Nagar Valley

Nagar Valley Surrounded by Moutains

The Nagar Valley is a valley near Gilgit Valley in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The valley is part of Gilgit District and is administratively subdivided into two tehsils namely Nagar-1 and Nagar-2. The valley is situated at an elevation of 2,438m (7,999 feet). Nagar Khas is the main town and the capital of the former state of Nagar. Spantik peak (Golden peak) can easily be seen from here. Gulmet is a popular tourist attraction in Nagar because of the spectacular scenery of the surrounding mountains like Rakaposhi at 7,788m (25,561), and Diran. The climate of Nagar remains pleasant from mid-April to the end of September. The maximum temperature in summer during the day is 13°C. The weather becomes very cold during the winter, mainly from October to end of March. The minimum temperature can be -14°C.

History

Nagar was formerly a princely state which had existed for 1200 years. The State of Hunza was previously under the domination of Nagar. The area was collectively called Buroshall and the capital was Capal Dongs. After the reign of the Miyor Khan, his sons divided Buroshall into Nagar and Hunza and declared the river as the border. Muglot became the king of Nagar and Kirkis became the king of Hunza. The people of Nagar and Hunza were ruled by a local Mir for more than 1200 years, until both states were dissolved in 1974. Although never ruled directly by neighbouring Kashmir or the British, Nagar and Hunza were a vassal state of Kashmir from the time of Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir. The Mirs of both sent an annual tribute to the Kashmir Durbar until 1947. Along with the ruler of Hunza, the Mir of Nagar was considered to be among the most loyal vassals of the Maharaja of Kashmir.

The British gained control of Nagar during a battles at Nilt (Jangir-e-Laye) between 1889 and 1892. The Nagarkutch were defeated due to lack of weapons. The Tham (Chief) of that time, Azur Khan, was sent in exile to Kashmir. On the British side, three soldiers were rewarded with the Victoria Cross and a mule was also rewarded with the medal for carrying a gun on its back. The British retained Nagar's status as a principality until their departure in 1947.

In 1968 Syed Yahya Shah, the first educated politician of the valley, demanded civil rights from the Mir of Nagar. After the Pakistani Central Government changed to a democracy on 25 September 1974 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dissolved the Princely States of Nagar and Hunza and gave democratic representation to the Northern Areas Council, now called the Northern Areas Legislative Council.

Prince Qasim Ali is the Crown Prince of Nagar State and is currently living in Islamabad after having completed his education in the United Kingdom.

Sr #	Reign	Mirs of Nagar
1	Unknown dates	Fadl Khan
2	Unknown dates	Daud Khan
3	Unknown dates	Ali Dad Khan (1st time)
4	Unknown dates	Hari Tham Khan
5	Unknown dates	Ali Dad Khan (2nd time)
6	Unknown dates	Kamal Khan
7	Unknown dates	Rahim Khan I
8	Unknown date - 1839	Rahim Khan II
9	1839–1891	Jafar Zahid Khan (1st time)
10	1891–1892	Raja Azur Khan (acting)
11	1892–1904	Jafar Zahid Khan (2nd time)
12	1905 - 17 March 1940	Raja Mir Iskandar Khan
13	17 March 1940 - 25 September 1974	Shaukat Ali Khan (1930–1976)
14	25 September 1974	State of Nagar dissolved

Geography

A view of Rakaposhi from Nagar

Nagar is bordered by the Gilgit Agency to the southwest, China to the north and northeast and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state capital is the town of Nagar Khas (also known as Uyum Nagar, which means "The Mighty Nagar Empire").

Rakaposhiis situated in Gulmat Nagar and Diran Peaks is situated in Minapin Nagar-2, while Rush Lake (High altitude Wetland), Golden Peak, Hopper Glacier, Spantik, Hisper Glacier, Bowalter Glacier and Barpu white glaciers are in Nagar-1.batura glacier, sony pakosh, and barodaruksh LAKE are situated in Bar valley in nagar2.hoper valley is the most important in nagar valley according to its historical point of view because it is fact that the all families were dispersed with time were from in hoper valley to different parts of nagar which were later populated like chalt, iskenderabad it also contains proper nagar valley. We also agree on that the nagar proper is the capital of all nagar but hoper is the ansient capital of nagar. The hoper valley is the ancient capital of nagar but not only nagar also of hunza because the ulter donce is in hoper valley whose history is so lengthy.

