 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, Bani gala ,Gharaqpi gond, Katchurdas,Khuram abad
Gulshan-e-KabirTranzong, Gonpon, Kharkhor (Kharkhor & Bongri), Farol (Gapkhor & Yarol)
Dumsummallon, gabser, mongron,khachepa,yarkhor,oling,skoungoa, barngmalla,
GhursayGoma(turu,lagaf),Skilma(dankhor,khanfuva,burcon,zgakhon),Gamba(karowa,lunkhavikhor,kazimpikhor,raisha),

Paindo(paindo,ghazithang)

Sino
TalisNima bazar, hussani chock,
SaltoroMandik, Saith, Ghaglu and Goma
SurmoChoghogrong, Tarkari, Tishari, Gond, Khar
KundosKarmanding, Choghogrong, Lachat, Thang, Hano, Khorkondo
MachuluAshurpi, Malikpi, Manthalpi, Khadi, Badawa, Hilbi, Mallon, Teshari, Marin, Bongri, Baqdurpi
BalgharSoq,Yompoya,Loda,Khankha Groing, marmung,Gon,Chan Gon,Gongmayar,Bazawa,Khodakha,Garieppa,Kharwathaing,khashou,Gamba Bardas.
Hushe
Marzi Gon
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, Chundu, 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.

Majority of the people living in Ghanche are Muslims, with 90% belonging to Noorbakshia Islam, whereas rest of the 10% are Shia 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 2017, Ghanche is ranked 29 out of 141 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 118 out of 155.[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. "Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017" (PDF). Alif Ailaan. Retrieved 2019-08-16.

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