Gilgit
Gilgit
| |
|---|---|
City in Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan | |
Interactive map of Gilgit | |
| Coordinates: 35°55′15″N 74°18′30″E / 35.92083°N 74.30833°E | |
| Administering country | Pakistan |
| Adm. Unit | Gilgit-Baltistan |
| District | Gilgit District |
| Government | |
| • Type | Divisional Administration |
| • Commissioner | Najeeb Alam (PAS) |
| • Deputy Inspector General (DIG) | Hassan Raza Khan (PSP) |
| Elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 261,440 |
| Demographics | |
| • Language(s) | Shina, Urdu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:00 (PST) |
| Postal code | 1571 – 1xx |
| Area code | +92 |
Gilgit (/ˈɡɪlɡɪt/; Shina: گِلیٗت IPA: [ɡi˧.leː˨˦t̪]; Urdu: گِلْگِت IPA: [ˈɡɪlɡɪt̪]) is the capital and most-populous city in Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region. It is located in a broad valley near the confluence of the Gilgit and the Hunza rivers. Gilgit is a major tourist destination in Pakistan, serving as a hub for trekking and mountaineering expeditions in the Karakoram mountain range of northern Pakistan.
Gilgit was once a major centre for Buddhism; it was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, and today serves as a major junction along the Karakoram Highway with road connections to China as well as the Pakistani cities of Skardu, Chitral, Peshawar, and Islamabad. The economic activity is mainly focused on agriculture, with wheat, maize, and barley as the main crops.