The Karakoram Highway is a 1,300-kilometer-long road that stretches from the city of Abbottabad in Pakistan to Kashgar in China. It is one of the highest paved roads in the world and is known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” The Karakoram Highway was built in the 1960s and 1970s as a joint project between China and Pakistan, and it is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century.
The Karakoram Highway passes through some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. The road winds its way through the Karakoram mountain range, which is home to some of the world’s highest peaks, including K2, the second-highest mountain in the world. The road passes through narrow gorges, across high mountain passes, and along the banks of raging rivers. The scenery is truly awe-inspiring, and many travelers make the journey just for the stunning views.
Karakoram Highway is the road that any backpacker wishes to conquer once in his life. Because this is the world’s highest international paved road, located at an altitude of 4,600m above sea level, running along the Karakoram mountain range are majestic, very dangerous and precarious landscapes.
But the Karakoram Highway is not just a scenic road. It is also a vital trade route that connects Pakistan and China. The road is a key part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which aims to connect China to Europe and beyond via a network of roads, railways, and ports. The KKH is also an important route for Pakistani traders, who use it to transport goods to China and beyond.
The construction of the Karakoram Highway was an enormous undertaking. The road had to be built through some of the most challenging terrain on the planet. Workers had to blast through mountains, build bridges over deep gorges, and construct tunnels through solid rock. The road was built by hand, with workers using only simple tools and explosives. To build the route, thousands of workers had to cut through jagged canyons, disassemble bulldozers, load parts onto donkeys and reassemble at the start of the bulldozing work, facing the weather. The weather was harsh and thousands of workers lost their lives due to rock falls and falling into the abyss.
Despite the challenges, the Karakoram Highway was completed in 1978, after almost 20 years of work. The road has since become a symbol of the friendship between China and Pakistan. It has also opened up the region to tourism, with travelers from around the world flocking to see the stunning scenery and experience the unique culture of the region.
But the Karakoram Highway is not without its challenges. The road is prone to landslides and flooding, and it is often closed during the winter months due to heavy snowfall. The road is also in need of constant maintenance, and there are concerns about the environmental impact of the heavy traffic that now travels along it.
Despite these challenges, the Karakoram Highway remains a remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the human spirit and the power of collaboration between nations. The road has brought people and cultures together, and it has opened up new opportunities for trade, tourism, and development. The Karakoram Highway truly deserves its title as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
