Khunjerab Pass is a high mountain pass on Pakistan’s northern border with China, rising to 4,693 meters (15,397 feet) above sea level. It is the world’s highest border crossing as well as the Karakoram Highway’s highest point.
The word “Khunjerab” originates from the Wakhi language.
‘Khun’ means ‘home,’ and ‘Jerav’ means ‘spring water/falling water.’
On the Pakistani side, the pass is 42 kilometers (26 miles) from Dih’s National Park station and checkpoint, 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Sost’s customs and immigration post, 270 kilometers (170 kilometers) from Gilgit, and 870 kilometers (540 kilometers) from Islamabad.
On the Chinese side, the pass lies 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Tashkurgan, 420 kilometers (260 miles) southwest of Kashgar, and 1,890 kilometers (1,170 miles) southwest of Urumqi.
The Karakoram Mountains’ Khunjerab Pass is strategically positioned on the northern boundary of Pakistan’s Gilgit–Baltistan Hunza-Nagar District and the southwest frontier of China’s Xinjiang region.
The portion of the road, which was built in 1982, is the world’s highest metaled border crossing. The path to the top is paved. On the Pakistani side, there is the world’s highest ATM.
The Khunjerab Pass is open only from Monday through Friday.
Travel is risky and difficult due to the high elevation.
Due to high elevation, there are higher risks of altitude sickness, weather concerns, a steep road grade, and general inaccessibility.
The lengthy, relatively level route is regularly snow-covered throughout the winter season.
As a result, it is normally closed to heavy trucks from 30 November to 1 May, and to all modes of transportation from 30 December to 1 April. The Karakoram Highway, which has been reconstructed, runs through it.
Since June 1, 2006, there has been a daily bus service between Gilgit and Kashgar.
A road sign in Pakistan shows the distances between cities. It is one of the international borders where left-hand traffic turns into right-hand traffic and vice versa.
