Yasin River (Gilgit Baltistan)
The Yasin River flows throughout the Yasin Valley, orignated from the border between Chitral district and Gupis-Yasin district, from the glaciers of the Koyo Zom, that is the highest mountain in the Gupis-Yasin district. River flows from the narrow line between the mountains near Rawat and Darkut village, and then most of the areas in the Yasin Valley, it flows in wider channel. Finally it ends in the Gilgit River near Gupis town.
The Yasin River and its several tributaries are the major source of water in the Yasin Valley for irrigation as well as for growth of number of fruit gardens of apricot, almonds, etc.
About Yasin Valley
Yasin Valley, Babaye-e-Yasen, is a valley in Hindu Kush Range at an average altitude of 26,00 meters, in Gupis-Yasin district, Baltistan, at the distance of 128 km from Gilgit main city and accessible through Chitral Road from Gilgit along the Gilgit River. From Gupis town, turn right on Yasin Valley Road along the Yasin River to access it.
The lower part of Yasin valley is wider and flat, so it gives vast beauty of lush green meadows in the high mountains. Due to the availability of water in the form of several streams, it provides a full layered irrigation system along the Yasin River. You can see layers of fields along the Yasin River as well as along the streams coming toward the Yasin River.
Yasin Valley is important for number of high mountain passes, those are normally covered with snow all over the year. These passes are short-cut routes to access the adjoining areas such as Chitral, Ishkoman, as well as Turkmenistan crossing the narrow strip of Wakan Corridor in Afganistan. The most important of those passes are Darkut, Buroghil, Assumbur, Thoi, Naz Bar, etc.
Yasin Valley provides the pure traditional culture of Gilgit region. People of the Yasin Valley are polite and cooperative. They welcome tourists with open-handed and guide them to explore the valley. The locals love to live on simple food by cultivate their own small vegetable garden. There are numerous orchids of fruits including cherry, almonds, apple, apricot, etc. These fruit tree are also available along the roads and treks, so you can enjoy these natural fruits free of cost.
As various superstitions are common in most of the hilly areas, such type of superstitions are common in the Yasin Valley too. Most of the people in this area, believes to scarify a hen before marriage near Damalgan in beginning of the Yasin Valley, to avoid bad fairies in bridle or expected death of one of the bridle or groom. They also avoid to cultivate onion or garlic in specific areas in the Yasin Valley, otherwise there will be bleeding hand instead of bulb of onion or garlic on pulling it out. They have the belief of some spiritual creatures in the valley do not like the smell of onion and garlic