BEAUTIFUL BALTISTAN:-

Baltistan
 Urdu: بلتستان
Balti: སྦལ་ཏི་སྟཱན

Dark blue:

                Skardu, Ghanche, Shigar and Kharmang (GB).

Light blue: 

                Kargil (J&K).

Sky blue: 

              Leh (J&K).

Coordinates:  

                    35°18′N 75°37′E.

Country:

             Pakistan

             India  (4 villages since 1971) [1].

Region:

            Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

            Ladakh, India (4 villages) [2].

Districts:

             Skardu, Pakistan.

             Ghanche, Pakistan.

             Shigar, Pakistan.

             Kharmang, Pakistan.

             Leh, India (4 Villages) [3].

Area:

        • Total            72,000 km2 (28,000 sq mi).

          Elevation        1,500 m (4,900 ft).

Population (2017):

                             • Total            922,745.

                               Languages     Official: Urdu. Spoken: Balti.

HISTORY:

Baltistan (Urdu: بلتستان, Hindi: बल्तिस्तान), also known as بلتیول (Baltiyul) in the Balti language, is a region in northern Pakistan (administratively situated in Gilgit-Baltistan. It was a part of Jammu and Kashmir and came under Pakistani control in 1947), bordering Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. It is situated in the Karakoram mountains just to the south of K2, the world’s second highest mountain. It is an extremely mountainous region, with an average altitude of over 3,350 m (11,000 ft.).

The inhabitants of this region were converted into Islam from Buddhism prior to the 16th century. Baltistan was an independent state but was occupied by the Raja (King) of Kashmir in the nineteenth century. In 1947 when India and Pakistan gained independence, it was still part of Kashmir. Now the region is divided between Pakistan and India. The districts of Skardu (Skardo) and Ganche, which is a part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, its main town is Skardu. It contains the highest peaks of the Karakoram, including K2. Indian-controlled Baltistan (the district of Kargil) which is disputed and claimed by Pakistan is located in the north of Indian-administered Kashmir.

NATURAL BEAUTY OF BALTISTAN:

The region of Baltistan is bestowed with some of the greatest bounties of Nature. Tourists from all over the world have a great attraction toward this region because of its beautiful valleys, plains, peaks and heritage sites.

The capital of Baltistan, Skardu welcomes the visitors with its ethereal tourist resorts, daunting plains, wonderful lakes and alpine mountains. Shangri-La, Deosai plain, Satpara, Basho etc. are adorable places to visit. In the north of Skardu, Shigar valley fascinates the people by its splendid plains, hiking tracks, tempting peaks and camping sites. Other worth mentioning valleys in Baltistan region are Khaplu, Rondu, Kachura and Kharmang.

 Baltistan is a paradise for mountaineers and anglers. The area is surrounded by the mighty ranges of The Karakuram and The Himalayas .Towering Mountains are spread throughout the region. Four out of fifteen highest peaks of the world are situated in this region. Which are, K2 (8611m), Gashabrum-1(8080m), Broad peak (8051m) and Gashabrum-2 (8035m). 108 peaks of height above 7000 meters are situated in this reign. This figure is matchless in the world. Some of the gigantic glaciers are also present in this region. Some of them are Siachin (the highest battle field in the world), Baltoro, Batura, Hisper and Biafo. These glaciers always remain seducing for hikers and trekkers.

This area enjoys a sound cultural heritage which depicts its great past. Forts, Monestries, Mosques and Stone carvings are present in every valley telling us the tales of early inhibitors.

FRUITS:

Baltistan is famous for producing best quality fruits because of its clean environment.

 Apples, apricots, cherries, mulberries, pom-granades, grapes, melons, walnuts and many other fruits are produced here and are famous all over the world. .

Dry fruits are exported in large quantities from Baltistan to other regions.

CULTURE:

Balti music and art:

Balti children from the Shigar Valley

According to Balti folklore, Mughal princess Gul Khatoon (known in Baltistan as Mindoq Gialmo—Flower Queen) brought musicians and artisans with her into the region and they propagated Mughal music and art under her patronage.^[36] Musical instruments such as the surnai, karnai, dhol and chang were introduced into Baltistan.

Dance:

Classical and other dances are classified as sword dances, broqchhos and Yakkha and ghazal dances. Chhogho Prasul commemorates a victory by the Maqpon rajas. As a mark of respect, the musician who plays the drum (dang) plays for a long time. A Maqpon princess would occasionally dance to this tune. Gasho-Pa, also known as Ghbus-La-Khorba, is a sword dance associated with the Gasho Dynasty of Purik (Kargil). Sneopa, the marriage-procession dance by pachones (twelve wazirs who accompany the bride), is performed at the marriage of a raja.

Architecture:

Chaqchan Mosque in Khaplu

Balti architecture has Tibetan and Mughul influences, and its monastic architecture reflects the Buddhist imprint left on the region.

Buddhist-style wall paintings can be seen in forts and Noorbakhshi khanqahs, including Chaqchan Mosque in Khaplu, Amburik Mosque in Shigar, Khanqah e Muallah Shigar, Khaplu Fort, Shigar Fort and Skardu Fort.

Polo:

Polo match in Skardu around 1820, from Godfrey Vigne's Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, the countries adjoining the mountain-course of the Indus, and the Himalaya, north of the Panjab,

Polo is popular in Baltistan, and is indigenous to the Karakoram. Maqpon ruler Ali Sher Khan Anchan introduced the game to other valleys during his conquests beyond Gilgit and Chitral.

BALTI PEOPLE:

All people of same races, living in Baltistan are called Balti. The Greeks derived Byaltae from sBal-ti, which in Tibetan means “water gorge.” The historian Ptolemy who was also a general in the army of Alexander the Great had named the region (Byaltae) in his book. In fact Baltistan is the Persian translation of Baltiyul, “The Homeland of Balti”. The people belonging to Balti nationality are settled on both banks of the river Indus from Kargil (in the east) to Haramosh (in the west) and from Karakoram Range (in the north) to Deosai plains (in the south). In this nationality the majority comes from Tibetan origin. However people migrated to this area in different periods of ancient times, on account of different reasons and after merging in the prevailing Tibetan society, gave birth to a new civilization. All these multi-racial groups speak Balti language, which is a branch of the ancient Tibetan language. However in some rural areas, the Sheen people still speak Shina language.

There are several Balti communities located in Pakistan’s urban areas further south, notably in Lahore, Islamabad and in Karachi.

                                                                      Old Pic Of Balti People

The people of Baltistan are very hospitable, peaceful and courteous. Their altruistic and selfless behavior is always commended by the outsiders. Inspite of intermingling of different sects and castes, the inhibitants of Baltistan keep a great peace and har mony which makes its environment more serene.