Gilit

Gilgit گلگت گـلیت
City
Gilgit is located in a broad valley
Gilgit گلگت Show map of Gilgit Baltistan Gilgit گلگت Show map of Pakistan Location in Pakistan
Coordinates: 35°55′15″N 74°18′30″E / 35.92083°N 74.30833°E / 35.92083; 74.30833Coordinates: 35°55′15″N 74°18′30″E / 35.92083°N 74.30833°E / 35.92083; 74.30833
Country	Pakistan
Autonomous state	G-B
District	Gilgit District
First mention	3rd Century BC
Area
• Total	57 km2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation	1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Population (1998)
• Total	216,760
• Density	3,800/km2 (9,800/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Urdu, Shina
Time zone	PST (UTC+5)
PIN	1571 – 1xx
Area code(s)	+943
Website	gilgit.gov.pk

Gilgit (Shina: گلیت, Urdu:گلگت) is the capital city of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, an administrative territory of Pakistan. The city is located in a small valley near the confluence of the Gilgit River and Hunza River. Gilgit is a major tourist destination in northern Pakistan, and serves as a hub for mountaineering expeditions in the Karakoram Range. It was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, and today serves as a major junction along the Karakoram Highway with road connections to China, Skardu, Chitral, and Islamabad.

The city's ancient name was Sargin, later to be known as Gilit, and it is still referred to as Gilit or Sargin-Gilit by local people. In the Burushaski language, it is named Geelt and in Wakhi and Khowar it is called Gilt.