Astore District

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Astore District
District
Country Pakistan
Capital Gorikot
Area
 • Total 5,092 km2 (1,966 sq mi)
Population (1998)
 • Total 71,666
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Number of Tehsils 2
Website www.myastore.com

Astore is one of the nine districts of the Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The district contains the Astore Valley and is bounded to the west by Diamer District (from which it was separated in 2004), to the north by Gilgit District, to the east by Skardu District and to the south by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Neelum District of Azad Kashmir. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the population was 71,666.[1]

The valley

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Main article: Astore Valley

The Astore valley has an area of 5,092 km² and an altitude of 2600m.

Accessibility

Astore is connected to Gilgit which is well connected by air with Islamabad(weather dependent) and by road with Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Skardu and Chitral. You can take a flight to Gilgit from the capital of the country and drive to Astore from Gilgit on metalled road. IT connects its extremist with the Indian held Kashmir, Northwest connects with Pakistan held Kashmir, in the East it connects with the Skardu , in the West it connects to outskirts of Chilas. there are two ways to access to Astor, first is via Deawsi 95 KM from Skardu city, but it is can not be use from Novber to Jun due to heavy Snowfall and second way is for all season is via Joglot 135 KM from Gilgit city.

History

According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India, around 1600:

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Ghāzī Mukhpun, a Persian adventurer, is said to have married a princess of the Skārdu reigning family. The four sons born of this union became Rās of Skārdu, Astor, Rondu, and Kharmang respectively, and from them are descended the families of the present chiefs of those places. Afzal, Guada,Chilma respectively was sons of Astor.They was live in Juttay,Ganda gam(Arzal abad),Gudai(Guada abad) ,Chilm(Chilma abad) respectively.The independence of Astor ceased at the Dogra conquest.[2]

    Climate

    Astore valley has a moderate climate during summer. In winter it can snow up to 6 inches (15 cm) in the main valleys and up to 2–3 feet (60–90 cm) in the mountains. In Mirmalik valley it snows up to 6 feet (1.8 m) in February.

    Languages

    The main language spoken in the valley is Shina (also known as Tshina). Urdu, which is the National language of Pakistan, is the second most frequently spoken language.There are different dialect of Shina spoken in the region. Since Astore has a history of modest tourist traffic in the summer months, local guides and police in Tarashing or Astore may speak some English.

    Education

    According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2015, Astore is ranked 32 out of 148 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 114 out of 148. [3]

    Villages

    Transport

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    Khasif kazmi astori launched a bussines named with Mehfoz travel service. There were some negative perceptions in past due to rough mode of transport but nowadays there are paved roads connecting Gilgit and Islamabad through the Karakorum Highway. Landslides and rockfall may be an issue in some areas of the Indus Valley. There is a permanent road through Gilgit as well as seasonal road access via Deosai Plateau to Skardu. Here you can obtain all types of vehicles (Jeeps, taxis, wagons, SUVs) and hire jeeps and SUVs at affordable prices. The most used vehicles are Jeeps and SUVs with a local preference for Pajeros and Landcruisers.

    Places of interest

    Astore lies about the massive base of Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest peak in the world. To the south of the Nanga Parbat massif lies Rama Valley, which is home to Rama Lake, with basic facilities for visitors. It has a hotel called the PTDC, constructed by the government of Pakistan. Astore valley is a unique area for tourists to visit, surrounded by the high peaks of the far western Himalaya. Nearby the two river junction the village Louze, popular for apples,apricot, cherry and other fruits especially the wild almond oil. Louze a small village with literacy rate of about 95%, the only biggest power house for electricity supply up to 1000 kW to whole district approx since 1987, nearby Louze a peaks include Nanga Parbat, Shaigiri, Rupal Peak, Chongra Peak and Laila Peak (Rupal Valley). Astore Valley ascends from the Indus River Valley near Jaglot, Pakistan. Deosai plains are the highest plateau in himalayas and are most picturesque with a bowl shapped lake, wild flowers,and a habitat of brown bear.The easiest route from Astore is via, Gorikot,(tarzay sultan abad) Gudai,Chilum and then a track leads to this area with little steep hike. It has been declared a Natural park, a special status to preserve its fora and fauna.

    Rupal Valley is one of the prominent tourism spots of Astore Valley. it lies in the east of Nanga Parbat, the killer mountain (8126m). Moreover a huge amount of water from Nanga Parbat Glacier, named Rupal River passes through Tarishing and meet with Nala Rattu at Rehmanpur. Then it flows towards east and meet with Nala Gudai at the starting point of Gorikot and become a major river of Astore Valley. This river falls in Indus River at Bunji, one of Astore Valley's village.

    References

    1. ↑ 1998 Census of Pakistan
    2. ↑ Gilgit - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 12, p. 239 According to the Imperial Gazetteer, which was compiled in the first decade of the twentieth century, the marriage took place over three hundred years ago
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    www.marifatwelfare.org Facebook: marifat.welafre.organization.astore.pakistan

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