Demography

The religion of the Nagar Valley is Islam with 100% Shia Isna Ashree. The literacy rate is over 90% for men and about 59% for women.

According to the 1998 census, the population of the Nagar Valley was 1 lac and according to the 2000 figures the population had risen to 100,000. The languages spoken are Brushashki, and Shena. Sixty percent of the Burusho people live in Nagar. 40% of the Shina-speaking people live in Nagar Valley. Bedishki is a language spoken by the Bedicho (Doma) tribe of Nagar. It is related to the Gujarati language. It has only one hundred speakers, and is spoken in Chalt.

Climate

The climate of nagar remains pleasant in summer.from april till october is most attractive season for visitors.in summer the maximum temperature is 10 degree centigrade(in the day)and in winter the maximum temperature is -5.which is seasonable for wild life and human beings.

Polo

Nagar was famous for its polo team It is the only team from the Northern Areas who played the polo match in New Delhi on the arrival of the George VI of England and won the trophy there. Until 1972 it was the unbeatable team of the northern areas.

Rustam-e-gilgit

Dolat shah (rustam e gilgit) belongs to nagar. He is resident of village fakar nagar. He played 131 international matches. He is asian champion by defeating hardangsing (India) in asian games at Kuwait. He lifted 2000 kg stone.

Modern Nagar

The whole area of Nagar was declared as a community park to prevent the hunting of many endangered animals such as Marco Polo sheep, brown bears, and snow tigers.

Villages

Nagar Valley is categorized into 28 small villages and these villages are sub divided into towns.

1. Chalt (Rich agricultural village of Nagar)

2. Raabat

3. Chaprot

4. Budalas

5. Bar

6. Sikandarabad

7. Jafarabad

8. Nilt

9. Thole

10. Hupai

11. Masot

12. Ghulmet

13. Yal

14. Pisan

15. Minapin(a famous place of Nagar in tourism)

16. Miyachar

17. Dadimal

18. Balakot

19. Tashot

20. Ghamadus

21. Faker(coldest area in GILGIT REGION)

a. Faker khai

b. Machoting giram

c. Makuchim giram

d. Chato kuz giram

e. Yat das

f. Maryamo giram

g. Murad alikutz giram

h. Rustamating giram

i. Fukuz giram

j. Ghutum

22. Hakuchar(special for hot and cold springs)

23. Shahyar

24. Askurdas(parts of askurdas)

a. Maltaskan

b. Jamalabad

c. Dongsat

d. Frusa

25. Sumayar(famous village for natural gems and quartz)(parts of sumayar)

a. Thopkan

b. Jatorkan

c. Raisman

d. Khai

e. Sumayar yal

f. Futkhai

g. Bous

26. Nagar khas(main town of NAGAR)(parts of nagar khas)

a. Hamari

b. Bedishal

c. Bakoshal

d. Melokushal

e. Chaqotishal

f. Konjokushal

g. Pyalokushal

h. Nagar khai

i. Dasguyo das

j. Chamaling

k. Dongs

l. Ghutas

m. Samon

n. Nagar thole

o. Harchi

p. Tokurkhai

27. Hoper(well known village in tourism)(parts of hoper)

a. Rat

b. Ghososhal

c. Hakalshal

d. Holshal

28. Huru

29. Hisper(the last village of nager also reputed in tourism)

Hopar Valley

The Hopar Valley is a scenic portion of the Nagar Valley in northern Pakistan. It is about 10 km away from Nagar Khas, the principal city of the Nagar Valley. Hopar Valley is the site of the Spantik and Hopar (Hopper) glaciers.

Location

Hopar Valley is a cluster of villages around a natural bowl at a bend of Bualtar Glacier. Opposite Hopar the white Bualtar is joined by the Barpu Glacier. This is a base camp for treks into the high, glacier-draped peaks called the Hispar Muztagh.Whole population of this valley are Burushaski speakers. Burushaski has always been a mystery for linguists. This valley is full of natural resources and natural beauty but due to ignorance of Government and local politicians add to its backwardness.

Lodging

The Hopar Hilton is a small mountain lodge overlooking the Hopar Glacier, which is unaffiliated with the famous Hilton Hotels chain.

Hispar Valley

The Hispar Valley is the last Valley of Nagar Valley it is about 28km away from Nagar Khas it is the last valley of Biafo Glacier Skardu trek from Hispar and first From Skardu.

Location

Hispar Valley is almost 28km from main town of Nagar.