Town or village
Yasin
Ghizer district · 2,300 m
A Burushaski speaking valley, once a powerful independent kingdom and the gateway between the Oxus and the Indus.
Yasin was a powerful independent kingdom and the gateway between the Oxus and the Indus valleys. In the early 8th century it was known as Little Bolor and ruled Gilgit. Over the centuries it was a meeting place for Tibetans, the Maqpon rulers of Baltistan and the Khushwaqt dynasty of Mastuj.
Kind Town or villageDistrict GhizerElevation 2,300 mPosition 36.576° N, 73.297° E
About Yasin
People in Yasin speak a more authentic dialect of Burushaski, the language of Hunza and Nagar. Many of the former ruling class speak Khowar, which links them to Chitral. Shina is spoken in a few pockets. Most people are Ismaili Muslims, and the valley is sometimes known as Woorshigum, the valley of the Burusho. Learn a few words of Burushaski and you will get a big smile.
North of Yasin proper is Muduri, where the ruins of a wall of the old Maduri Fort remain above the village, a nice stop for anyone who loves old stone.
Treks in the valley, including to Darkot, the Thui valley and Chapursan, follow old trade routes, and all of them go with a local guide who can share the stories of the route.
Elsewhere in Ghizer
Swipe along the district, from the valley floor to the summits.
- 1,800 m
Town or village
Gahkuch
The district headquarters of Ghizer, on the Gilgit river, and the turn for the Ishkoman valley.
- 2,400 m
Town or village
Ishkoman
A valley where nine languages are spoken in Immit village alone, and the base for treks to Yasin, Naltar and Chapursan.
- 4,272 m
Lake or water
Qurumbar Lake
At 4,272 m, a perennial lake at the head of Ishkoman, inside Pakistan's first wetlands national park.
- 2,200 m
Town or village
Gupis
Where the Yasin river joins the Gilgit, and where the road divides for Yasin and Shandur.
- 2,250 m
Lake or water
Khalti Lake
Trout water below Gupis, frozen hard enough to walk on by January.
- 2,800 m
Town or village
Darkot
The last village on the road north of Yasin, and the base for treks over the Darkot Pass into Chapursan.
Lake or water · 2,900 m
Phunder
The river braids into blue pools below the village: trout, poplars and a polo ground, on the road to Shandur.
- 3,700 m
Pass
Shandur Pass
At 3,700 m, the pass between Ghizer and Chitral, with the highest polo ground in the world on top.