| Ghanche District | |
| Native Name Lang: | بلتی |
| Settlement Type: | District of Gilgit-Baltistan administered by Pakistan |
| Image Map1: | Kashmir region. LOC 2003626427 - showing sub-regions administered by different countries.jpg |
| Map Caption1: | A map showing Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan (shaded in sage green) in the disputed Kashmir region |
| Coordinates: | 35.1667°N 96°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Territory |
| Subdivision Name1: | Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Subdivision Type2: | Division |
| Subdivision Name2: | Baltistan Division |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Khaplu |
| Government Type: | District Administration |
| Leader Title: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Umer Viqar (BPS-18 PAS) |
| Leader Title1: | District Police Officer |
| Leader Name1: | Nasir Ali Khan (BPS-18 PSP) |
| Leader Title2: | District Health Officer |
| Leader Name2: | N/A |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 4,052 |
| Population As Of: | 2017 |
| Population Total: | 160,000 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Number of Tehsils |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 6 |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Main language(s) |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Balti (language)|Balti]] |
Ghanche District ({{nq|གངས་ཆེ) is a district of Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region.[1] [2] [3] [4] It is the eastern-most district of Gilgit-Baltistan. It is the coldest place within Pakistan as it is situated on the "third pole", with temperatures reaching below -20 °C in the winter. The Khaplu Valley and the Hushe Valley form the gateway for the great Baltoro Muztagh, the subrange of the Karakoram Mountains[5] that includes the mighty peaks of K2 (8,611 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m), the Gasherbrums (8,000+ m) and Masherbrum (7,821 m),all of which are also included in the Skardu District).[6]
The word "gang" in the Balti language means "glacier", and '"che" is used as a superlative term to indicate "an abundance". The word is used by the residents of the Khaplu Valley in the name of the Ghanche Nallah, a seasonal stream which flows through the town of Khaplu during the summer season. When the Pakistani government elevated the status of the Ghanche Tehsil to that of a district, the people of the valley willingly selected the name "Ghanche".[7]
The Ghanche District is divided into Six tehsils:
The six tehsils are divided into 56 union councils, with each council containing many villages. Four villages of the Chorbat Valley were lost in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[8] [9] Those were the villages of Chalunka, Thang, Turtuk, and Tyakshi. .[10] Some of them are given in the chart below.
| Name of Village/Town[11] | Muhallahs in the Village/Town | |
|---|---|---|
| Keris | Oroba, Sumalsa, kashiba, Sadat colony, Barchong, Khargrong, Dangah, Youljuk, Charathang, Ural Gone, Banpa,Mustafaabad,Shagaran,barchong. | |
| Gone | Gongma Grong, Gamba Grong | |
| Kuro | Farool, Bahadur abad,Braqthoq, Khankah grong, Gulshen Town Sato, Bani gala, Gharaqpi gond, Katchurdas,Khuram abad,Ldamxong,Airot | |
| Ghowari | Ghulu Khor, Manjar, Sain (Hill Town), Chogo Grong, Shahoba, Zangi Ba, Manowa, Sobi Gon, Rahinpi Khor, Mala Abdul pi khor, Mayokhor, Duskhor, Soq, Gintha | |
| Yugo | Baqir Colony, Yogo | |
| Daghoni | Malagrong, Baleeva, kharmang, Thagna, shigalgrong, chogogrong, baktawa, Haiderabad | |
| Kharkoo | Mandik, Arapa, Malayar, Thana Gamba Trangzong, Gongma Trangzong, Garbong, Youlskil, Piyara, Shopacholi, Lahar, Sogha | |
| Balghar | Soq,Yompoya,Loda,Khankha Groing, marmung,Gon,Chan Gon, Ungbo,Gongmayar,Bazawa,Khodakha,Garieppa,Kharwathaing,khashou,Gamba Bardas. | |
| Barah | Gumba BARA (Hilfiyuoq, Kharfiyouq, Bara Gond, BrouqPa, Thupori), Gungma BARA (Spinpa, Sampa, MantholPa, Khanka, Pandiva, Darussalam, Mirikpa, Shourova, MominPa, QadeerPa, Tatous) | |
| Khaplu Pain | Kraming, Malaliwa, Ansoq, Kongbozang, Gongmayar, Baqerpi gund. Mekxerpi, Goqpi Mirpiser, Thaskong, Ghares, Morgoto, Helam groung, Braqchan, Chaqchan, mongrong, Beadenday, Hipi, Askari gond, Chilabatigond, Kowakhong, Stronpi, Konowa, Khsergroung, Garboung | |
| Khaplu Bala | Mouldomar, Sargaib, Stodkhoor (Braqchansar, Khansar, Banpi, Hundili Gharalti, Laxar), Khanqah, Naqzigroung, Gamba Bathong, Goma Bathong, Goma staqji (Muhsinabad), Langkhong (Islamabad), Hatchhe khar, Hatchhe, Hatchhe, Dinis(faizbaksh sector), Gamba Bngriya, goma Bngriya, Doqsa Garbochung, | |
| Saling | Banpi Gabkhore, Doqbar, Biliggrong, Sotol, Gond | |
| Haldi | ||
| Thagas |
, Farol, Baqmacho, Kharkhor, Bandy Groung, Arappi Groung, Ool, Tholdi, Dung,Lhangkhani Groung. | |
| Chorbat | Siksa (Kalan, Sokhmos), Chowar, Siari, Piun, Hassanabad, Ameerabad, Dawoo, Marcha, Partook, Thoqmus, Franu | |
| Gulshan-e-Kabir | Tranzong, Gonpon, Kharkhor (Kharkhor & Bongri), Farol (Gapkhor & Yarol) | |
| Dumsum | mallon, gabser, mongron,khachepa,yarkhor,oling,skoungoa, barngmalla, | |
| Ghursay | ||
| Sino | sino | |
| Talis | Nima bazar, hussani chock, | |
| Saltoro | Mandik, Saith, Ghaglu and Goma | |
| Surmo | Choghogrong, Tarkari, Tishari, Gond, Khar | |
| Kundos | Karmanding,Gubla, Choghogrong, Telcho, bagey, shakhma, Lachat, Thang, Hano, Khorkondo, Farol, | |
| Machulu | Ashurpi, Malikpi, Manthalpi, Khadi, Badawa, Hilbi, Mallon, Teshari, Marin, Bongri, Baqdurpi | |
| Hushe | ||
| Marzi Gon | ||
| Thalay | Haltagari Baltoro, daltir, yarkhor, taso, harangus, parangus, Chundu, khasomik, bordas, gaworic, lodas. |
The majority of the people living in Ghanche District belong to Noorbakshia Sufi Islam, with the rest belonging to the Sunni and Shia sects. A religious leader locally called a "bowa" has a very important place in Ghanche society.
Ghanche is one of the most visited tourist destination in Pakistan. Famous places to visit in Ghanche are:
According to the Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings 2017, Ghanche is ranked 29th out of 141 districts in terms of education. For facilities and infrastructure, the district is ranked 118th out of 155.[13]