Hunza

The beautiful Hunza valley has the name of “Heaven on Earth”. It is an area in the region of Gilgit, Baltistan. Hunza valley borders Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to the west and China to the northeast. This beautiful valley lies the majestic mountain ranges of Karakoram and Himalayas.

It is at an elevation of 7,999 feet. This hypnotic valley has the following three regions:

Upper Hunza – also known as Gojal

Central Hunza

Lower Hunza  – known as Shinaki too

For many years, this region has been a great tourist attraction. It attracts many tourists to Pakistan from all around the world. Tourists visit this beautiful region during the summer and spring seasons. The temperature doesn’t exceed 27 degrees centigrade even on the hottest days of summer. Hunza valley is about two hours’ drive from the main Gilgit city. It takes around 13 hours if you come to visit this valley from the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. There are very good standard hotels and guesthouses available.

There are spellbinding beautiful lakes, the winding and curvy roads. It offers the magnificent views of the monumental mountain of Karakoram and Himalayas. There are cherry blossom trees, the culture, tradition, celebrations, and delicious food. These are some of the reasons that make Hunza Valley, a must visit place for everyone. In this article, we’ll discuss the 10 best things to do when you visit Hunza Valley.

•       Baltit Fort
•       Altit Fort
•       Rakaposhi Peak
•       Borith lake
•       Attabad Lake
•       Rush Lake
•       Gulmit
•       Eagle’s Nest
•       Sost Border
•   Taste Authentic Baltit Food

Baltit Fort

Baltit Fort is one of the beautiful forts in Hunza Valley. You should visit to witness its beautiful historical art and architecture design. The foundation of the fortress dates back around 600 years. But, over the centuries the fortress has renovated. It was rebuilt for its preservation and maintenance.  This ancient castle was the house of Mirs de Hunza. It has massive wooden legs. This fairy tale castle is a landmark of Hunza valley. It has become an attraction point for tourists.

You will find this beautiful ancient castle in Karimabad city which is the largest city of Hunza Valley. The castle is at an elevation and helps the visitors to have a birds-eye view of the entire Karimabad city and Hunza Valley.

Altit Fort

Above Karimabad city in the Hunza valley, lies another antique fort which is Altit fort.  This fort was actually home to the traditional rulers of Hunza Valley. Also, around 1100 years ago, this antique fort was the home of a former prince of Hunza. But, after renovation and maintenance, this fort is now used as a Museum. It showcases the culture, heritage, and tradition of the Hunza to the visitors.  Altit Fort and Baltit Fort are magnificent forts. They are masterpieces of art, craft, and architecture.

The fort was rebuilt and renovated by Agha Khan Culture Trust. The purpose was to preserve this heritage for future generations. Constructed in 1100 AD, Altit fort was the authentic castle structure and initial seat of the kingdom of the Hunza. But, after a few hundred years, the Baltit fort lies at the seat of the kingdom. Baltit Fort is larger in size as compared to Altit Fort. Both of these forts let the visitors witness the ancient culture of Hunza.

Rakaposhi Peak

Rakaposhi Peak offers one of the most beautiful and exciting hiking experiences. Hiking in Fairy Meadows is an exceptional hiking experience that everyone should must experience. It is in the Nagar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan. this magnificent mountain is around 7,788 meters high, standing tall in the Karakoram mountain range.  The name Rakaposhi means “Snow covered” and “Shining Wall”. The peak has some of the prominent glaciers like Pisan, Biro, Barpu, and Bagrot.

One can witness the astonishing view of these snow-covered peaks from every corner of the Hunza valley. The most perfect time to visit Rakaposhi is between the months of May to October. Usually, in these months the trails are clear of snow and you can have a good hike experience. It takes 2 to 3 days to hike the Rakaposhi Base Camp with the help of a guide. But if you are an avid hiker then you can even hike without  any guide.

Related: Hunza Valley – Everlasting Charm of Pakistan

Borith Lake

It is at an elevation of approximately 2,600 meters. There is a mesmerizing lake in Gojal, Hunza Valley called Borith Lake. This is another astonishing lake in the valley of Hunza that you must visit. This pristine lake is surrounded by wide huge plains. This lake serves as a lifesaver for trekkers and tourists visiting Passu peaks.

