# Ghanche District

Ghanche District (Balti: གངས་ཆེ) is a district of Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan in the disputed Kashmir region. 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 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).

## Etymology

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".

## Administration

The Ghanche District is divided into Six tehsils:
* Khaplu Tehsil
* Daghoni Tehsil
* Masherbrum Tehsil
* Chorbat Tehsil
* Ghowari Tehsil
* Keris Tehsil
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. Those were the villages of Chalunka, Thang, Turtuk, and Tyakshi. . Some of them are given in the chart below.
| Name of Village/Town | 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 | * Newti Chan, Olday Groung, Garbi Groung, Kharat, Arif Abad, Chansoq, , 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. |

## Religion

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.

## Tourism

Ghanche is one of the most visited tourist destination in Pakistan. Famous places to visit in Ghanche are:
* Barah valley
* Chaqchan Mosque
* Hushe Valley (K2 Gateway)
* Thalay valley
* Yabgo palace Keris
* Aastana Mir Mukhtar Keris (Tomb)
* Balghar Ranga
* Crystal Lake Soga
* Dongsa Rock View Point Kuro
* Frano Border (Last village on Pakistan/Indian border)
* Gyari Yadgar e Shuhada
* Haldi Coneas
* Hot Spring Kondus
* Jerba So Keris (Lake)
* Keris Valley View Point (Chanma)
* Khashal Agri Tourism Park Ghowari
* Machulu Valley
* Mashbrum View Point
* Saling Spangtoq (Trout Fish)
* Thoqsi Khar Khaplu
* Yabgo Palace Khaplu (Sereena Palace)

## Education

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.