Astore Valley is located in Astore District in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The valley is located at 35?2'20.30"N , 75?6'36.91"E at an altitude of 2600m. The best time to visit is May to October. The valley, adjoining the eastern side of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), is about 120 km long and 5,092 km? in area. The entrance of the valley is located about 60 km southeast of Gilgit with four side-valleys. The valley has more than 100 villages with a total population of 71,666 (Census 1998. Some of which are Chilm, Bubin, Gorikot, Eid Ghah, Fina, Bulen, Chongra and Tari Shing. Chilm is the most beautiful village among all the villages of Astore, because it is the starting point of Deosai, the world's second highest plane. The majority of people practice subsistence agriculture and livestock is the main source of livelihood complemented by seasonal work in down districts of the country. Due to its diverse landscape and climatic conditions the valley provides excellent habitat for a variety of commercially important medicinal plants.