Wednesday 29 June 2011

Satpara Lake Pakistan

Satpara Lake

Satpara Lake is an important lake in Skardu Valley which supplies water for the town of Skardu, which is located at 2,636 meters (8,650 ft). It is one of the most picturesque lakes in Pakistan.





In 2002, the Government of Pakistan decided to build a dam on the Satpara Lake. [1] The Government allocated Rs. 600 million ($10 million) for Satpara Dam project in 2004's financial year. [2] The progress on the project, however, has been slow. [3]
The elevation of Satpara lake is 8650 feet above sea level. The lake is spread over an area of 2.5 km². A story is attached with this lake by local people that there is gold mine in the bottom of this lake, that is why its water seems shining in the day time.

Saturday 25 June 2011

Derawar Fort Pakistan

Derawar Fort

Derawar Fort is a large square fortress in Pakistan near Bahawalpur. The forty bastions of Derawar are visible for many miles in Cholistan Desert. The walls have a circumference of 1500 metres and stand up to thirty metres high.





The first fort on the site was built by Hindu Rajput, Rai Jajja Bhati of Jaisalmer. It remained in the hands of the royal family of Jaisalmer until captured and completely rebuilt by the nawabs of Bahawalpur in 1733. In 1747, the fort slipped from the hands of the Abbasis owing to Bahawal Khan's preoccupations at Shikarpur. Nawab Mubarak Khan took the stronghold back in 1804.



he nearby mosque was modelled after that in the Red Fort of Delhi. There is also a royal necropolis of the Abbasi family, which still owns the stronghold. The area is rich in archaeological artifacts associated with Ganweriwala, a vast but as-yet-unexcavated city of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Friday 24 June 2011

Yasin Valley Pakistan

Yasin Valley

The Yasin Valley(یاسین ) , Tehsil Yasin or Babaye-i-Yasen (بابائے یاسین) or Worshigum (ورشیگوم) is a high mountain valley in the Hindu Kush mountains, in the northwest region of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Yasin is separated from the Ishkoman Valley by a high mountain pass. To reach Yasin one must take the Karakoram Highway north from Islamabad, and then turn left to reach Gupis in Ghizar. After Gupis, one continues northwest to reach the Yasin Valley. Yasin valley has an spectacular natural beauty.





History

Yasin was originally ruled by the Khushwakhte Dynasty, a collateral line of the Katur Dynasty of Chitral. The Rajas of Yasin were great warriors and fought against the Sikhs and the Dogras of Kashmir, but this house eventually lost power and the ownership of Yasin changed hands several times between the rule of the Mehtar of Chitral, and the Maharaja of Kashmir.

British era

Although sparsely populated, Yasin was of strategic importance because it leads to a high mountain pass, to Yarkhun in Chitral, and then to Broghol Pass, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan, and into Tajikistan. Thus, Yasin could have formed an invasion route from Czarist Russia into British India.







People

The primary language of Yasin Valley is the Burushaski language. The Khowar language is also spoken.
The majority of the people in Yasin are Ismailies who lead their lives according to the Islamic principles more concerned with the imam of the time. Currently Prince Karim Aga Khan is the imam and spiritual leader of the Ismailies. However, other sects of Islam like, Sunni, Shia also live here.
Ethnically the people of Yasin are of Brosho origin, any way there are people who are migrants from different part of the country like Chitral and even from outside the country like Central Asia.
People of Yasin are known for their honesty, hard work and bravery.

Villages

Gindai, Noh, Yasin, Taus, Nazbar, Ghojalti, Sandi, Sultanabad, Thoi, Bharkolti, Hundur, Umalsat(املست), Datkut, Qurqulti, Gahyeen Chail, Ishkaibar, Murka, Mashar, Saranmooj, Dalsadi and Shaman, moroong, burakut, ghasum,Gartenz

Passes

The Darkut Pass connects Yasin with Broghol pass and Chitral whilst the Thoi Pass connects Yasin to Yarkhun Chitral and Asumber pass connects Yasin to Ishkomen. Darkot Pass is a historical pass which discriminately has been labelled as restricted zone by Government of Pakistan. This pass used to be the shortest means of Communication between oxus and Indus ([www.yasinvalley.com]www.yasinvalley.com). Local and Foreign Tourism love to trek along the Assumbur pass to Ishqamen valley.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Shimshal Valley Pakistan

Shimshal

Shimshal is a small village located in Gojal, in the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan. It lies at an altitude of 3,200 m above sea level, and is the highest settlement in Pakistan.
The village was inaccessible by motor road until October 2003, when a new road from the Karakoram Highway at Passu was constructed. The Shimshal River comes from this area and then transforms the shape of Hunza River, which mixes with the Indus River below the capital city Gilgit.
Shimshalis use numerous seasonal mountain grasslands, located several days walk from the village, to sustain herds of yaks, goats, and sheep. Most of these grasslands are located within what has been declared as the Khunjerab National Park. The area was founded by Mamo Singh and his wife. According to Shimshal's history and tradition, their first child won the local polo game from Kargiz (Chinese) riding yak while the Chinese rode horses.
The people of Shimshal are Wakhi and they speak the Wakhi language. They belong to the Ismaili sect of Islam.
Two books about Shimshal, "Shimshal" and "Women of Shimshal" have been written by Pam Henson of the Shimshal Trust, based on her experiences teaching in Shimshal.











Shimshal Pass

Shimshal Pass (4,735m) rises above the village. It lies on the watershed between the Indus River and Tarim River basins, and leads to the valley of the Shimshal Braldu River, a tributary of the Shaksgam River on the border with China. The pass is not part of Khunjerab National Park, but the Shimshal community has set an organization called SNT (Shimshal Nature Trust) which oversees the entire region and takes care of its own land. It is a community based organization and is registered with the Government Of Pakistan.
Annually, in the month of July, there is a festival at Shimshal Pass, where locals partake in a yak race, followed by singing and dancing. This yak race is the only one of its kind, and is a unique event.

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Urak Valley Queta Pakistan

Urak

Urak is a valley surrounded by mountains in the province of Balochistan in Pakistan. It is located near Hana Lake, and 21 kilometres from Quetta city









Urak has a population of 10,000 and about 100% are Pashtun. This valley is used for growing apple trees of good quality and few other fruits. It has a small waterfall in the end from where the Walli Tangi (Wali Tangi) valley begins. Note : The Exact spelling is Walli Tangi.