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The Karakoram Anomaly – Why is Gilgit Baltistan one of the safest places on earth?

It is common to hear the question about safety when traveling to a developing country. Just as most international travelers who visit Gilgit Baltistan claim it to be one of the safest places to travel, is the claim true? Why is the world-famous mountain region of Gilgit Baltistan so safe?

 

 

Gilgit Baltistan is where the three highest mountain ranges of Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayas stand together, resulting in one of the most spectacular adventure travel destinations on the planet. It is home to Wakhi, Khowar, Shina, and Balti speakers and those using Burushaski, a language related to none other. A land where hospitality knows no end and where every mile is an inspiration.  

Gilgit Baltistan - Beyond The Valley

Crime in Gilgit Baltistan

Drastic progress has been made across the world in the past two centuries regarding education, technology, and the economy. Developed economies have been at the forefront of this advancement. For instance, in 2022, the crime rate per 1,000 people in the UK was 79.2. According to Russell Contreras, the justice and race reporter at Axios, 387.8 violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery) per 100,000 inhabitants in the US were reported, in the same year. Even with generally high literacy rates and enormous financial, technical, and human resources, the world’s leading nations have been unable to reduce crime rates significantly. Although it seems implausible that there is a region with almost zero crime rate, an anomaly does exist, and that too in the developing country of Pakistan.

 

 

Located in northern Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan boasts beautiful valleys and mountains, including the famous K2, the second-highest mountain in the world. Comprising Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang, and Ghanche, Baltistan’s total area is 31,000 km, and the population is 303,214. During 2009-2021, a negligible crime rate was reported here. In Ghanche, which has a population of 160,000, no crime was reported during 2007-2017. “The crime rate here is quite negligible,” confirms chief of police Jan Muhammad in Nisar Ali’s report on April 14, 2021, edition of Arab News.

 

 

Gilgit Baltistan isn’t coincidentally a safe region. Because of some particular factors, this region enjoys a safe-place reputation. 

History and Geography

Gilgit Baltistan is the land of centuries-old travel and trade routes and is the only part of Pakistan that borders and neighbors the four countries. Landlocked between the mighty mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and Karakoram, the region was only open to the outer world for three months in summer. Only in the 1970s, with the construction of a jeep road and better road infrastructure, the region saw significant exposure to the outside world and an influx of domestic and international tourists.

Rich Culture

The region has a vibrant culture; e.g., Baltis have a rich culture of broqchos, swords, yakkha, and ghazal dances. When the raja is getting married, which is the sneopa, the marriage procession dance is carried out by pachones or the twelve wazirs that come along with the bride. 

 

 

Indigenous to the Karakoram region, polo has been a traditional and prevalent sport in Gilgit Baltistan since the 15th century. The rulers here introduced it to the other valleys while there were conquests beyond Chitral and Gilgit. The polo competitions are regularly held throughout Gilgit Baltistan, reinforcing a social bond among the communities. 

 

 

The architecture has its Mughal and Tibetan influences, while the mosaic architecture shows Buddhist imprints; hence the Buddhist style wall paintings are there at Sufi Khanqahs and forts. Buddhism is known for tolerance and Sufism, while Shia Islamic ideologies are pluralistic and inclusive in their non-violent attitude towards other sects and religions.

Polo in Gillgit Baltistan - Beyond The Valley

Social Bonding

The region’s unique ethnic identity and geographical isolation are conducive for them to form strong bonds with family members, relatives, and friends. If someone finds cash, a bag, or a lost wallet, an advertisement is put up, or an announcement is made in the mosque to ensure that the lost property is returned to the owner promptly. Often, people leave their homes and shops unlocked because there is no concept of robbery or theft.

 

 

Strong identification of natives in social groups helps people strongly believe in their social moral system. This ensures a civilized society where the community adheres to and safeguards social standards.

Youth of Gilgit Baltistan - Beyond The Valley

Social Identity

A strong belief in the social moral system enables the people of Baltistan to adhere to the norms of conformity strictly, so there is a low tendency to engage in deviant behavior. The harsh terrain and climate reinforce their religious ideology, and the smaller population size and the valley-based community system strengthen their commitment to ethnic and cultural norms.

Fundamental Values And Moral Foundation

A social structure and environment of fundamental values motivate individuals to behave in a manner approved by their social group and reflects in their behaviors, such as the tendency among the Gilgit Baltistan population to refrain from criminal activities. The Shia and Sufi clerics have particularly played a vital role in the character-building of their communities.

 

 

The people of Gilgit Baltistan strongly identify with their region and unique culture. They consider all inhabitants of their region as their ingroup. Crime always has a victim; therefore, engaging in crime would be tantamount to negatively affecting the ingroup, and it would question the ingroup loyalty of the person committing the crime.

