Passu Cones | An Amazing Phenomenon of Gilgit-Baltistan

Passu Cones

While discussing Gilgit-Baltistan, Passu village is an important location, the meeting point of three of the world’s most mighty mountain ranges. K-2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum, Masherbrum and Rakaposhi are amongst the highest peaks. This is the host of the Deosai Plains, the Baltoro glacier, the Batura glacier and many picturesque valleys. Hunza is a strikingly beautiful location that is a popular tourist destination due to its location along the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The village is 14 kilometres from Gulmit, the Gojal Valley’s Tehsil (Sub-Division) headquarters. It’s about 150 kilometres uphill from Gilgit along the glacier’s edge.

Cones/Credits: Mubashir Jadoon

Significance

Batura glacier (the world’s fifth longest non-polar glacier) is located in the south of this village, only 56 kilometres from the Karakoram Highway (KKH). This village is halfway between Hunza and Sost. It is close to the Khunjerab Pass, from where the Chinese border is only a few kilometres away. The village’s total surface area is 1,050 square kilometres. It has a beautiful landscape with high mountains, meadows, terrains, plateau creeks and glaciers.

Tupopdan (6,106 metres/20,033 feet) is the highest point in the area, also known as “Passu Cones” or “Passu Cathedral”. The Passu-Sar, Shispare-Sar, and Batura glaciers lie on the northern side of the village.

Passu Village

The Wakhi language is spoken by people of the Ismaili sect and Tajik origin. This location is famous for its mountain peak routes and junctions.

Tupopdan (The Sun Drenched Mountain), also known as Passu Cathedral or Cathedral Ridge, stands tall alongside the small village, which has been endowed with captivating charm by mother nature. Mount Topopdan is the most popular mountain Peak in the region.

Passu Glacier

The White Glacier is in Hunza valley, in the south of Passu village. Passu Peak is at the glacier’s back end. This glacier connects the Batura Glacier to the other glaciers in the area. It is the main tourist attraction. KKH used to pass through this glacier, but the route has been changed.

Yunz Pasture

Yunz Pasture/Credits: Shehper Afroze

A link exists between Passu Glacier and Batura Glacier through Yunz Pasture. It is a verdant, grassy area surrounded by a profusion of Alpine trees and shrubs. The trek is straightforward and offers mesmerising vistas of Zarth-Sar and the two above mentioned glaciers. Ridges and rocks surround the valley. Hiking to the Yunz Pasture takes five to six hours.

Avdegar Meadows

Yak Meadows in Avdegar offers a breathtaking look to the tourists when they catch a glimpse from the helicopter. They can see the giant glaciers, the magnificent KKH and remote locations that are difficult to reach. Camping is fantastic along with the Shishper’s breathtaking scenery. The Batura and towering peaks are enough to create an amazing view for wonderful memories.

Batura Valley

Batura, one of the longest glaciers in the area (65 kilometres) lies in Batura valley. It takes refuge between the world’s tallest mountain peaks. The hike is a leisure strolling through the flowery areas in the moraine ridges. This is a unique opportunity to witness the daily routine of the Wakhi community in Gojal (Upper Hunza). Tourists can see Ultar-Sar (7,388 metres), Passu Peak (7,478 metres), Karon Koh (7,200 metres) and Batura Glacier (7,500–7,785 metres).

Suspension Bridges

Passu
Passu/Credits: Shafqat Altaf

While trekking to Passu and surrounding areas, tourists will cross two bridges.

i. Passu Suspension Bridge

ii. Hosseini Suspension Bridge

The first suspension bridge is on the Hunza river which is on the way to Khurramabad. The second suspension bridge is about an hour’s glide from the main village of Khuramabad which connects to Zor-Abad. It takes about five hours to trek through the area.

Passu Suspension Bridge
Passu Suspension Bridge/Credits: Sher Ali Saafi

Facilities

Tourists can easily find accommodations in all of the major areas.

Shimshal Pass, Sost, Chapursan, Khunjerab and Hunza are all accessible by any four wheel vehicle.

You can read the previous article Peer Hassimar – A Panoramic Place in Muzaffarabad by the same author: Fehmeeda Farid Khan

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