Pakistan is a country blessed with abundant natural beauty. Its geography is a blend of landscapes varying from hot deserts to cold valleys, fast flowing rivers to calm lakes, forest, peaks, and plateaus ranging from the shoreline areas of the Arabian Sea in the south to the massive mountains of the Karakoram Range in the north.But let’s focus on the top ten mountains in Pakistan

1.K2

K2 is the second highest and the highest mountain in Pakistan. It’s a part Karakoram Range and located between the borde rs of Pakistan and China.The local name of the mountain is “Chogori”, which is in Balti language meaning “The King of Mountains”. However this name rarely known in the foreign world. The name K2 was given to the mountain by Thomas Montgomerie during his survey of the Karakoram K2 has been described as the “Killer”, “Breathtaking”, and “Savage Mountain”. This is because of its high killing rate, for every four person to reach the summit one has died. This is second highest killing rate among the “eight-thousanders”. But the thing that sets K2 apart from the Annapurna, (the mountain with the highest fatality rate) is that K2 has never been climbed in winter.Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnon as a part of Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio succeeded in ascending to the summit of K2 thru the Abruzzi Spur on July 31, 1954 for the first time.

2.Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat is the 9th highest mountain in the world and 2^nd highest in Pakistan. The Words Nanga Parbat translates to “Naked Mountain”; Parbat derived from the Sanskrit meaning “mountain, rock” and nanga an Urdu word meaning “naked”. However its original name is “Diamir the King of Mountains”. It is a gigantic, dramatic peak that rises far above its surrounding terrain Nanga Parbat formulates the western anchor of the Himalayan Range and is the westernmost among the “eight-thousanders”. It lies south of the Indus River in the Astore D istrict of Gilgit-Baltistan.Nanga Parbat is most commonly known as the “Killer Mountain”, Its was considered as one of the most deadliest mountain in in the world during the first half of the 20^th century, since that time it has become comparatively less dangerous but still one of the most toughest mountains to climb in the worlds so, though still an extremely serious climb.The rivers Indus is spouting ahead at the bottoms of the mountain. Nanga Parbat has three vast faces namely Raikot, Diamir and Rupal Face. The Rupal face is the highest abyss in the wor ld

3.Gasherbrum I

Gasherbrum is a group of peaks located at the north0eastern end of the Baltoro Glacier in the Karakoram Range on the border of the China and the Gilgit-Baltistan territory of Pakistan. Gasherbrum is often claimed to mean “Shining Wall”, apparently with a reference to the highly visible face of the nearby peak Gasherbrum IV; but in reality the word comes from “rgasha” (beautiful) + “brum” (mountain) in Balti language, hence it means “beautiful mountain”Gasherbrum I is the 11^th highest mountain on the planet and the 3^rd highest in Pakistan. It is also known as Hidden Peak and K5. It is located on the Pakistan-China border in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan.Gasherbrum I was labeled K5 (meaning the 5th peak of the Karakoram) by T.G. Montgomery in 1856 In 1892, William Martin Conway gave the alternate name, Hidden Peak, due to its extreme remoteness.Gasherbrum I was first climbed on Andy Kauffman & Pete Schoening of an eight-man American expedition on July 5, 1958. Gasherbrum I is among the least popular mountain among the “eight-thousanders”. Very few attempts of climbing have been made. This is due to the fact that only the more experienced climbers try to attempt this mountain

4.Broad Peak

Broad Peak is the 12th highest mountain on Earth and 4^th highest in Pakistan. It is also called K3. It is a part of Gasherbrum massif on Pakistan and China Border. It is situated about 8 kilometres (5 miles) from K2.Originally Braod peak was named K3 right after the K2 was named but after a closer inspection by a later party, it was revealed that the summit was over 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) long, thus named “Broad Peak”Broad Peak was first climbed on June 9, 1957 by Fritz Wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger, and Hermann Buhl of an Austrian expedition led by Marcus Schmuck.From the first successful climbing in 1957 to August 2003, Broad Peak was ascended 255 times and had 18 deaths. Hence the fatality rate is about 7%, which could be compared with Mount Everest which has a death rate of 9%. It is comparatively one of the safer 8000m peaks, but the danger of avalanches should never be overlooked.

