Hunza Valley

The Hunza Valley, also called the Hunza-Nagar Valley, is a beautiful, mountainous river valley. It is found along the Hunza River in the Gilgit-Baltistan area, which is part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This valley is known for its stunning landscapes, including tall mountains and clear rivers.

For much of its history, Hunza was its own small state, called the former princely state of Hunza (princely state). Today, it is a popular place for people to visit because of its natural beauty and unique culture. The people of Hunza have lived in this tough, high-altitude area for many years and have created their own special way of life.

Geography

The Hunza Valley is a beautiful, mountainous area along the Hunza River. The river begins near Passu where several streams, fed by melting glaciers, come together. As it flows, other rivers like the Hopar and Hispar join it. The valley widens around Karimabad and includes many places to live such as Aliabad, Chalt, Nasirabad, and Rahimabad.

The valley sits high up in the mountains, about 2,438 meters above sea level. It is split into three parts: Upper Hunza (Gojal), Central Hunza, and Lower Hunza (Shinaki). The area is known for its steep valleys, tall peaks, glaciers, and hot springs. The Karakoram mountain range surrounds the valley, and it lies along the famous Karakoram Highway north of the city of Gilgit.

History

Main articles: State of Hunza and Mir of Hunza

Before Islam arrived, Buddhism and Bön were the main religions in Hunza Valley. You can still see old Buddhist sites, like the Sacred Rock of Hunza. Most people there now follow Islam, especially the Ismaili sect.

The Hunza Valley was an important trading route between Central Asia and the rest of the world. It helped protect Buddhist travelers and played a big role in sharing Buddhist ideas across Asia.

The valley became its own area around the year 997. It was later split into two parts, Hunza and Nagar, which often had disagreements. In the 1800s, the British became involved in the area during a time known as the "Great Game". They took control of Hunza and Nagar after a conflict called the Anglo-Brusho war, also known as Jangir-e-Lae.

In 1974, Pakistan ended the old ruling system in Hunza and Nagar, giving the area democratic government.

Tourism

The Hunza Valley is a beautiful place with many tall mountains, some rising above 7,000 meters. It has important old sites, like Baltit Fort, built around 800 years ago, and Altit Fort. People love to hike here, with trails such as Ondra Poygah Gulmit and the Leopard Trek. Some think the valley inspired the mythical place called Shangri-La from the book Lost Horizon.

The valley includes several smaller valleys like Hopar Valley and Naltar Valley, as well as beautiful meadows. It is also home to many famous mountains, such as Distaghil Sar and Rakaposhi. There are also lovely lakes nearby, including Attabad Lake and Borith Lake. The area has impressive glaciers, like the Batura Glacier, one of the longest glaciers in the world outside the polar regions. Many mountain passes connect different parts of the valley, such as Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved border crossing in the world.

Mines and Minerals

The Hunza Valley is very rich in beautiful stones and minerals. Many places in the valley have mines where people find precious and semi-precious gemstones.

Mining Sites

• Chumar Bakhoor, Sumayar
• Hapakun, Minapin
• Aquamarine mines in Phakker
• Marble and granite deposits in Pissan, Minapin, Nagar Khas, and Sumayar.

Minerals

• Aquamarine: Aquamarine can be found in the Chumar Bakhoor area of Sumayar and nearby mountains of Phekar Nagar.

• Fluorite: Fluorite is found in the Chumar Bakhoor area of Sumayar Nagar.

• Apatite: Apatite is found in Chumar Bakhoor along with Aquamarine and Fluorite in Sumayar Nagar.

• Jet (Gemstone): Jet can be found in many places in Nagar District such as Minapin, Chalt and Nagar Khas.

• Marble: Marble is found in Pisan, Minapin, Nagar Khas and Sumayar regions of Nagar.

Demographics

Main article: Burusho people

The Hunza Valley is home to people who speak languages like Burushaski, Wakhi, and Shina. Over the years, many groups have moved into the area, with the Shina people being one of the most well-known. Some Wakhi people also came from Afghanistan in the 1800s.

Most people in Hunza follow the Ismaili Shia beliefs. They look to Aga Khan V as an important religious leader. He has helped build schools and universities, which has led to a very high literacy rate, especially among girls.

Researchers have studied the health of the Hunza people. They eat healthy foods, drink clean glacier water, and stay active because of the mountainous land. This lifestyle helps them stay healthy.