Gilgit, town in Gilgit-Baltistan, part of thePakistani-administered sector of theKashmir region, in the northernIndian subcontinent. It is situated in theKarakoram Range in a narrow valley on theGilgit River at itsconfluence with the Hunza River and about 20 miles (32 km) upstream from its confluence with theIndus River. The town was once aBuddhist centre; now, as in earlier days, it serves as a frontier station for local tribal areas. Its economy is mainly agricultural, withwheat,corn (maize), andbarley as the main crops.Tourism, notably trekking and mountaineering in the Karakorams, is growing in importance. The main route from Gilgit through the mountains toMansehra inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa province is theKarakoram Highway (completed in 1978); the town has a smallairport. Gilgit is the only town of any size in the region. Pop. (1998 prelim.) 8,200.