Dassu

Dassu is a small town of thousands of inhabitants situated along the Karakoram Highway, at an altitude of 2 440 metres in the region of Kohistan, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Passing through Dassu is compulsory for any traveller wishing to go to Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza...or even to China!

Kohistan has a rich local history as a crossroads between Central, South and Southwest Asia. Predominantly inhabited by Dardic and Pashtun tribes since ancient times, Kohistan has been invaded and contested by Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Kushans, Turks, Afghans, Moghals and the British. Interestingly, it was the last area of Pakistan to be explored by the British, as the region is one of the wildest and most inhospitable stretches of the whole KKH. This section of the Silk Route was well known to travellers as early as the second century BC. Under the powerful Kushan rulers Pakistan was an important centre of Buddhism; and Chinese pilgrims followed the Indus down, cutting across to the Buddhist monasteries in the fertile valley of Swat.

At Dassu, the KKH crosses the eastern bank of the Indus. Komila is the bazaar on the West bank of the river where the buses often stop for lunch at local restaurants. Dassu is the administrative headquarters on the East bank, and the Deputy Commissioner’s office, police post and petrol pumps are all located here. In the bazaar, which is relatively modest, one can find all that is necessary for the living of the locals. Quite often, farmers from other villages come to sell their cattle in exchange of other goods.

The city is also the starting point for many a trekking itinerary. Mountain lovers will not be disappointed once at the top of the surrounding peaks, as the panorama on the region is simply stupendous. Kohistan is where the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges meet, and the uniqueness of this environment also results in rich flora and fauna, giving home to extremely rare species such as the Western Tragopan pheasant and the Snow Leopard.

The weather of the region tends to be relatively mild with rain, cold temperatures in winter and mildly hot summers. It is also the region where it snows episodically in winters. For your information, here below are the average temperatures at Dassu:

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