Olding, Pakistan


Olding, originally '''Olthing Thang, is a village and union counil in the Dras River valley in the Kharmang District of Baltistan, Pakistan. The village is above the sea level. It is close to the Line of Control, the de facto India-Pakistan border in the disputed Kashmir region, and lies on the traditional trade route between Baltistan and Ladakh via Kargil.

Geography

Olthingthang is in the valley of the Dras River, shortly before its confluence with the Indus River near Marol. The Dras valley is quite narrow there, and the village is actually located on the slopes of a spur, about 800 to 1,000 ft above the river. It was described as a big village in 1912, and often listed as a halting place on the route from Kargil to Skardu. It is 13 miles from Gangani, the first village in Baltistan to the north of the Line of Control.

People

The village is predominantly inhabited by Tibetic peoples such as Baltis and Purigpas, Balti and Purgi are the main languages and Urdu serving as lingua franca. The dominant faith practiced by the people is Islam.

Economy

The village is known for many varieties of fruit such as apricot, apple, grapes, mulberry, cherry and peach etc. Peoples of the village sell the fruits and earn thousands of rupees. Varieties of apricots include margholum, halmand, khochuli, sitachuli, khositar and Situnchuli.

Maps