 

 

Despite some pockets of socio-economic poverty, generally, the people in the region are not greedy by nature and are content with what they have. The value of benevolence-concern for social welfare points to their tendency to avoid causing harm to their community or region and take care of the mountaineers and tourists who visit their region.

Impacts of Tourism

Tourists visiting the region to appreciate its beauty & unique culture also bring values and behaviors foreign to the local population. Consequently, the low crime rate in the area may be challenging to sustain owing to frequent exposure to alien cultures.

 

 

To safeguard the tremendous tourist potential of this beautiful region from harmful external impact, businesses and travelers should pay attention to mitigate the adverse external influences on the area. Let Gilgit Baltistan enjoy its reputation of being the safest place to be, a heaven on earth.

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Max elevation

HYDRATION

There is a correlation between daily fluid intake and successful acclimatization and you must pay particular attention to hydration during trekking at high altitudes. On treks to 3000 meters and above most people will need to drink between 4 and 6 liters each day to achieve suitable hydration levels and you must adopt a responsible approach to achieving this target.

ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS

Before embarking on a trek to high altitude it is important that you familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and that you report any illness to your tip leader straight away. See the links at the bottom of this page for further reading on AMS.

DIAMOX

There are a number of untested herbal remedies which claim to prevent mountain sickness. However, only one drug is currently known to have a useful role in preventing AMS and to be safe for this purpose: acetazolamide (Diamox). We recommend that you carry Diamox in your first aid kit for treks where you spend an extended period above 4000m. Diamox can only be obtained from a medical professional on prescription and it is important that you first consult your own doctor so that you know there are no contra indications with other medicines you may be taking and that you do not have an allergy to acetazolamide. Diamox commonly causes some minor side effects, such as tingling fingers and toes, or a metallic taste in the mouth, but more severe reactions are rare. On trek, the decision whether or not and when, you should take Diamox as with any drug, will rest solely with you. If you intend to take Diamox, you must familiarize yourself with the appropriate dosage and regime prior to coming on the trip. The links at the bottom of this page will provide further information on the use of Diamox as an aid to acclimatization.

Travelling to high altitudes is not something you need to be scared of. Every year thousands of people enjoy the most amazing experiences in the world's greatest mountain ranges. Altitude sickness is entirely preventable if you follow very simple rules and procedures. Please make sure you are aware of these before you travel.

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
The hike up to our campsite is a moderate 6 miles and 1400ft of elevation gain. The scramble up to Pyramid Ridge can be steep and difficult, but very adventurous and with just light day packs.Hiking

Distances
6-10 miBackpack Weight
25-35 lbsTerrain
Moderately RuggedMax Daily Elev. Gain
1950 ftHeights Exposure
Moderate

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information. Backpack Weight ratings are estimates that account for Wildland-provided gear, guest clothing, personal items and a share of group food. By packing light it’s often possible to stay on the lower end of the weight range. Pack weights also decrease during the trip.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 25-35 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
  • Hiking uphill off trail with a 8-12 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
  • Hiking with moderate heights exposure

To show the relative difficulty of our adventure holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most challenging. Our simple, colour-coded grade symbol provides an indication of the difficulty of each trip.

Clearly, there are many different factors that contribute to the difficulty of a particular holiday, including, length of day, terrain, type of accommodation, altitude and weather conditions. Since some of these factors are necessarily changeable, any system of grades can only provide a general indication. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the detailed Trip Notes and if you are still unsure, please do not hesitate to contact us

GREEN 1 - 4 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

YELLOW 5 - 7 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

RED 08 - 10 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involve many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness experience is essential.

SUMMARY OF DIFFICULTY
The hike up to our campsite is a moderate 6 miles and 1400ft of elevation gain. The scramble up to Pyramid Ridge can be steep and difficult, but very adventurous and with just light day packs.Hiking

Distances
6-10 miBackpack Weight
25-35 lbsTerrain
Moderately RuggedMax Daily Elev. Gain
1950 ftHeights Exposure
Moderate

Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information. Backpack Weight ratings are estimates that account for Wildland-provided gear, guest clothing, personal items and a share of group food. By packing light it’s often possible to stay on the lower end of the weight range. Pack weights also decrease during the trip.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Hiking uphill or downhill with a 25-35 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
  • Hiking uphill off trail with a 8-12 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
  • Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
  • Hiking with moderate heights exposure
DIFFICULTY LEVEL

To show the relative difficulty of our adventure holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most challenging. Our simple, colour-coded grade symbol provides an indication of the difficulty of each trip.

Clearly, there are many different factors that contribute to the difficulty of a particular holiday, including, length of day, terrain, type of accommodation, altitude and weather conditions. Since some of these factors are necessarily changeable, any system of grades can only provide a general indication. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the detailed Trip Notes and if you are still unsure, please do not hesitate to contact us

GREEN 1 - 4 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

YELLOW 5 - 7 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

RED 08 - 10 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involve many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness experience is essential.