Moreover, this lake is reachable with a distance of 2 kilometers by jeep ride. You can start from the Husseini village which is near Gulmit. Besides, this striking lake is the best place for nature lovers as many migrating wildfowl come here often to settle.  The best time to visit this place is from March to June. There is a huge number of ducks coming here from the southern side of Pakistan.

Attabad Lake

Another amazing place in the valley of Hunza is Attabad lake. This captivating lake was a result of a natural disaster in 2010. It lies in the Gojal valley, in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. What makes this place more fascinating is the fact that it came into being out of a natural tragedy. Due to a landslide that blocked the flow of the Hunza River, this beautiful lake came into existence. The bright and crystal blue turquoise water of the lake is so stunning that it doesn’t look real at all.

This beautiful place in Hunza Valley offers many fun activities to the tourists including fishing, boating, and jet skiing. But, the prime attraction point for tourists is the lake. Many people go there to see the mesmerizing beauty of the lake. It has monumental mountain ranges of Karakoram. The tremendous beauty of this lake has made it ranked in the top position among all the other lakes of Pakistan.

Rush Lake

Another beautiful and hypnotic place in Hunza Valley is Rush Lake which is in the Nagar valley of Hunza. The Nagar Valley of Hunza is also famous for its beauty. This small valley is full of colors and beauty that attracts tourists from all around the world. Rush Lake is a special part of Nagar Valley which is at an elevation of 4,600 meters. This bright and crystal clear lake is surrounded by the might Mountains of the Karakoram and the Himalayas. This alpine lake is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan which you should definitely not miss out on your next visit to Hunza.

Related: The Spark of Hunza Gems

Gulmit

In the Upper Hunza known as Gojal, there lies a beautiful colorful valley which is popularly known as Gulmit or Gul e Gulmit. According to the locals, Gulmit means the “Valley of Flowers”. This colorful valley is a great tourist attraction point. This astonishing valley offers colors of nature, pleasant weather, and a beautiful landscape.

The panoramic view of this place is amazing. It has monumental mountain ranges. Also, the Passu cones leave the visitors with an exceptional experience.  This centuries-old historic place has also a museum to showcase the local culture.  Moreover, you will also find many hotels and shops here to stop by and savor the delicious food of Hunza.

Related: The Most Beautiful Villages in Pakistan

Eagle’s Nest

Another top best thing to do in Hunza is to eyewitness Eagles’ Nest. People mostly come here to witness the beautiful breathtaking sunset. You will witness an out-of-the-world view here which you will remember forever. Tourists come here from all around the world, put effort to climb up just to experience the astonishingly beautiful view of the sunset here. This place is popular among mountaineers and trekkers as along with the opportunity of hiking they also get to experience a striking breathtaking view.

Sost Border

Next to the Chinese border, lies a beautiful village Hunza on Karakoram Highway known as Sost or Sust.  This is the last village inside Pakistan before the Chinese border. All the cargo and passenger transport traveling to Pakistan and China passes through this village.

Moreover, there is also a national park here near Khanjerab Pass that is inhabited by rare species of leopard and other wild animals. This place is a beautiful symbol of Pak China’s friendship which is really worth a visit.

Taste Authentic Food of Hunza Valley

Last but not the least, don’t forget to taste the authentic Baltit food during your stay in Hunza Valley. Hunza has some really delicious food items and some of them are as follows:

Gyal

Gyal is a traditional local food that is made of wheat pan-fried cakes, fruit jam, honey, apricot oil along with some other local ingredients. It is mostly served for breakfast.

Local Oats – Muesli

Muesli is another tasty traditional breakfast of Hunza. It contains fresh cream, honey, roasted dried fruits, flaxseed, apricot seeds, and barley.

Rose Mantu – Dumplings

These beautiful rose-shaped dumplings are heavenly delicious Baltit food. These dumplings are made up of flour and meat, made by hands. Locals call these delicious dumplings Mantu.