Hunza, which for the most part remains covered under the sacred dress of snow in winter, when the curtains are removed, the sensual mountainous outline and lush vegetation become a magnet for one and all. The indigenous population comes alive in the vibrant spring season after a long freezing winter.
Hunza, the land of fairy tales, where the snowy hills are like Aphrodite’s dance floor. Where rivers roar with excitement and brush against stones to turn them into pebbles. Where the gentle breeze whispers to reveal centuries-old secrets. Where the old pines still hug the clouds with warmth and passion to balance the droplets on flexible twigs. A ground of serenity and spectator of eternal beauty that can, for a second or two, make the viewer forget about worldly life.
Hunza, in the northernmost part of the northern areas of Pakistan, was once a princely state that, in 1974, lost its royal status to join the government of Pakistan.
In the south, the Gilgit agency borders it, while to the east, the former princely state of Nagar borders its margins. The Hunza Valley also enjoys the neighborhood of China to the north and Afghanistan to the northwest. The famous city of Baltit, which, we know, is known as Karimabad is its capital.
Hunza was an independent princely state for 900 years ruled by “Mirs” until 1974. It remained a subordinate of Kashmir during the rule of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, while the Mirs of Hunza used to send an annual tribute as a token of their loyalty. , to the court of the Raja since 1947.
Geographically, gigantic mountains that have spread over an area of 110 kilometers surround the valley. The terrain is full of variety with diversity in peak heights from 1500 meters to 8000 meters, the world famous Rakaposhi Peak (7788 m) is one of them that, against the calm blue sky, shines at its brightest and creates an illusion for captivate the eye to a level where time seems to stop forever.
The heights of Rakaposhi (7788 m) and Ultar (77388 m) are the backdrop of this paradisiac valley where the glacial water of Ultar is known for some therapeutic characteristics that, under favorable circumstances, have caused in the Aboriginal population, a long life and a very low proportion of heart disease. Researchers are reflecting on the natural composition of this glacial water to reveal the secret that causes a longer life.
The valley is naturally blessed with lush green orchards (mostly apricot), streams filled with dancing waters, roaring rivers, and meadows that stretch in the stillness like the skies to a height that is a unique feature of the areas of the northern Pakistan. Juniper, pine and Dev Dar are the trees that, in the rings of their trunks, have recorded the cycles of the rainy and snowy seasons of many centuries.
The blue of the sky, the emerald of the flora and the turquoise of the water add to the palette that nature has used to paint this landscape full of mountains, trees and flowers with a divine composition of colors and the brightness of the rising sun, adored for the whiteness. of snow that, on some peaks, has never melted for billions of years.
The northern areas of Pakistan are divided into five districts for administrative reasons where the chief secretary governs, which is controlled by the federal government of Islamabad.
This soil has witnessed invasions from the Aryans on horseback to the mighty Greeks, Persians and Afghans to Muslims, and that is why the marl of this area has absorbed the aroma of different civilizations and the culture of various nations. bordering.
The 1st century AD marks this area as the commercial center as the Kashgar, while from the 4th to the 11th century AD, it was a center of Buddhist culture under the later Sogdian dynasty; Kushans, Hindus, Shahis, and later Muslims influenced this part of the world.
Hunza being a remote area has a mythical position in world tourism. This area was opened to the entire world in 1970 after the completion of the historic Korakoram Highway (KKH), built on the remains of the ancient silk road from Pakistan to China.
The Hunza people are believed to be descendants of soldiers in Alexander’s army, even as the indigenous Burushaski language remains enigmatic, as no traces or links regarding this language have been found with any other known languages of the world.
For the most part, the local people are dedicated to the cultivation of apricots, a brand of this valley. You can find the roofs of almost all houses in orange color due to the drying of these apricots, which is a common practice here. Whereas if you feel obsessed with capturing these shades of orange, be careful! As most of the time, it is women who indulge in the business of drying apricots and they do not like to be exposed in front of any kind of lens.
The Baltit fort in Karimabad is a place of maximum joy, where standing on its terrace, it can be impressive to look at the mountains around you, but right at the foot of the fort, the beautiful houses of the city of Karimabad catch your eye, a natural and picturesque view.
Spring is the season of joy, delight, and expression of joy. Birds sing, plants adorn themselves with new leaves and flowers, and ultimately all of this attracts all living things. The face of the earth, especially in fertile areas, changes dramatically when someone has painted an endless canvas in lush colors. The hills, overwhelmed by natural forests on a larger scale, are configured as a spectacle of incomparable flora with diverse shapes and unlimited colors.
Hunza, which for the most part remains covered under the sacred dress of snow in winter, when the curtains are removed, the sensual mountainous outline and lush vegetation become a magnet for one and all. The indigenous population comes alive in the vibrant spring season after a long freezing winter when temperatures on a negative scale nullify life.
How the Hunza Valley has seen many diverse cultures and civilizations over the centuries, from Persian kings to Alexander the great, from Kushans to Hindus and from Buddhists to Muslims. The richness of the Hunza culture is quite obvious, its folk music, dances, rituals and food have the touch of various influences. Although the majority of the population are now Ismaili-Muslims, the rich Hunza culture revealed a varied and unique taste through traditional clothing, jewelry, cuisine, rituals, and handicrafts.
Spring begins in Hunza in April with pleasant weather and the roads open up after snowy winters. But even then, the best time is May and June, as the Hunza Festival is also held at that time.
The beginning of spring in this amazing valley put on display the variety of colorful and sparkling landscapes where you could feel the magic and pleasure of natural beauty.
“All these things are beautiful, the perception of which pleases,” said Shakespeare.