The Pakistan China Karakoram Highway, popularly called the KKH is rightly considered to be the 9th Wonder of the world because of the difficulty it was built. It took 20 years from 1959 to 1979 and was opened in 1986. 1000 workers lost their lives creating it out of the solid rock along and over the mountains.
The 810 mile long road is a marvel to look at in pictures and defies understanding at times as to how it was built! The road begins from Abbottabad (where Osama Bin Laden is alleged to have been killed) and ends in Xinjiang, China. The road passes five of the eight highest mountains of the world and nears four of the world’s largest glaciers.
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THE PAKISTAN–CHINA KARAKORAM HIGHWAY. YES, ITS THE 9TH WONDER OF THE THE WORLD
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by Perrya
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The word highway, well, is a bit misleading here. The N-35 or the Karakoram Highway is the world’s 9th wonder of sorts as it is a two lane-sometimes one lane- hard surfaced road from Pakistan to China. It is the world’s highest road climbing to over 15,000 ft. over much of the Karakoram Mountains.
Considered to be a 9th Wonder because of the difficulty it was to build it. It took 20 years from 1959 to 1979. It was opened in 1986 and 1000 workers lost their lives creating it out of the solid rock along and over mountains. The 810 mile long road is a marvel to look at in pictures and defies understanding at times as to how it was built! The road begins from Abbottabad (where Osama Bin Laden was killed) and ends in Xinjiang, China. The road passes five of the eight highest mountains of the world and nears four of the world’s largest glaciers.
It attracts many tourists and hikers or mountain climbers since the road allows them easy access. Daily bus service from the two countries began in 2006. If you plan to go, the best time is late August-September or April-May due to weather which frequently close the road for hours.
When you look at photos, you are convinced it is, indeed, a 9th Wonder!
Perrya as he says, has a wide assortment of interests. He has published three books on military history topics, two of them in the UK. He usually writes on whatever interests him and a keen watcher – of world events. He is also a blogger on WordPress.
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Wonders of Pakistan 
It looks absolutely fantastic…I would love to go on that road! Its a dream for me to travel around in the Karakoram…
Especially the first picture is fantastic…dream!
Siddhartha, am glad, you liked the post and the pix. Well, you have a beautiful dream and such beautiful dream can be fulfilled only by visiting this beautiful 9th wonder of the world. The only thing you need to have is a passport and the visa. Once you are in Islamabad, you be my guest, after which we can chalk out how we can make your trip in the KKH a memorable journey.
I only pray to Allah Almighty that this scourge of terrorism is wiped out from the surface of this Pak Dharti so that common people like you and me can explore all such fascinating, romance as well as adventure laden spots of Pakistan.
KKH is a real magnetic place, inviting me to travel. this is the first place i read KKH (www.mostbeautifulpages.com/2012/12/karakoram-highway-pakistan.html)
Over 15,000 feet – engines must be working hard; starved for oxygen. I would sure love to travel this route…
Steve, am honoured to see you once again on this forum. I would love to be your host here in islamabad. Just come and I will see
the best way I can make your as well as Siddhartha’s trip to the 9th Wonder of the World, as much hilarious, comfortable, safe, and memorable as possible.
If I was younger and in better shape – physically and financially… At the drop of a hat would I take you up on that offer. Alas, I do have your publication and its varied content to enjoy and I thank you for that, my friend.
@Steven Gaylord,
Steve, as I see from your writings. the tips, jokes and short messages that you off and on send to me by electronic mail, you are very young. There is a popular song in my mother tongue [Punjabi] which goes like this “Dil honrha chahi dae jawan, umran che ki rakhiya”. [in my crude English it sould be soething like this, “You must be young at heart, and when you have a young heart, age doesn’t count”. And Steve I do appreciate what you comment about our website. Comments like this do inspire us to do whatever best is possible to project the history, heritage, art and culture, tourism and travel as well as whatever is happening on the political horizon of Pakistan.
thnx for information bacause of this info we will learn many things
khabhi jo badal barse mein dekho tujhe akhen bharke to lage mujhe pehli barish ki dua woo woo hoo love pakistan
Wow, wonderful but i have one doubt in second picture it have Indian truck. So, it is doubtful whether this pic is from Pakistan?
*@Malko, Thanx for ur visit to Wonders of Pakistan website.* *The title as well as all other images in this post by Perrya are part of the article which we reblogged here. All these images were shot in Pakistan.*
*Also plz note that we have moved to our own domain and the URL is * http://wondersofpakistan.com/2012/05/18/the-9th-wonder-of-the-world/
*If you are interested to jot down your virews on this or any other article in the* *WoP* *site, you ae most welcome. For this you may put down your thoughts in the relevant comment box which is provided at the end of the page under reference.*
On Mon, May 19, 2014 at 3:28 PM, Wonders of Pakistan wrote:
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Allah is great. There is no one equal to Him. He is merciful and beneficent. He is above all things. He has created the whole universe for us. He has also made Paradise and Hell for good and bad people who would go to these places after this worldly life. We should thank Him for the favours granted by him to us. May Allah grant peace, tolerance, harmony and mutual love to all the nations of world. Aameen!
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah alias Hisar Baba (Rahmatullah-e-Alaih)
He was a pious, virtuous, God-fearing and great scholar of Islam. He was a renowned Sufi and saint of his time. He had a pleasant, soft and decent personality. Modesty was the salient feature of his character. He was the model of simplicity and self-denial. From cradle to the grave, he led the simple life of a Dervish. His whole life was dedicated to the service of Allah and His creation. He had a vast knowledge of Fiqh, Hadith and the Holy Qur’an. He was also a well-versed Haafiz of the Holy Qur’an.
