Gilgit-Baltistan Urdu:گلگت بلتستان formerly known as the Federally Administered Northern Areas or FANA is the northernmost political entity within the Pakistani-controlled part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. According to Pakistan's constitution, Gilgit-Baltistan is an autonomous region separate from Pakistan itself, and its inhabitants have never had any representation in Pakistan's parliament. Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world's highest mountains, including five of the eight-thousanders. The main focus of attention for many travelers is the world's three highest mountain ranges--the Karakoram, the Himalaya, and the Hindu Kush, with five peaks over 8,000 meters and many peaks over 7,000 meters, and having the largest glaciers in the world other than those in the polar region. Wild rivers and unique landscapes make this area a "mountain paradise" for mountaineers, trekkers, and tourists.
