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Shimshal Valley







Shemshal, also known as Shngshal, is a remote village in the Hunza District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Perched at 3,100 meters above sea level, it's the highest settlement in the district and a vital border crossing point connecting Pakistan with China. Founded around 1450 by Mamo Singh, the village comprises four main settlements: Farmanabad, Aminabad, Center Shamshal, and Khaizabad. The approximately 200 inhabitants reside in around 250 households.

Shemshal is renowned for its breathtaking mountain scenery, attracting adventurers and mountaineers. Towering peaks like Distagil Sar, Shamsheel White Horn, and Kanjut Sar, along with extensive glaciers such as Malangodhi and Khurdopin, create a dramatic landscape. The Khurdopin Glacier Pass is a particularly popular trekking destination. Shemshal's mountaineering legacy is strong, with over twenty local climbers, including the celebrated Rajab Shah, who has scaled five 8,000-meter peaks in Pakistan, earning the region the moniker "Valley of the Mountains."

A significant challenge for Shemshal is its reliance on hydropower, which is only available during the summer months. For the remaining seven months, the community depends on less sustainable alternatives like kerosene, wood, solar panels, and compressed natural gas, impacting daily life and development. A small 0.200 MW hydropower plant at Kok offers some relief, but a more robust energy solution is needed.





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