ABSTRACT
The Hindukush range is an important mountain system of Central Asia, located in the north-western side of India, rising to a crest line of 7,620 m. The Hindukush range extends southwest from the magnificent 'Pamir's Knot', where several mountain ranges and valleys spawn, for about 645 km. In the western sector the Hindukush is split into several outliers which cover most of central Afghanistan. The Karakoram range rises from the junction of several countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan in the west, old Soviet Union in the north, China in the north-east and India in the south. Gilgit was the region where the several ancient empires of China, Old Russia and British met in the nineteenth century. The ruler of Hunza in the years 1736—96 had obtained a permit from the ruler of China to graze cattle on Taghdumbash and cultivate in the Raskam valley situated to the north of the Hindukush-Karakoram range.
