A Burger and Cones, Please
It’s the second highest paved road in the world. The Pakistani name N-35 doesn’t do it justice. Most call it the Karakoram Highway. And some have dubbed it the Eighth Wonder of the World because of its high altitude and construction difficulties.
This marvel of modern engineering extends 810 grueling miles. The 551 miles in Pakistan begin in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Along the way, it passes through the Karakoram Mountains. The final 257 miles are in China, beginning at the summit of the 15,466-foot-high Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistani/Chinese border.
From Wikipedia
The Cones
The village of Passu is a renowned tourist destination along the Karakoram Highway. It’s situated in the Gojal valley of Upper Hunza in Northern Pakistan, not far from the Chinese border. I was there in November of 2023 with a photography group.
Passu is celebrated for its landscapes and breathtaking views of the 24,534-foot Passu Sar Mountain and the Passu Glacier. But the most photogenic peak in the region is the 20,033-foot Passu Cathedral, also known as the Passu Cones.
A Burger
After a week of mouth-watering curry dishes, our group was looking for some variety. Lo and behold, our guide had just the spot.
Passu is home to this culinary wonder. If you want to check it out further, the Yak Grill has a Facebook page at (2) yak grill passu - Search Results | Facebook. The menu seemed vaguely familiar, despite being 7,000 miles away from home.
I ordered the Burger of The House and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. It’s the tastiest, juiciest yak burger on a homemade bun I’ve ever had! And the fries are good as well. If you plan on going, $1 US equals around 279 Pakistan Rupees.
The Shot
Our group spent a day photographing around Passu. On a whim, I wandered across the highway from our hotel for an unobstructed view of the Passu Cones. As the snow and clouds swirled around the summit, myriads of pointy peaks appeared and disappeared. Atmosphere!
This image was my best out of numerous attempts that wonderful morning.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus