Nanga Parbat - Killer Mountain (Gilgit Baltistan)

 

Nanga Parbat, also known as Killer Mountain, is located on the border between Diamer and Astore districts. It is locally known as Diamer, King of the mountains. It is the 9th highest mountain in the world, having a height of 8,126 meters. It is the most difficult mountain to climb due to its vertical and dangerous structure. The weather conditions here, are too much uncertain, within few minutes, it covers with clouds and temperature drops below freezing point.

Nanga Parbat has a sharp vertical and prominent peak on all sides, rising 15,090 feet from the base camp from the Rupal Face that is the highest mountain face in the World, whereas it rises 22,966 feet on the Rakhiot Flank from Indus River valley to the summit in just 25 km, that is one of the ten greatest elevation. Nanga Parbat has the second most clear and prominent peak in the World, after Mount Everest. The north side leading toward the Indus River is covered with a number of subsidiary summits including North Peak, also known as Chongra, which is more difficult to climb.

Nanga Parbat is a long ridge that is composed of a huge bulk of ice and rock from southwest to northeast. It has three faces, the Rakhiot, Diamer, and Rupal faces. On the southwestern ridge, also called the Mazeno Wall, has number of small subsidiary peaks. In Northeast on the main ridge, there is Rakhiot Peak at the elevation of 23,200 ft. The south side is dominated by the Rupal Face. The north side leads to the Indus River is more dangerous and complex and splits into the Diamer face and Rakhiot face. The North Peak at the elevation of 25,643 ft at three kilometers from the main summit. There is a glacier lake called Latbo Lake near the base of the Rupal Face.

Nanga Parbat is the western anchor of the Himalayan Range and is just on the south of the Indus River. Nanga Parbat peak has tremendous vertical relief over local terrain in all directions.

Nanga Parbat was first climbed by Austrian climber Hermann Buhi from the Rakhiot Flank on 3 July 1953. Ali Sadpara, a Pakistan climber, was successfully climbed in winter season on 26 February 2016.

Fairy Meadows is the splendid place to visit in front of Rakhiot Face, which is full of lush green landscapes. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful weather there with a splendid view of Nanga Parbat in front of them. One-night stay gives you the chance to observe the sky full of stars in clear weather. Camping sites are also available there. If you visit in dark nights, then you will observe the hunge number of stars in the sky. It will be a unique experience in your life as you have never seen such sky with countless stars.

Beyal Camp is the next point after Fairy Meadows to get a closer view of Nanga Parbat. It is a resting point to start the next most dangerous 4-5 hours trek toward Base Camp in front of the Nanga Parbat. Trek passes through the Riakot Glacier, which is the most difficult part of the trek. Trek can be even covered by inexperience trekkers as it is much straight trek with a little difficulty, so no need of specialize mountain hiking equipment. But you must equip yourself with special hiking shoes and hiking stick.

About Diamer

Diamer is the district of Gilgit-Baltistan on the Karakoram Highway along the Indus River. It is the gateway to access the mighty mountains of Karakoram Range in Gilgit-Baltistan from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province. The Chilas is the capital town of the Diamer district. One of the major importance of this city is the Nanga Parbat, which is the 9th highest mountain in the world, having a height of 8,126 meters.

It is located at a distance of 456 km from Islamabad, the Capital of Pakistan. Its boundaries are connected with the Tangir, Gilgit, Astore, Neelum Valley, Upper Kohistan, and Mansehra districts. It can be accessed via Karaokoram Highway from the Upper Kohistan side as well as from Babusar Top from Kaghan Valley side. It is best to stay at Besham if you are coming from the Kohistan side. Whereas you can stay in Naran if you are traveling via Babusar Top.

Traveling toward Chilas from Besham gives a lot of picturesque and splendid views of the Karakorum Highway. There are a number of cold water and hot water springs in the mountain rocks on the road. Near Dassu and Shatia, you can see the Buddhist rock arts along the bank of the Indus River.

In Gilgit-Baltistan along the Karakoram Highway, there are more than 50,000 pieces of Buddhist rock art and inscriptions. These are found mostly in Hunza, Shatial, Shighar, and Skardu. The Kharosthi term Kaboa or Kamboa in Khrosthi inscription found in Chilas town in the Diamer district by the Archaeological Department of Pakistan. That indicates Chilas was part of an ancient Kamboja Kingdom.

Raikot Bridge is the point from where a jeep trek leads toward Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat Base camp. It is a beautiful bridge over the Indus River on the Karakoram Highway when the road moves on the left bank of the Indus River.

Fairy Meadows, a lush green plateau, is located at an altitude of 3,300 meters at the base of Nanga Parbat in Chilas in the Diamer district. It is a wonderful site that gives a splendid view of The Killer Mountain, Nanga Parbat.

Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest peak in the world, is located near Tattu village in Chilas. Fairy Meadows is the first base camp for Nanga Parbat Expedition. It gives a beautiful and clear view of Nanga Parbat Hill in clear weather. While traveling on the Karakoram Highway, the Nanga Parbat Peak remains in view for a long time.

As you have crossed the stream from the Dudishal town, after a few kilometers you can see the site of Diamer Basha Dam. It is located where the River Indus has much wider and moves within the deep mountain rocks.

Diamer has a dry and hot climate zone, so the mountains in this district are mostly barren and dry. The weather conditions in Diamer are normally dry and hot in the summer season, whereas in the winter season, the weather becomes more pleasant. Nanga Parbat is standing just a wall and blocking the monsoon rain. So in the Diamer district, there are mostly barren and dry mountains without trees.

Nanga Parbat is famous for Highest Mountain Face in the World

Nanga Parbat has a sharp vertical and prominent peak on the Rupal side, it is the highest Mountain Face in World, also known as Rupal Face. It rises 15,090 feet from its base.