Town or village
Nagar Khas
Nagar district · 2,700 m
The old Nagar capital, facing Karimabad across the Hunza gorge, with a proud history shared with its neighbour.
Hunza and Nagar were two kingdoms facing each other across a single river. Local tradition says their first rulers were twin princes of the Tarkhan dynasty of Gilgit, Girkis and Maglot. The people of the two states intermarried and kept up a friendly rivalry for centuries, and families on both banks still count cousins across the gorge. Nagar Khas was the old capital of the Nagar side.
Kind Town or villageDistrict NagarElevation 2,700 mPosition 36.276° N, 74.716° E
About Nagar Khas
The two valleys left their marks on the land. In Ganesh, the oldest village of Hunza, there are old watch towers that once looked over both the trade caravans and the other bank. Today Nagar is divided into Nagar 1 on the south bank, which includes Nagar proper, Hisper and Hopper, and Nagar 2 on the north bank, with Nilt, Chalt, Chaprot and Bar.
The book notes that Nagar proper is also known as Summayar. The area has less tourist infrastructure than Hunza, and that is part of why people love it: quieter lanes, friendly faces and some of the best treks in the Karakoram.
Walkers use Nagar Khas as a starting point for the Trivor Peak base camp trek, a six to seven day adventure with a maximum height of 4,900 m.
Elsewhere in Nagar
Swipe along the district, from the valley floor to the summits.
Summit · 7,788 m
Rakaposhi
At 7,788 m, Rakaposhi rises nearly six vertical kilometres straight off the highway, one of the steepest rises from valley floor to summit in the Karakoram, and you can enjoy it from your window.
Base camp · 3,500 m
Rakaposhi BC
A green meadow at Tagaphari, 3,500 m above Minapin, two walking days from the road and directly under Rakaposhi and Diran.
Town or village · 2,000 m
Minapin
The roadhead for Rakaposhi: the trek begins at the end of the village lane, and the mountain is above the roofs.
Glacier · 2,800 m
Hopper Glacier
A black ice tongue below the village bowl at Hopper, and the start of the walk to Rush Lake.
Lake or water · 4,694 m
Rush Lake
At 4,694 m, Rush Lake is one of the highest alpine lakes on earth, set under the Spantik massif.
Town or village · 2,300 m
Bagrote
Seven villages under the Diran icefall, an hour off the highway and a quiet side trip away from the usual circuit.
- 3,200 m
Town or village
Hispar
The last village on the Hispar side: the fields stop and the glacier begins.
Pass · 5,151 m
Hispar La
At 5,151 m, the pass that links the Biafo and Hispar glaciers, the high point of one of the great glacier journeys in the Karakoram.