Destinations / The Most Spectacular Roads in the World / The Karakoram Highway

This road is winding through some of the most rugged teritorries in the world. It took over 20 years to complete the road, that was built by Chinese and Pakistani road crews, featuring a cost that was staggering in terms of time, money and lives lost. About 500 Chinese and Pakistani workers were killed during the construction process. In general this road is recognized as one the most incredible engineering projects of the century.

The Karakoram Highway was finally completed in 1978, officially inaugurated in 1982 and fully opened to foreigners in 1986. It passes within earshot of great 25,000 foot peaks like Nanga Parbat and Rakaposhi, opening breathtaking views. Along the entire length of the highway there are Buddhist rock carvings, that give a specific mystery to the road.

 

Walking or driving on the Karakoram Highway is not good for the weak hearted. The mostly two-lane road hugs mountainsides and includes hairpin turns and steep crossings. Avalanches and landslides crackle in the distance. Landslides of rock can kill people periodically, or facilitate the emergence of the accidents. From time to time buses, trucks and cars form drop off the sides of the cliffs. There are no shoulders and cars or trucks sometimes have to skirt within inches of sheer drop-offs into the valleys and rushing rivers below. The road seems not so false as it once was but it can still be beautiful hair raising especially during the monsoon season in the summer. Some  portions of the road are paved but many parts are dirty, gravel, broken asphalt. It can be opened in  summer but it  is often closed for other period of time. It might be closed for weeks because of the floods and landslides. The avalanche season is during the spring months. 

 

The Karakoram Highway usually is considered  a "symbol of Pakistan-Chinese friendship and cooperation" and  it is  meant to promote   tourism in the area and to bring mountain tribes into the mainstream. But the road has a great strategic military importance. However this road is a great treasure for the residents of Pakistan and China who can walk around this majestic beauty and have free access while admiring the beauty of those places. The guests can delight themselves with splendid panoramas and enjoy lovely memories.

 

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