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah popularly known as ‘Hisar Baba’ was born in 953 Hijri in Sheraz, Iran and died on 12th Rajjabul Murajjab 1033 Hijri in village Pir Khel and was buried in Tota Kaan near River Swat, Malakand Agency. His mausoleum has a huge tomb on top of his grave. The tomb is white from outside and significantly decorated from inside. His Urs is held at Totakan, Malakand Agency to commemorate his death anniversary. The Urs lasts for two or three days. A large number of people from far and wide participate in the Urs.
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah belonged to a Syed family that has originated from Makkah in Arabia. He was the son of Syed Sher Muhammad Wali Shah Sherazi and great grandson of Syed Jalaluddin Hussain Makhdoom Jahanian Jahangasht Bukhari, son of Syed Jalaluddin Sultan Ahmad Kabir, son of Syed Jalaluddin Hassan Mir Surkh Bukhari, who migrated from Bukhara to Bhakkar, Punjab in 635 Hijri. The family tree of Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah Baba meets Syed Jalaluddin Hassan Mir Surkh Bukhari at sixteen stage and Hazrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be pleased with him) at thirty-two.
He was one of the ardent devotees of a renowned spiritual teacher, Sheikh Muhammad Saleem Chishti Fateh Puri, Ibn Hazrat Bahauddin, who was born in 892 Hijri and died on 29th Ramazanul Mubarak 980 Hijri in Fateh Pur Sekri, India. In those days, Saints and Sufia-e-Kirams used to send all their good disciples and Muslim students to different parts of India for the propagation of Islam.
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In 1566 A.D, Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah migrated from Fateh Pur Sekri, India to southern parts of Swat in the reign of Mughal King Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (1555-1606 A.D) with a missionary zeal to propagate the teachings of Islam. He left no stone un-turned to impart spiritual training and guidance to the thousands who approached him. He lived among the people and attracted them by his piety and spirituality. He spread the message of virtue and brotherhood. Most of the followers of Buddhism also embraced Islam at the hands of Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah Baba. He used to spend most of his time in mosque in the worship of Allah. He also got constructed a mosque at Bagh Patti situated at the top of a mountain called ‘Hazaar Nao’ where he taught the teachings of Islam to his disciples for a long time. He also spent some time in village Toot Pattay, Dir to propagate the teachings of Islam. He had authored two books, “Kashkoal” and “Bahrul Ansaab”, meaning the Ocean of Genealogies. Unfortunately, these books are not available today. As per “Tazkira-e-Ulema Kubaar & Mushaikh-e-Uzzam of Frontier” written by Mian Abdur Rashid, Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah Baba was one of the disciples and khalifas of Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Tirmizi known as Pir Baba, who was born in 908 Hijri in Ghaltanabad, Tirmiz (Maawra-ul Nehar-Afghanistan) and died in 991 Hijri in Pacha Kalay, Buner.
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah Baba first stayed in Pir Payee near Nowshera for some time, and then shifted to Piraan Kallay, Malakand Agency (Lower Swat) finding it a suitable place for the propagation of Islam.
All the people of the area had a great respect and love for him. His ardent devotees, Yousuf Baba, Sultan Baba, Syed Baba, Akhoon Baba, Aatay Baba and Hazrat Khawaja Baba, who belonged to Yousufzai tribe of Pathan, brought him to their village, “Tota Kaan” near Batkhela to learn the teachings of Islam from him. Due to his piousness, virtuousness and truthfulness, he was also gifted the lands of present village “Pir Khel” by the elders of Yousufzai. This was the gratitude of the people of Lower Swat for his spiritual gifts.
As per ‘Tazkira-i-Sadaat Sherazi’ written by Pirzada Qazi Syed Ghulam Rahmani Al-Qadri, Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah was the son-in-law of Syed Bahadar Baba, who was the father of Syed Kasteer Rahamkaar, known as Kaaka Sahib. Kaaka Sahib was born in 983 Hijri and died in 1063 Hijri in Nowshera.
Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah had six children – two daughters and four sons. Their names were: (1) Bibi Dur Marjan (2) Pir Abai (3) Syed Hassan Shah, who had two sons – Syed Haroon Shah known as Syed Baba and Syed Hussain Shah (4) Syed Muhammad Rehan Shah, who had three sons – Syed Mian Shah, Syed Pir Mahmal Shah and Syed Pir Muazzam Shah (5) Syed Muhammad Fateh Khan, who had also three sons – Shah Baig Shah, Khan Baig Shah and Lal Baig Shah and (6) Syed Muhammad Rahman Shah, who had no off-spring being not married throughout his life. However, the names of brothers and sisters of Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah are not known.
The descendants of Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Shah Baba have settled in Batkhela, Pir Khel (Malakand Agency), Bagh Kandi Sharif and Safroona (Dir), Chinar Kot, Singal Kot, Shakkar Kot, Lammi, Kanshian and Jalora-Bala Kot (district Mansehra), Oghaz Banda, Landai, Bara, Mashkand, Kanshai (Battagram) and Chitral. May Allah keep his soul in His eternal peace. Amin!
Assalamualaikum
Ma shaa ALLAH nice history narration
JAZAKALLAH khair