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KARAKORAM
Introduction
Karakoram is a mountain range spanning the borders between Pakistan, China, and India, located in the regions of Gilgit, Ladakh, and Baltistan. It is one of the Greater Ranges of Asia, often considered together with the Himalaya, but not technically part of that range. Karakoram means "black gravel" in Turkic, as many of its glaciers are covered in rubble. The Karakoram is home to more than sixty peaks above 7,000m (22,960 ft), including K2, the second highest peak of the world (8,611 m, 28,244 ft). Most of these peaks are in the Hunza of Pakistan. The range is about 500 km (300 mi) in length, and is the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside of the polar regions. The Siachen Glacier at 70 km and the Biafo Glacier at 63 km rank as the world's second and third longest glaciers outside the polar regions. The Karakoram is bounded on the northeast by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and on the north by the Wakhan Corridor and the Pamir Mountains. Just to the west of the northwest end of the Karakoram lies the Hindu Raj range, beyond which is the Hindu Kush range. The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed by the Gilgit, Indus, and Shyok Rivers, which separate the range from the northwestern end of the Himalaya range proper.
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DESTINATIONS
NUBRA VALLEY
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In the days of yore, the fertile Valley of Nubra formed a part of the overland route between Tibet and Turkestan. Once dotted with garlands of camel and yak caravans, this Silk Route glen is also known as the ‘Valley of Flowers’ of Ladakh, and is amongst the greenest valleys in the region. The romance of Silk Route hangs in the air as one crosses the Khardung La (pass)- the highest ‘motoable’ pass 18,350 ft on the planet that connects Leh to the Nubra Valley. The road from Leh rises steepy to meet Khardung La and then dramatically plunges into a whirlpool of bends and turns to gradually unfold itself along the placid Shyok, Siachen and the Nubra Rivers. During early summer (May-July), Nubra is clad in endless bushes of yellow and pink wild roses, and once the valley is through with the season of roses around August, a carpet of wild lavender lies gently on it. Nubr’s benign climate helps yield better crops and fruits, making in the Ldumra or orchard of Ladakh. At the foot of the Karakoram range, Nubra is very close to Siachen glacier. The Siachen meets the Shylok in Ladakh and given rise to a valley that is astoundingly green in stark contrast with Sand Dunes on which roams the abandoned “Ship of the Desert” –the TWO HUMPED BACTRIAN CAMEL! Jobless now, ever since the trade on the Silk Route.
KHARDUNG LA
Reaching the Nubra Valley after a slow climb north or Leh, ios a grandiose event. The Beacon Highway continues along the side of the mountain, tracing fine curves in an immensisty of waist deep snow jutted with rock; where at around 4,600-4,800 metres of height, one comes upon specimens of alpine flora: carpets of moss dotted with pink and blue, edelweiss, gentians and wild mint. And higher up, ever higher up[, is just the mountain alone, of ice and granite. This is Khardung La, the highest mountain pass in the world at18,350 ft!. Some mortals, 13 sheltered and freezing, members of the Indian armed forces, look after the upkeep of the road and the tourists. Tea here on every pass top is a must and offered by the most hospitable Indian Army free of cost. Khardung La borders between the domain of the Indus and the Nubra Valley.
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