Many mountains in Pakistan reach heights greater than 7,000 meters (22,970 feet). Four of Pakistan’s eight-thousander mountains, or “eight-thousanders,” are close to Concordia, making five of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter (26,000-foot) or higher mountains. The Karakoram range is host to almost all of Pakistan’s high peaks, including K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) in length. Nanga Parbat is the ninth-highest peak in the world and the highest peak in Pakistan’s Himalayan range, at 8,126 meters (26,660 feet) above sea level.
The mountain ranges in Pakistan include Karakoram, Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Hindu Raj, Sulaiman Mountains, Margalla Hills, Salt Range, Ras Koh Range, Safed Koh Range, Central Brahui, Kirthar Range, and Kirana Hills. Though all these mountain ranges are not entirely in Pakistan, a part or a section of these ranges lies in the country.
In this article, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about mountain ranges in Pakistan. Make sure to read till the end to know more!
1. Himalayas
The Himalayas are the largest mountain range in the whole world. Hence, it also touches Pakistan and other countries like Nepal, Bhutan, India, and China. The longest mountain range has a length of 2400 kilometers. As the mountain range is connected to all five countries, it also has five respective borders. The western part of the Himalayas is located in Pakistan.
Killer Mountain, otherwise known as Nanga Parbat, stands tall at the height of 8,126 meters (26,660 feet) above sea level. is located in the Himalayas. This mountain is one of the most dangerous and one of the tallest mountains in Pakistan. Moreover, the Himalayas is also a mountain range where Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, is located. Likewise, in Pakistan, the range is located in Astore District in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. The Himalayas are also home to Deosai National Park, which has become a tourist center for camping, fishing, and exploration.
2. Karakoram range
The Karakoram mountain range is the second-largest mountain range in the world. This mountain range is between three borders Ladakh in India, Xinjiang in China, and Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. More than fifty peaks in the Karakoram range are above 7000 meters. In Pakistan, the tallest mountain, K2, is in the Karakoram range. K2 is also the second tallest mountain in the world and the most dangerous mountain to climb in the whole world. This mountain has been labeled as more dangerous than even Mount Everest.
The Pamir Mountains in the north and the border of the Tibetan Plateau in the northeast are the outer limits of the Karakoram Range. In 1856, the first attempt at climbing the Karakoram Range was made. Since this peak is K2, this range includes five additional peaks. Furthermore, the Karakoram range is the most highly preferred mountain range in Pakistan by mountaineers, trekkers, and adventurers in general.
3. The Hindu Kush Mountains
The Hindu Kush Mountain was set up in 1830. The Norwegian team, consisting of Pakistani climbers, accomplished the first ascent in 1950. This mountain range goes up northwest of the Pamirs and lies in Pakistan’s northwest. The Hindu Kush range is located between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a length of more than 950 meters. In Chitral, there is a peak called Tirich Mir at 7,690 meters.
Noshaq, falling along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, is the second-highest mountain, standing at 7492 meters. There are many other mountain ranges in the Hindu Kush mountain in Kohistan and Swat in Pakistan. The ideal time of year to explore the beautiful Hindu Kush Mountain is summer. The Hindu Kush mountain ranges are one of the largest mountain ranges in Pakistan.
4. The Sulaiman Mountain Range
The Sulaiman mountain range is located in Afghanistan’s Zabul province and Pakistan’s Balochistan province’s northern regions. This is possibly one of the easiest mountain ranges to climb in comparison to the ones we have mentioned above. This mountain range has a name that is famous among the people in Pakistan called, Takht-e-Sulaiman, which is the synonym for ‘Sulaiman’s Throne.’
This mountain range is in the Iranian Plateau and the Indus River.
5. The Safed Koh Mountain
The Safed Koh Mountain range is also known as the white mountain range. It is situated in the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The tallest peak in this mountain range is the Sikaram range. The range is in the height of 4,761 meters (15,620 feet). Climbers and hikers enjoy traveling to the highest Polo ground in the world. It is also quite close to the Khyber Pass and Shandur Top. The Shandur Polo Festival invites many enthusiastic individuals who are there to witness the event take place every year. Numerous trekkers and mountaineers also visit the Shandur Polo Festival.