5.Gasherbrum II

Gasherbrum II is the 13th highest mountain on the planet and 5^th highest in Pakistan. It is also known as K4. It is the third highest peak in the Gasherbrum group, located in the Gilgit Baltistan province of Pakistan near the Chinese border.The standard climbing route for Gasherbrum II is thru the southwest ridge as it is comparatively free of objective hazards such as ice falls and avalanches. On July 8, 1956 July Gasherbrum II was first climbed on by Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart of an Austrian expedition.Gasherbrum II base camp is at 5200 m. Then comes Camp I which is at about 5900m after crossing the deceitful Gasherbrum ice fall. Then Camp II is at the Gasherbrum La, about 6400 m. Camp III is at about 7200 m. From summit you can see the entire Karakorum.

6.Gasherbrum IV

Gasherbrum IV is the 17^th highest mountain in the world and the 6^th highest in Pakistan. It is the fifth highest peak in the Gasherbrum group, located in the Gilgit Baltistan province of Pakistan near the Chinese border.Gasherbrum III is having an elevation of 7,952m which is greater than that of Gasherbrum IV. But it fails to meet topographic prominence cutoff of 500 meter to be considered as an independent mountain; hence it’s considered as sub peak of Gasherbrum II.Gasherbrum IV is one of the first peaks you see when you start to enter the Baltoro area. Very few attempts have been made to climb and even less has been successful.The first successful ascent was made in 1958 by an Italian team led by legendary climber Riccardo Cassin.

7.Disteghil Sar

Disteghil Sar is the highest mountain in the Hispar Muztagh, which is a sub range of the Karakoram range, in Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan. It is the 19^th highest mountain on the planet and the 7^th highest peak in PakistanIt was was first climbed in 1960 by Diether Marchart and Günther Stärkerof an Austrian expedition led by Wolfgang Stefan. The expedition ascended the western part of the South face and then continued over the southwest ridge to the highest summit

8.Khunyang Chhish

Khunyang Chhish is the 2^nd -highest mountain in the Hispar Muztagh, which is a sub range of the Karakoram range, in Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan. Alternative name of the mountain include Kunyang Kish and Khiangyang Kish, among others It is ranked 21^st on the planet and 8th in Pakistan.Khunyang Chhish rises on the southwest side of the Khunyang Glacier while Distaghil Sar dominates the glacier on its northern end. It is also famous for its rise above local terrain. It may have relatively small prominence as compared to some of its neighbors however the south-west face provides one of the most awesome sights in the whole Karakoram.The first successful ascent was made by a Polish team led by Andrzej Zawada in 1971.

9.Masherbrum

Masherbrum (also known as K1) is situated in the Gilgit Baltistan of Pakistan. It is the 22^nd highest mountain in the world and the 11^th highest in Pakistan. Masherbrum was named K1 as it was the first scaled and mapped mountain in the Karakorum Range.The meaning of mountain’s name is vague. Most Balti’s believe the name comes from the Balti words Mashadar (muzzle-loading gun) + brum (mountain) as the double summited mountain resembles an old muzzle-loader. Many other interpretations to the name are also present.Masherbrum was first climbed by George Irving Bell and Willi Unsoeld, part of an American-Pakistani expedition led by Nick Clinch in 1960. They succeeded in climbing the southeast face route that had bewildered the earlier parties.

10.Batura Sar

Batura Sar, or also known as Batura I, is the 25^th highest mountain on the plane t and the 12^th highest in Pakistan. It is the uppermost peak of the Batura Muztagh, which is the westernmost subring of the great Karakoram Range. It forms the apex of the Batura Wall, which is a continuously high part of the backbone of the Batura Muztagh.Batura Sar is 2^nd most noticeable peak in the Karakoram range. Since it is situated at the northwest end of the Karakoram, there is no higher peak west or north of it in the world.Although it is just higher than nearby Rakaposhi, it is not practically as famous, since it is set back much further from the Hunza Valley.The first ascent of the peak was by the Göppingen Karakoram-Himalaya Expedition, led by Dr. Alexander Schlee in 1976. They positioned their base camp on the Baltar Glacier, below the South Face of the peak,.