Shimshal
Encyclopedia
Shimshal شمشال is a beautiful village located in Gojal
, Hunza-Nagar District
, in the Pakistan
-administered Gilgit-Baltistan formerly known as Northern Areas of Pakistan. It lies at an altitude of 3,200 m above sea level, and is the highest settlement in Hunza Valley
of Pakistan. The total area is 3,800 km2 and inhabitant of around two thousand population with two hundred and forty households.
The village was inaccessible by motor road until October 2003, when a new road from the Karakoram Highway
at Passu
was constructed. The construction of non-metallic Jeep-able road started in 1986 and completed in 2003. It become possible to connect Shimshal with rest of the world by mutual cooperation of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme
, Government of Pakistan
and the local community
. Brock University Canada
recently launched a new project A Critical Ethnography of the Shimshal Road 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. 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 Shia Islam.
The entire community is the follower of Aga Khan
as their 49th spiritual leader who is the direct descendent of Muhammad.You may please know more about Ismailis here.
Two books about Shimshal, "Shimshal" and "Women of Shimshal" have been written by Pam Henson of the Shimshal Trust, based on her experiences in Shimshal. Details are available on Shimshal Trust website. شمشال بے مثال written by مستنصر حسسیں تارڑ is one of the best books on Shimshal in Urdu
.
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 last week of July, there is a festival at Shimshal Pass, where locals partake in a yak race, followed by singing and dancing. In Wakhi language
it is called Woolyo. This yak race is the only one of its kind, and is a unique event organised at high mountain settlements of Pakistan .
Shimshal Nature Trust - Fifteen Year Vision and Management Plan (1994-2009)
Science and Practice of Ecology & Society Award (SPES) granted to Shimshal Nature Trust in Pakistan. Details available here, SPES Award to Shimshal Nature Trust also see Report on Shimshal Nature Trust
is a nice place for adventure, culture, religious and eco-tourism. Ministry of Toursim (Pakistan) website may please be seen for in-depth information about tourism in Pakistan. Shimshal valley having largest adventure area in Hunza
is a major attraction/fascination for tourists. Its mighty mountains like Destaghil Sar (7,885m), Shimshal White Horn, Minglik Sar, Lupghar Sar,Yazghail Sar, Kunjut Sar and others are well known among mountaineers. Gigantic glaciers include Malangudhi, Yazghail, Khurdopin, Braldu, Odver, Ver Zharav, and main passes are Chafchingoal, Khurdopin, Mai Dur, Braldu, Boi Sam and others. Shimshalies are to Pakistan
as Sherpas are to Nepal
. More than twenty well known mountaineers from this valley made Pakistan
proud in the field of tourism
. Some of them are Rajab Shah, Mehrban Shah, Shambi Khan,Aziz Ullah, Qudrat Ali, Sarwar Ali, Shaheen Baig, Amr-uddin- Shah, Amin Ullah Baig, Sajjad Karim, Aziz Baig, Qurban Muhammad, Tafat Shah, Farhad Khan, Wahab Ali Shah, Fazl Ali, Hasil Shah, Sub(rtd).Yousaf Khan, Hav(rtd).Muhammad Ullah, Ezat Ullah, Muhammad Bari,and others. Mr. Rajab Shah has distinction of scaling all five five peaks more than eight thousand meters located in Pakistan
. Mr. Rajab Shah and Mr. Mehrban Shah have received Presidential Award for Pride of Performance
in recognition of their extra ordinary achievement in the field of tourism
and mountaineering
.
Some useful links that can provide good information about Shimshal are;
Gojal
Gojal, also known as Upper Hunza, is an area north of Gilgit in the far north of Pakistan near the Chinese and Afghan borders. It is the largest tehsil of the Gilgit-Baltistan autonomous area of northern Pakistan....
, Hunza-Nagar District
Hunza-Nagar District
The Hunza-Nagar District is the seventh district of Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. The district comprises Hunza and Nagar. Aliabad is the administrative center of this district...
, in the Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
-administered Gilgit-Baltistan formerly known as Northern Areas of Pakistan. It lies at an altitude of 3,200 m above sea level, and is the highest settlement in Hunza Valley
Hunza Valley
The Hunza Valley is a mountainous valley in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. The Hunza valley is situated to the north of the Hunza River, at an elevation of around . The territory of Hunza is about...
of Pakistan. The total area is 3,800 km2 and inhabitant of around two thousand population with two hundred and forty households.
The village was inaccessible by motor road until October 2003, when a new road from the Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world, but at its peak at the China-Pakistan border it is only paved on the Chinese side. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of as confirmed by both...
at Passu
Passu
Passu is a small village on the Karakoram Highway, beside the Hunza River, some 15 kilometers from Gulmit, the Tehsil Headquarter of Gojal in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, and about 150 km upriver from Gilgit. It lies very near the tongue of the Pasu Glacier, and just south of the...
was constructed. The construction of non-metallic Jeep-able road started in 1986 and completed in 2003. It become possible to connect Shimshal with rest of the world by mutual cooperation of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme
Aga Khan Rural Support Programme
The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme was founded in the early 1980s in what is now Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Created by the Aga Khan Foundation, it worked on agricultural productivity, natural resource management, small-scale infrastructure and forestation...
, Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
and the local community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
. Brock University Canada
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
recently launched a new project A Critical Ethnography of the Shimshal Road The Shimshal River comes from this area and then transforms the shape of Hunza
Hunza River
Hunza River is the principal river of Hunza, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is formed by the confluence of the Kilik and Khunjerab nalas which are fed by glaciers. It is joined by the Gilgit River and the Naltar River before it flows into the Indus River.The river cuts through the...
