Kilik Pass
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The Kilik Pass is a 4827 m above sea level high mountain pass located 30 km west of the Mintaka Pass in the far east of the Hindu Kush between Pakistan and Xinjiang in China.
Both passes, which can only be negotiated on foot or with pack animals, were in the past the most important crossings from the north into the Hunza Valley, also known as the Gojal Valley. The Kilik Pass should not be confused with the pass of the same name further west of the Sanju Pass, which leads from Shahidula into the Tarim Basin.
The Kilik Pass is the shortest and fastest route from northern India to the Tarim Basin, which was normally open throughout the year. The pass was extremely dangerous and not passable. The pass could be reached from Tashkorgan, from the trail junction at the Minteka River after 70 kilometers. From there, following the Mintaka valley 80 kilometres away, the Mintaka pass could be reached and another 30 kilometres away the "alternative Kilik pass", both leading to Hunza and from there the journey could be continued via the so-called rafiqs or hanging passages to the Gilgit valley and on to Kashmir or the plains of Gandharan.
Loaded pack animals could carry loads to the upper Hunza Valley via the Mintaka Pass and over the Kilik Passes all year round, after which the loads had to be carried by porters to the Gilgit Valley, an elaborate and dangerous undertaking. From there the loads could again be loaded onto pack animals and taken further east to Kashmir and then by long routes to Taxila or west to Chitral. From there they could be taken relatively easily to either Jalalabad in Afghanistan or Peshawar in Pakistan.
The Mintaka Pass was the pass that was most used in the past until the glacial ice spread to this pass. After that, the Kilik Pass was used by the travellers who came from China and Afghanistan or from more distant areas and wanted to cross the mountains without much danger.
Early tombs of Kyrgyz nomads and rock engravings dating back to the Buddhist period suggest that these mountain passes have been traversed by travelers, pilgrims and traders for a long time.
The new Karakorum Highway runs further south and then west over the 4733m Kunjirap Pass.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is Kilik Pass?
A: Kilik Pass is a high mountain pass in Pakistan located 30 km to the west of Mintaka Pass.
Q: What was the purpose of these two passes in ancient times?
A: The two passes were used as the main access points into the Upper Hunza Valley from the north, providing a quick and usually open all year route into northern Kashmir from the Tarim Basin.
Q: How did travelers get to Gilgit from Tashkurgan?
A: Travelers would travel just over 70 km south to the junction of the Minteke River and then 80 km west up this valley to reach either Mintaka or Kilik Pass which led into upper Hunza. From there, travelers could take rafiqs (hanging passages) to Gilgit.
Q: How did people transport cargo between China/Afghanistan and Gilgit?
A: Laden animals could be taken over Mintaka or Kilik passes into upper Hunza but then loads had to be carried by coolie (porters) to Gilgit. From there, cargoes could be reloaded onto pack animals again and taken either east to Kashmir or west to Chitral for easier access Jalalabad or Peshawar via Swat.
Q: Why did caravans prefer Kilik Pass over Mintaka Pass?
A: Caravans preferred Kilik Pass because it was wider, free of glaciers, and provided enough pasture for caravan animals compared with Mintaka Pass which became glaciated fairly recently.
Q: Where is Khunjerab Pass located?
A: Khunjerab Pass is located at 36° 51' N; 75° 32' E with an elevation of 4,934 m or 16,188 ft.
