900 Years Old Gansih Village Hunza Valley Gilgit Baltistan and 4 Mosques
I am sure that you have heard such a cliché as “everyone to his taste” countless times but if ever you have been to the country of Japan, you would know the place as it does embody this adage to the hilt. If not, then let me bring you to Ganish Village Hunza Valley situated in the round valley known as Hunza valley in Gilgit Baltistan.
This village is more than 900 years old and is the oldest village in the Karakoram Highway area and is also known for housing four different mosques each telling a different story. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Ganish Village is burning jewel of the Hunza Valley situated in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is grabbing with its rich history and spectacular view.
Location of Ganish Village Hunza Valley
About 90 kilometers away from Gilgit city, Ganish Village Hunza is situated and can be approached after a trek of 2 hours. 5-hour drive. It is an exciting experience to travel and the trekking involves passing via the beautiful valley of Hunza and some sharp rocky mountains. It is beautiful when you reach Ganish Village because the buildings and structures you see here appear to have been established centuries back, and many of the structures still exist up to this time. The area of Ganish is still unknown or considered to be less tourist friendly as compared to other areas in Hunza Valley but it still has many things to offer.
UNESCO Heritage Awarded Village
Ganish Village in Hunza Valley is or course more than just a village; it is a region whose history is colored by natural and cultural significance. In 2002 along with in 2009, the village was conferred UNESCO Heritage Awards on account of the several structures within the village and the fashion these have been protected for generations.
It is quite interesting to get into Ganish because it resembles an entirely different world from the several ancient set towns of Kalash Valley of Chitral. Ganish is located on the left bank of the Hunza River while on the right side is situated the Nagar Valley. Due to such a central location, Ganish became an essential point on the great Silk Road and linked it with other areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and further afield.
My Vlog on Ganish Village
History of Ganish Village Hunza
The tribes in and around Ganish Village namely; Chaboi:”It is recorded that the Chaboi tribe came to Ganish Village from Iran 1100 years ago. ” These settlers were well endowed with the knowledge on how to extract gold from rivers and up to this generation they exercise this art. In fact the very name Ganish is derived from the local Burushaski language which translates to gold.
As seen earlier this village is well associated with the mineral gold and as such has had its fair share of focus right from antiquity. To this effect it is a known fact that where there is gold those willing to pick it up with force are never in short supply. Due to constant raids from people from the outside especially the Nagar Valley invaders, the villagers put up a strong wall around their village.
As a protective structure this wall was complemented with fourteen watchtowers for the purpose of preserving the valuable resources and lives of the inhabitants of Ganish. Due to favorable location, Ganish Village that is located in the central part of Hunza Valley and along the ancient Silk Road,was an easy and attractive target for looters. To this date, a few of these watchtowers ruins remain intact, which tell a story of endurance of the people who used to patrol this strategic trade channel.
Watchtowers are also reminiscent of those in the Great Wall of China which I got to see in my trip in 2018. Both structures served the same purpose: defending people from enemies and maintaining the welfare of the members of human society.
Wooden architecture Unique Mosques
Now, it’s time to trace the mosques of Ganish Village, which is one of the most interesting aspects of the village. This village was not very old and initially the human population density was not very high as families comprising of a few individuals dwelt here. The situation happens when one family decided that they would construct a mosque for themselves, the other families did the same. After some time, four small mosques have been constructed with each standing opposite to the other. These mosques depict the togetherness of the families in presented community as they at the same time embrace the family diversity.
These mosques have been standing for a thousand years but they still are the religious structures that accommodate the villagers and allow them to pray. Looking at the general picture, the continuity of this tradition is a lovely representation of the village’s sustainable spiritual and cultural praxis.
Read Also This Ganish Village
This is more so because the mosques of Ganish Village appear to be very ancient and are architecturally unique as well. With wooden architecture dominating, the mosques boast of ornamental work that derives from Hindu and Buddhist as well as Italian, Greek and Chinese architectures.
