Jaglot, also spelled Juglot, is a town on the Karakoram Highway about 45 km south-east of Gilgit, at roughly 1,988 metres. It matters for one practical reason: the road to Skardu leaves the highway here, a few kilometres short of the town, and the Gilgit and Indus rivers meet close by. Most travellers pass through without stopping, on the way to Skardu, Deosai or Astore, or on the long drive up from Islamabad.
This guide explains what Jaglot is, where the roads split, what there is to see around the confluence, and how it fits into a trip between Gilgit and Skardu. It is a working junction town rather than a destination, and it is more useful to know what it offers than to promise more.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Gilgit District, on the Karakoram Highway (N-35) |
| Distance from Gilgit | About 45 to 55 km, roughly one to one and a half hours by road |
| Altitude | About 1,988 m |
| Why it matters | Start of the Gilgit–Skardu (Baltistan) road; Indus–Gilgit confluence nearby |
| Across the river | Bunji, in Astore District |
| Best for | A meal and fuel stop, the confluence, a stop before the Haramosh side trip |
Where is Jaglot and why do people stop there?
Jaglot sits on the right bank of the Indus, at the mouth of the Sai Nala, which joins the river here. The town is made up of around fifteen villages rather than one compact centre, so what you see from the highway is a bazaar strip with the hills close behind.
Geographers like the place because it is where three great ranges meet: the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush and the Himalaya. The meeting point is marked by the confluence of the Gilgit River and the Indus, a little way from the town. We keep the viewpoint itself, the signs and the best light for it in our guide to the junction of three mountain ranges; this page is about the town.
The road junction: Skardu or Gilgit?
The Gilgit–Skardu road, officially the Baltistan Highway, begins near Jaglot on the Karakoram Highway. It is about 167 km long (some sources say a little more) and was widened and upgraded between 2017 and 2021. The same road is the only major land link between Baltistan and the rest of the country.
If you are driving up from Islamabad towards Skardu, you do not need to go into Gilgit at all: the turn is south of the city. If you are coming from Gilgit, the junction is about an hour down the highway. Our guides to the Gilgit to Skardu distance and the current Skardu road condition cover the drive itself, so we won't repeat the timings here.
One point is worth knowing. The upgraded Skardu road still has no tunnels, so landslides and floods can close it. In July 2026 the army restored traffic on the Gilgit–Jaglot–Skardu road after a temporary bridge replaced one washed away at the Sasi Haramosh crossing, built in six days. A closure of a day or two is a normal risk on this road in the monsoon, so keep a spare day if you have a flight or a deadline.
What to see around Jaglot
Honestly, not a great deal in the town itself. What it offers is a place where the geography is easy to read.
- The Indus and Gilgit confluence. The two rivers meet a short drive from the town. The Gilgit River, which rises near Shandur and gets more than half its flow from the Hunza River, runs into the Indus here. Don't expect a developed viewpoint, and ask locally for the safest way to the water.
- Bunji across the water. Bunji sits on the opposite bank, in Astore District. In the nineteenth century a ferry linked the two banks, and in 1893 a wire-rope suspension bridge was built a few miles upstream of Bunji, below the confluence. The old bridge was restored in 2012 after floods damaged the newer bridge that replaced it around 2000.
- Gold panning on the Indus. Families known as Soniwals have long panned for gold along the river. It is a small, hard way of earning, and not a visitor activity; if you meet someone at the water's edge, ask before photographing.
- Orchards and fields. The villages grow wheat, fruit and vegetables, and in spring and autumn the lower slopes are greener than the dry rock around them.
Is Jaglot a base for Haramosh?
For Haramosh, yes. The Haramosh valley is reached from the Skardu road at the Sassi crossing, so Jaglot is the last sizeable town on the highway before that side trip. Our Haramosh valley guide covers that road and what lies at the end of it.
For Rakaposhi, the better-known approaches are from the Nagar and Minapin side. Operators also sell a remote south-west trek that starts from a place called Jaglot, but sources place that approach on a side valley near Nomal, on the Hunza River side, and we could not confirm that it is this town on the Indus. If an operator offers it, ask exactly where the trek starts before you plan around it.
Where to stay and eat
Jaglot has a handful of small hotels and resorts along the highway and in the Sai and Paidan Das areas, plus roadside restaurants and dhabas serving the usual dal, chicken karahi and chai. They cater mainly to drivers and overland travellers, and standards are basic. We would not rely on a specific property without confirming it by phone first.
For most travellers the sensible choice is to stay in Gilgit, which has far more hotels and a proper bazaar, and treat Jaglot as a stop. Our guide to hotels in Gilgit sets out the options.
Is it safe? Getting to Jaglot by road
Jaglot is in Gilgit-Baltistan, which the UK government does not list in its advice against travel. The road from Islamabad to Gilgit, though, runs along the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, and the UK advises against all travel on that stretch (updated September 2026). Many Pakistani travellers use it regularly, and the Babusar Pass route (N15) avoids it in summer. Check current police and NHA advice before you set out, and if you hold a foreign passport, read your own government's advice first, because travelling against it can void insurance. Our guide on whether the Karakoram Highway is safe goes into the detail.
Who should stop at Jaglot, and who shouldn't
Stop if you are travelling between Gilgit and Skardu and want a break: the junction is a natural place for fuel, tea and a meal, and a short walk to the river gives you a view of the geography you have been reading about. It is also worth an hour if you like river and bridge history.
Skip it as a destination in its own right. If you have one free day near Gilgit, the Kargah Buddha, Naltar or Bagrot offer more to see. For a plan of where to go from the city, see our Gilgit and Hunza guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Jaglot from Gilgit?
About 45 km on most sources, with road distances of up to about 55 km depending on the route. Plan on one to one and a half hours by car.
Is Jaglot on the way to Skardu?
Yes. The Gilgit–Skardu road begins near Jaglot on the Karakoram Highway, so drivers coming from Islamabad can turn for Skardu here without entering Gilgit.
Where do the Gilgit and Indus rivers meet?
A short distance from Jaglot, near Bunji. The meeting point is often described as the place where the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalaya ranges come together.
Is it worth staying a night in Jaglot?
For most people, no. Gilgit has many more hotels and food options. Jaglot works for a night only if you want an early start on the Skardu road or a base for the Haramosh side trip.
Is Jaglot the same as Juglot?
Yes. Both spellings refer to the same town, and you will see Jaglot, Juglot and Jaglote on signs and maps.
