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Caption: Hidden Pakistan Nanga Parbat
The killer mountain
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Caption: INTRO
We spent 10x in the country on a tourist visa
We visited Chilas, Naran, Rama and then reached the Nanga Parbat base camp
I added a few tips and personal observations to the end of this story in case anyone may be interested in following our steps
Hope you will enjoy it!
Caption: DAY 1
We landed in Islamabad and started our drive toward the North of the country
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Caption: It took us two days of travelling in a minivan over narrow and bumpy mountain roads to get to the North.
We drove on the famous
Karakoram Highway
First stop:
CHILAS,
Gilgit-Baltistan area
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Caption: The view of the Indu from our guest house
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Caption: DAY 2
Chilas hides a beautiful secret...
SHATIAL,
a transit station with archaeological significance
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Caption: As a historical crossroads, many traders, Buddhist missionaries, Sogdian merchants, and pilgrims passed through Shatial leaving behind graffiti and inscriptions on the rocks
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Caption: The meditating Buddha is one of the best preserved graffiti
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Caption: DAY 3
Was then time to move to our next stop:
RAMA & its Lake
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Caption: We arrived during the
Rama Polo Festival so we went to take a look...
The excitement you will see is for the great performance of the winning team: Astore
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Caption: The local minister kicked off the match
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Caption: At the end of the match, people jumped in the field to celebrate their heroes and the Captain started a dance to celebrate the victory of his team!
We followed the others and joined the celebrations!
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Caption: DAY 4
We are now getting closer to the Killer Mountain,
The Nanga Parbat
After a trek of 4h we finally arrived there...
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Caption: Mountain tea!
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Caption: The valley nearby base camp
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Caption: Essentials
for a trip to the North:
- Donkeys & Porters
- An expert guide
- A police officer with an MP5
The Pakistani law requires that military personnel patrol the area during any mountain expedition
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Caption: Local Shepards / Nomads’ hut
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Caption: Last night’s bonfire
Caption: DAY 9
After trekking for a few days we are ready to go back to Islamabad
On our way back we stop in NARAN
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Caption: Some traffic on our way back
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Caption: These are the shops on the busy main street of Naran
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Caption: DAY 9
We are now approaching Islamabad but before that we stop in JAULIAN
Jaulian (UNESCO) is a ruined Buddhist monastery dating from the 2nd century CE. Jaulian is located near the provincial border with Punjab and the city of Taxila.
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Caption: Original Stupa in the meditation & worship area of the monastery
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Caption: A well preserved teaching Buddha
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Caption: The second area of the monastery was an academy for monks
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Caption: We then arrived in TAXILA to visit its museum
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Caption: The pictures... White people are pretty rare in the country and a woman without veil it’s unusual.
It was a very humid and hot day so I removed mine and I was surprised to being asked pictures by women and young girls who removed their veils too while taking the pic with me.
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Caption: Tips A few notes I would follow if I had to go back again
Caption: 1. MEDICINE
Bring extra with you so you can give them away to locals (anything will do: from aspirins to ibuprofen to painkillers)
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Caption: 2. TOYS
Bring little toys with you for the many children you will find in the villages
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Caption: 3. CLOTHES
Anything that carry your national flag is a great gift for the locals you will meet on your journey (from baseball hats to t-shirts)
Caption: 4. TIPS
Pay close attention to these benchmarks (rupees) :
200 at the restaurant
500 for a porter
5000 for a cook
Your driver and guide will likely ask for dollars or euros
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Caption: 5. The Veil Although appreciated by the most, the veil is not mandatory above all when it comes to foreigner women.
For me, I wore it out of respect
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Caption: “We do not conquer the mountain, but ourselves” Sir Edmund Hillary
Caption: #pakistan #trekking #stellaruk #adventure #mountains #epixtrip
