Karakoram Highway: The Highest Paved Road in the World

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) is one of the highest paved roads in the world, connecting Abbottabad in Pakistan to Kashgar in China's Xinjiang province via the Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 meters. It follows the ancient Silk Road through the Karakoram, Himalayan, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges.

Introduction

Often called the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the highway was built jointly by Pakistan and China over 20 years, with over 800 workers losing their lives during construction. It traverses some of the most geologically active and scenically spectacular terrain on the planet.

Route & Engineering

• Total Length: 1,300 km
• Highest Point: Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 m
• Countries: Pakistan, China

The highway follows the course of ancient trade routes through the Karakoram Mountains, running alongside the Indus River and the Hunza River for much of its length. The road passes through deep gorges, past towering peaks, and over high mountain passes.

Engineering challenges were immense. Workers had to blast through solid granite, build bridges across raging rivers, and stabilize slopes prone to massive landslides. The highway crosses some of the most seismically active terrain on Earth, where the Indian and Eurasian plates continue to collide.

Key Stats

• Construction: 1959-1979 (20 years)
• Workers Killed: 810+ during construction
• Elevation Gain: From 460 m to 4,693 m

Construction began in 1959 and involved approximately 15,000 Pakistani and 15,000 Chinese workers. The project cost an estimated $3 billion in today's money and was largely built using hand tools, dynamite, and basic machinery in extreme mountain conditions.

Over 810 workers, mostly Pakistani, died during construction from landslides, falls, and other accidents. Many are buried in cemeteries along the highway. The Chinese government erected a monument at the Khunjerab Pass honoring the sacrifice.

History

• Purpose: Connect Pakistan and China via land route
• Silk Road Heritage: Follows ancient trade routes
• Strategic Importance: Key link in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

The KKH was conceived as a symbol of Sino-Pakistani friendship and a strategic transportation link between the two countries. It follows routes used by Silk Road traders, Buddhist pilgrims, and armies for over 2,000 years.

The highway has gained renewed strategic importance as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive infrastructure project connecting Kashgar to the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea.

Current Status

• CPEC Upgrades: Road widening and realignment
• Seasonal Closure: Khunjerab Pass closed November-April
• Hazards: Landslides, rockfalls, flooding

The highway is being upgraded and widened under the CPEC initiative, with Chinese investment funding major improvements. However, the road remains vulnerable to natural disasters, including the 2010 Attabad landslide that dammed the Hunza River and submerged a 20 km section of the highway.

The Khunjerab Pass border crossing is seasonal, typically open from May to November. Even during the open season, the highway can be closed temporarily by landslides, especially during the monsoon season from July to September.

Visitor & Travel Info

• Permit: Required for border crossing
• Best Season: May to October
• Highlights: Hunza Valley, Attabad Lake, Passu Glacier

The Karakoram Highway is increasingly popular with adventurous travelers. The Hunza Valley, with its terraced orchards, ancient forts, and views of 7,000-meter peaks, is the highlight of the journey. The turquoise Attabad Lake, formed by the 2010 landslide, has become an unexpected attraction.

Travelers need proper documentation including visas for both countries and a border crossing permit. Altitude sickness is a concern at the Khunjerab Pass, and acclimatization days in Hunza or Tashkurgan are recommended.

Key Facts

• The Karakoram Highway reaches 4,693 m at the Khunjerab Pass.
• Construction took 20 years and cost over 810 workers' lives.
• The highway is 1,300 km long, connecting Abbottabad, Pakistan, to Kashgar, China.
• It follows ancient Silk Road trade routes through the Karakoram Mountains.
• The road is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Fun Facts

• The Karakoram Highway passes near K2, the world's second highest mountain.
• The 2010 Attabad landslide created a 21 km lake that submerged the highway for years, requiring boat transport.
• Temperatures along the highway can range from 45 degrees Celsius in the lowlands to minus 20 degrees at the pass.
• The Hunza Valley along the highway is sometimes claimed to have inspired the fictional Shangri-La.

Final Thoughts

The Karakoram Highway is one of the most extraordinary roads ever built, carved through the highest mountain ranges on Earth at the cost of hundreds of lives. It connects two civilizations through landscapes of staggering beauty and remains one of the world's great adventure drives.