Wonders of the Karakorum
by Pervez A. Khan
Ferozsons, Rawalpindi, 1996
160 pages, 87 colour plates, 2 maps
While climbing in the Siachen Glacier, in the eastern Karakoram, I have looked at the panorama to the west and always wondered how the area would appear from the ground. These are the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Due to the troubled nature of the Indo-Pakistan relationship, as an Indian, I cannot visit them. The Indian passport specifically states "not valid" for the Northern Areas of Pakistan.
There are several books, expedition accounts and articles available that give you a taste of what it is like in the Western Karakoram. But then that is not like being there. As one goes through Pervez Khan´s book with images and information on the peaks, people, sports, eating habits, wildlife and natural habitats, one aspect is clear. Political boundaries may separate the Eastern and Western Karakoram, but the mountains and people on both sides are essentially similar. Only the army divisions that stand in between separates them.
This book covers the part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan known as the Western Karakoram (though the author prefers to call them ´Karakorum´). The range is divided into two districts, Gil git and Baltistan. The introductory chapter briefly covers various aspects of the range, as one would expect from a coffee-table book. Geology, climate, wildlife and exploration history are covered. The listing of the world´s 8000m peaks looks out of place and the table of peaks in the Karakoram is incomplete. There are better pictures in the earlier book on the same subject, The Karakoram by Shiro Shirahata, but this one has certain specialties.