The Six wonders of Gahkuch Town Gilgit Baltistan
Gupis and Gahkuch towns of Ghizer Valley both have beautiful sites to see. Both towns lie on the same road going from Gilgit up to Phandar.
Ishkomen and Yasin Valley branch out northwards from this road.
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Table of Contents
ToggleRoute to Gahkuch
First on this road comes Gahkuch town.
Time and distance from Gilgit
From Gilgit
It takes 2.5 hours to cover 100 km to reach Gahkuch town from Gilgit.
From Islamabad
It takes 16 hours to reach from Islamabad as it is 562 km.
Route from Islamabad
Follow the route Islamabad-Hazara motorway-Kaghan-Babusar top- Gilgit – Gahkuch.
Ancient town is not near the river but is in fact high above the present town at a place called upper-Gahkuch.
The moment you take a final turn from the bend in the mountain towards Gahkuch town, the river opens up wide and you see trees growing inside the river bed, surrounded by snow-clad mountain tops.
Because the valley is so wide, gusty winds blow across and the temperature cools down considerably.
Where to get a transport
You can take any motor car or bus from Gilgit to this place as the road is in perfect condition.
Lots of transports go from Gilgit’s main bazaar to Gupis during the day and come back before sunset.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit is from April to September. It starts raining in September and that can be a bit annoying around off-road tracks.
Weather
The temperature just about touches 40 0 Centigrade during summers but when it cools down considerably during the evening to about 25 0 centigrade.
It does not rain that much.
Best hotel to stay
There are several good hotels but the most established one is Green Palace hotel 0349 8235464 and they charge 4000 per night.
Things to do
Hunting
Lots of people from the south come to Gahkuch to hunt wild pheasants and birds. The man forest in the river is a natural sanctuary for the bird population.
Visit peaceful Upper Gahkuch village
Upper Gahkuch Village has still preserved in pristine condition and the calmness of the place is very attractive. Then fresh water streams crisscross this village where people are still very hospitable.
See the ruins of Fort.
Upper Gahkuch Fort was where the local Raja would retreat when facing danger. It had a secret tunnel that lead to a water fountain on a steep rock face that the enemy would never know and the raja could remain sieged for extended periods.
Visit the cave of abandoned children
The local legend says that in the olden days, kids with polio would be left to die in this spring water cave because they were considered unfit to live a productive life.
The only murder in upper Gahkuch in the last 100 years happened over a lady.
Enjoy the fresh fruit gardens
Upper Gahkuch is dotted with mulberry, Apricots, and walnut trees among green farm plots.
The tombs of Upper Gahkuch
Near the ruins of the fort of upper Gahkuch are still sealed tombs of olden times when the locals would arrange their dead in a circular pattern and entomb them in high towers.
The upper levels of the towers have long gone but the lowest basement still stays, entombed as always with mummies still intact inside.
An archeological excavation of the dead would reveal vital insights into the olden ways of the people of Gilgit Baltistan several hundred years ago.
Buy Apricot Oil and Sweetened Walnuts
Bazar has a shop where they sell organic apricot oil, honey, and sweetened walnuts which are stuck together with roasted sugar. The good thing is that the people are not cheats and they sell real organic stuff.
Where to eat at Gahkuch
There are a lot of hotels to eat from in Gahkuch. Try the one that has the most people sitting in it and has its own tandoor.
Conclusion
Gahkuch new town is on the main road, but if you want to live in peace in a cool and clean environment, take your family to Upper Gahkuch old town.
If you want me to plan your trip, do inbox me at 923005111523.