River, which mixes with the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
below the capital city Gilgit
Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
.
Shimshalis use numerous seasonal mountain grasslands, located several days walk from the village, to sustain herds of yaks, goats, and sheep. 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
Wakhi
Wakhi may be:* The Wakhi language, the language of the majority of the people of Wakhan* Wakhi, an ethnic group in Wakhan, Afghanistan* An adjective; of or relating to Wakhan, the extreme northeastern region of Afghanistan that borders China, Tajikistan, and Pakistan...
and they speak the Wakhi language
Wakhi language
Wakhi is an Indo-European language in the branch of Eastern Iranian language family and is intimately related to other Southeastern Iranian languages in the Pamir languages group.-Classification and Distribution:...
. They belong to the Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
sect of Shia Islam.
The entire community is the follower of Aga Khan
Aga Khan
Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī followers of the Shī‘a faith. They affirm the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, while the larger Twelver branch of Shi`ism follows Ismail's younger brother Musa...
as their 49th spiritual leader who is the direct descendent of Muhammad.You may please know more about Ismailis here.
Two books about Shimshal, "Shimshal" and "Women of Shimshal" have been written by Pam Henson of the Shimshal Trust, based on her experiences in Shimshal. Details are available on Shimshal Trust website. شمشال بے مثال written by مستنصر حسسیں تارڑ is one of the best books on Shimshal in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
.
Shimshal Pass
Shimshal Pass (4,735m) rises above the village. It lies on the watershed between the Indus RiverIndus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
and Tarim River
Tarim River
The Tarim River is the principal river of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
basins, and leads to the valley of the Shimshal Braldu River, a tributary of the Shaksgam River
Shaksgam River
The Shaksgam River is a left tributary of the Yarkand River. The river is also known as the Kelechin River and Muztagh River. It rises in the Gasherbrum, Urdok, Staghar, Singhi and Kyagar Glaciers in the Karakoram. It then flows in a general northwestern direction parallel to the Karakoram ridge...
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 last week of July, there is a festival at Shimshal Pass, where locals partake in a yak race, followed by singing and dancing. In Wakhi language
Wakhi language
Wakhi is an Indo-European language in the branch of Eastern Iranian language family and is intimately related to other Southeastern Iranian languages in the Pamir languages group.-Classification and Distribution:...
it is called Woolyo. This yak race is the only one of its kind, and is a unique event organised at high mountain settlements of Pakistan .
Shimshal Nature Trust
Shimshal Nature Trust Home PageShimshal Nature Trust - Fifteen Year Vision and Management Plan (1994-2009)
Science and Practice of Ecology & Society Award (SPES) granted to Shimshal Nature Trust in Pakistan. Details available here, SPES Award to Shimshal Nature Trust also see Report on Shimshal Nature Trust
Nomus
Nomus is a unique social philanthropic system of Shimshal. Details are available here Nomus and Oral testimonies from ShimshalTourism in Shimshal
PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
is a nice place for adventure, culture, religious and eco-tourism. Ministry of Toursim (Pakistan) website may please be seen for in-depth information about tourism in Pakistan. Shimshal valley having largest adventure area in Hunza
Hunza
Hunza may refer to*Hunza Valley*Former State of Hunza*Hunza River*Hunza Peak*Hunza people*Hunza is the Muisca name of the city of Tunja, Colombia...
is a major attraction/fascination for tourists. Its mighty mountains like Destaghil Sar (7,885m), Shimshal White Horn, Minglik Sar, Lupghar Sar,Yazghail Sar, Kunjut Sar and others are well known among mountaineers. Gigantic glaciers include Malangudhi, Yazghail, Khurdopin, Braldu, Odver, Ver Zharav, and main passes are Chafchingoal, Khurdopin, Mai Dur, Braldu, Boi Sam and others. Shimshalies are to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as Sherpas are to Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. More than twenty well known mountaineers from this valley made Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
proud in the field of tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. Some of them are Rajab Shah, Mehrban Shah, Shambi Khan,Aziz Ullah, Qudrat Ali, Sarwar Ali, Shaheen Baig, Amr-uddin- Shah, Amin Ullah Baig, Sajjad Karim, Aziz Baig, Qurban Muhammad, Tafat Shah, Farhad Khan, Wahab Ali Shah, Fazl Ali, Hasil Shah, Sub(rtd).Yousaf Khan, Hav(rtd).Muhammad Ullah, Ezat Ullah, Muhammad Bari,and others. Mr. Rajab Shah has distinction of scaling all five five peaks more than eight thousand meters located in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Mr. Rajab Shah and Mr. Mehrban Shah have received Presidential Award for Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance
Pride of Performance , is one of the highest civil award given and conferred by the Pakistan Government to Pakistan's citizens in recognition of distinguished merit in the fields of Literature, Arts, Sports, Medicines, and Science for civilians in most particular cases.The announcement of civil...
in recognition of their extra ordinary achievement in the field of tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
.
Some useful links that can provide good information about Shimshal are;
- Way to K2 Adventure Tours
- KET Pakistan
- Shams Alpine
- Shimshal Mountaineering School
- Pakistan Youth Outreach
External links
- Blankonthemap The Northern Kashmir WebSite
- 2000 Mock & O'Neil Oprang Expedition Report
- Shimshal Trust