The majestic Khunjerab mountain stands proudly at an elevation of 15,439 ft and is more commonly known as the Khunjerab Pass. China and Pakistan are connected by the Khunjerab Pass.
This is located in the Karakoram Mountains, on the Northern Pakistan Highway N-55 in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It is one of the highest motorable passes which makes it even fascinating!
For an annual trip, I decided to visit the breathtaking Hunza Valley and head to the Khunjerab Pass from here. While being there and reveling in the entrancing wonders of Hunza, my friends and I spontaneously made plans to take a 3-hour and 39-minute drive from Hunza Valley to Khunjerab Pass.
During our drive, I got to witness the majestic mountains encapsulating us from both sides. The fresh crystal-clear streams flow gracefully. The view was getting progressively better as we moved nearer to the Khunjerab Pass. While the view was getting better, the ascent was simultaneously getting steeper as we climbed the mountain.
We covered a 172 km distance and passed through enchanting meadows and livestock. There, we could finally see the Pass surrounded by snow-covered mountains. The weather was chilly even though it was the month of July. As we laid our eyes on the scenic beauty in front of us, all the cold faded away. Our luggage remained in Hunza as we were here for a short amount of time.
The mountain pass connects the Xinjiang region of China with the Northern areas of Pakistan. It is the highest point on the Karakoram Highway. This is why, making it highest paved international border crossing in the world. Many Pakistani and Chinese citizens visit this beautifully built pass. We also got to experience the beautiful relationship that both countries have forged between themselves. The people there were extremely friendly, and their enthusiasm created a blissful environment.
Our conversations with the people at the Khunjerab Pass led us to our next stop. It is the world’s highest Automated Teller Machine installed by the National Bank of Pakistan. The Pass is not only the border in the world but also home to the highest ATM. The Guinness World Record holder ATM was a big source of convenience for all of us tourists as carrying cash was not an integral part of this journey.
The borders of Afghanistan and Tajikistan are also near the Khunjerab Pass. And because of that, we got to meet people from various countries uniting with their love for thrilling journeys and experiencing the beauty of the world.
Our next stop was the Khunjerab National Park, established in 1975 by Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is the largest national park in Pakistan. The ticket to enter the National Park was 10 US dollars for each person. The park . It is famous for having various amounts of rare animals like Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolf, Brown Bear, Blue Sheep, Marcopolo Sheep, Red Fox, and Wood Mouse. It is also home to birds like Golden Eagle, Snow Pigeon, Western Marsh Harrier, Bearded Vulture, and even Grey Heron. The World Wide Fund for Nature has created plans to protect the Alpine flora of Pakistan and the Marco Polo Sheep too.
Other than the diversity and beauty of the wildlife, the park also consists of stunning landscapes. With lush green valleys, blooming meadows, turquoise lakes, and snow-capped mountains. After reveling in the beauty of the picturesque park, we headed back to the Khunjerab Pass one last time and then traveled back to Hunza to collect our bags from there.
Our thrilling and insightful adventure ended up on a pleasing note as we drove back to Hunza. The striking beauty and the hospitality from people of different countries made this trip a memorable experience and one I would like to encounter on this exhilarating journey once again.