| The Karakoram Highway (KKH) runs from Kashgar in Western China to Islamabad in Pakistan, and isn't so much a highway as a 'high road'. It took a stunning 20 years to finish the road, and even today it continues to suffer from extreme weather and environmental disasters. The KKH runs through the highest concentration of soaring mountain peaks and raging rivers in the world, and is generally considered to be among the most spectacular areas on our planet. Traveling here isn't for the faint hearted, although transportation has improved significantly in the past decades. In October 2010 I had the chance to travel the Karakoram Highway. Although Pakistan had suffered its worst floods in recent history the same year, most parts of the road were still intact. Nevertheless, traveling the road proved a massive challenge and also a great adventure. As these events had scared off many tourists and travelers, I found myself among locals for nearly all of the time. (Other than royalty free audio, I also used a short part of the following song: Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hai - by Penn Penn Masala) |
