Salman Rashid

Travel writer, Fellow of Royal Geographical Society

Pakistan - a multi regional state

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The Great Asiatic Divide or the Great Asiatic Watershed formed by the line of the Himalayas and Karakorams divides the Indian subcontinent from Central Asia - the former being south of the line and the latter north of it. This line runs through K-2 to the west, sweeping northward to pass just south and west of Shuwert, the summer pasture in Shimshal. That is, Shuwert sits north of the Divide and therefore, geographically speaking, is located in Central Asia.

The windswept summer pasture of Shuwert has the unique distinction of being the only habitation in Pakistan that is actually in Central Asia

Shuwert can be reached the easy way (and you only know how easy (!) it is when you go) from Shimshal. Trek up the Shimshal River and if you are very fit you can get there in a single day's hike. If not, you overnight at Shuijerab and then climb up Shimshal Pass and reach Shuwert in about three hours.

The other way is from Baltistan up the Biafo Glacier, through Sim Gang that we popularly know as Snow Lake, over the 5700 metre-high Lukpe La into the Braldu Glacier. Shuwert lies west of the toe of the glacier. This way takes about seven days of hard trekking.

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posted by Salman Rashid @ 00:00,

3 Comments:

At 26 April 2017 at 13:03, Blogger Unknown said...

A good read sir. Very enlightening.

 
At 26 April 2017 at 17:52, Blogger Aqib Dar said...

Only Shimsali's can do it one day. We did it in 3 days though !

 
At 28 April 2017 at 09:37, Blogger Salman Rashid said...

Mujtabaaaaa and Aqib, Thank you very much. By the way, did you, Aqib, get to Shuwert from Shimshal or did you do the real thing coming over the Biafo, Lukpe La and Braldu?

 

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My Books

Deosai: Land of the Gaint - New

The Apricot Road to Yarkand


Jhelum: City of the Vitasta

Sea Monsters and the Sun God: Travels in Pakistan

Salt Range and Potohar Plateau

Prisoner on a Bus: Travel Through Pakistan

Between Two Burrs on the Map: Travels in Northern Pakistan

Gujranwala: The Glory That Was

Riders on the Wind

Books at Sang-e-Meel

Books of Days