6. Hindu Raj
The Hindu Raj is one of the most famous mountain ranges in Nepal. And it is called Hindu Raj because the synonym in Urdu stands for Hindu rules. This mountain range is located on the Northern side of the country. Moreover, it lies between the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges. One of the highest peaks in Hindu Raj is Koyo Zom, while other important peaks include Ghamubar Zom, Gul Lasht Zom, and Buni Zom.
7. Kirthar Range
Balochistan and Sindh are divided through the Kirthar Range. From the Mula River in Balochistan to Cape Monze (Karachi) to the Arabian Sea, the range spans roughly 190 miles (310 km). There are around 9,000 square kilometers of land covered by this range. Furthermore, the Gaji Lak Pass connects the roads Zidi and Khuzdar to Jhalawan and is the only one often utilized among the other passes in the Kirthar Range.
8. Salt Range
The Salt range, from its name, is easy to be known for what it is famous for. The salt production in this range is very high. The Salt range is the richest salt field in the world due to the rock salt deposits in excess in this area! The salt range is a hill station in Pakistan. This range is in the province of Pakistan, Punjab.
From east to west, the salt range is 186 miles (300 km) long. In the middle and east, the width ranges from 5 to 19 miles. The highest point in the salt range is Sakesar Mountain, which rises to a height of 4,992 feet (1,522 m). Great salt mines, including Khewra, Kalabagh, and Warcha, are found in this area. Additionally, medium-quality coal, gypsum, and other minerals are also found in this mountain range.
9. Ras Koh Hills
Ras Koh Mountain stands for the gateway and mountain for the respective words in the Balochi language. This mountain range is located in the heart of Balochistan province in Pakistan, in the heart of the province. The first nuclear test of Pakistan was taken in Ras Koh in 1998. It sits between the lower Kirthar Mountains’ southwest and the Sulaiman Mountains’ northern side. The Ras Koh hills are approximately 600 meters above sea level, but in some places, they are at a height of 3,000 meters.
10. Central Brahui Range
The southern part of the Himalayas and the Balochistan plateau is home to the Central Brahui Range. It covers the Mula River about 225 miles (360 km) south of the Pishin Lora and Zhob Rivers, with a height of 1675 meters above sea level. The people in this area are goat herdsmen and are called Brahui. The limestone hills of the Central Brahui range are covered with beautiful juniper forests.
It makes a sharp east-southeast curve in the north of Quetta, which joins the Sulaiman Range. The tallest mountains in this range are Khalifat and Zarghun. These peaks are 11,440 feet (3,487 meters) and 11,738 feet (3,578 meters), respectively.
11. Kirana Hills
Kirana Hills is in the heart of Sargodha in Pakistan. This mountain range is quite small and rural and has always proven to be the best place for tourists to visit and explore. The range is otherwise known as Black Mountain and Koh-e-Kirana.
The tallest mountain lies at a height of 980 feet (300 m). Pakistan’s nuclear test was, yet again, conducted in Kirana Hills in Sargodha in the year 1983. More than 24 such tests were later taken in this range ever since. The weather conditions can either get worse or better depending on the season. In summer, it can get quite hot, while during winters, the area gets below freezing point.
12. Margalla Hills
Margalla Hills is situated in the famous northern mountains of Islamabad, Pakistan. Tilla Charouni, with a height of 1,604 m (5,262 ft), is the tallest peak in this range. Likewise, when you are in this range, you get to see the best of snowy-clad peaks as well as the greenery of this area. And one of the best parts about Margalla Hills is that the mountains here are one of the most preferable picnic spots in Pakistan. Hence, tourists can enjoy both a picnic and the panoramic view when in Margalla Hills.
Some plants that are found in Margalla Hills are known for curing diseases. And there are around 300 species of rare as well as medicinal plants in this range.
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