Askole, the last village in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, has received its first snowfall of the season; the area’s beauty and the local residents’ excitement are a pretty sight to see.
The high-altitude, isolated border areas of Askole in Gilgit-Baltistan have had their first snow of the winter season, which has of course added to the general splendour of the place. It’s not just the snow on the mountains that’s been so striking; the valley itself has been transformed by it, the scenery absolutely stunning after such a long dry spell and such a long wait for the cold season.
For the unserved, the glaciers in the last village of the mountainous region (Askole Pakitan) provide a significant proportion of Pakistan’s water. The Biafo, Baltoro and Batura glaciers (three of the longest glaciers in the world outside the polar regions) are all located here.
The locals’ faces lit up when the snow actually started to fall (particularly the younger lot). The snow this time around was a bit delayed, which made the dry cold much worse. The first snowfall has completely transformed the scene, and there’s a real improvement all round.
The locals’ day-to-day lives have also been improved by this lovely seasonal change. There’s now a real buzz around the traditional winter food and qahwa (the local tea which is absolutely essential to the culture) and a real upsurge in the buying of traditional warm clothing and the hoarding of wood for the fire in the homes.
Meanwhile, all sorts of winter travellers from all over the country have started heading over to Gilgit-Baltistan, having heard about the magical snowfall. As they look forward to a good season, the people working in the hotels and in the tourism sector generally are feeling much more positive and upbeat.
In order to ensure that no problems whatsoever are experienced by either visitors or residents during the season, the government and local authorities have completed their preparations to deal with any emergency that may arise and to maintain the roads. The winter tourism season is officially up and running with the first snowfall of the season.