This combined architectural designs of the mosques makes them very beautiful to watch. The work done is match less and represents the historical and ethnical face of the Ganish village with the reflection of cross cultural imprints. Standing parallel to the mosques there is a common assembly or ‘chopal’ where, in the early days, warriors would practice their war dances. These dances were not just for entertainment; it was a way of showcasing prowess, confidence boosting among the tribespeople and honoring of the forefathers.
Ladyfinger and Rakaposhi Viewpoint in Village
The snow-capped mountain peaks of Ladyfinger and Rakaposhi are visible in the background of the mosques adding to the beauty of Ganish Village in Hunza Valley. These sheer mountains are not just off-stage props; they are an architectural extension of the village which reflects the might and spirit of the people. Hunza valley has natural beauty and Ganish is culturally historical village of Gilgit-Baltistan, so this place is unique from other places in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Heaven for Gold and Jewel Buyers
Ganish village has also been having a strong relation with the facilities trading of gold & other precious stones. A century ago, it used to be a rather thriving village containing the trading point for the Silk Route merchants who exchanged gold and stones with the villagers. In order to host these traders, the villagers constructed a caravanserai; an inn that catered for travelers’ needs including food and shelter.
The caravanserai had stalls for the traders’ horses and unfortunately the wooden hooks where the traders tied their horses down are still seen till date even after the construction of the caravanserai for 900 years. That these hooks may have been familiar to the great Alexander the Great who is reported to have with his 95000 army camped in Ganish. It is rather fascinating to even ponder how some of these movers of history might have walked these roads even if it was ages ago.
Historical Pond in the Center of Village
This is surrounded by ancient Ganish Village in the center of which there is a large pond, which has become the key to the existence of the village for centuries. This pond was formed as a result of excavation when forming the protective circle around a certain village. Further to create an access to water supply, the villagers siphoned water from the Hunza River for the purpose of replenishing the water in the pit in case of a surround scenario.
Still at present, water in the pond supplies the river and it is sufficient to support the 25 families residing in Ganish. Yet the pond is greater than a source of water; it stands for the hard invention of the people who are living in Ganish from generations.
As with many other Hunza villages, Ganish Village Hunza’s legacy is not only its beauty and the untold stories it could tell, but it is a place inhabited by living and breathing people with a direct link to this history. It is also a village that has also participated in the business of trading in gems and other precious stones up to date.
For valuable and beautiful stones, Hunza Valley’s surrounding mountains are full of such stones for which mining and trading has been the village’s wealth source for centuries. It is also possible to meet the old inhabitants of the village to go through the river beds using the traditional method of panning for gold at present. These stones are extremely popular not only in the region of Hunza valley but also in the rest of the Gilgit-Baltistan and in the whole of Pakistan.
Small Shops of Gem Sellers
This kind of stones can be found in small merchants’ stores as you navigate through Ganish Village. Most of these shops are family operated businesses that have been in the stone business for many years. Whether you want a jewel or a stone to put in your house you will be able to find a unique gem. In the town of Aliabad on the way to the impressive and well-known Baltit Fort more shops with a variety of stones and jewelry can be noticed. The bigger and larger ones are made to add beauty to the house or any place it may be used while the small ones are used to make rings, locket and other jewelry.
However, if you get an opportunity to visit Ganish Village in Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, you will be fallen in the calmness of the village along with history and culture. Ganish is a nature’s abode of peace and calm and where the clock appears to cease ticking. In case you are a lover of History like me, then Ganish Village will be paradise for you because of the numerous historical sites around the area. Here you can take a leisurely stroll along some of these calm-laned, and, with some effort, picture how the owners of these houses who once lived in this village.
The Ganish Village is one of those places that take you to different era and format is unfortunately rare to come across. It is a region which combines history, culture and geography in one fantastic region, without conflicts or contrasts. Therefore, when you decide to go and tour Hunza Valley in Pakistan, do not forget to tour around Ganish Village. It’s a visit, or travel back in time indeed, which one should not miss while on a tour of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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