The Chipursan Valley
A distant valley of Hunza that rises from
3000 to 4925 meters high above sea level
and 72 kilometers in length along a narrow
jeep road from the Karakorum Highway to
Baba Ghundi (Shrine) in Pakistan Northern
Areas. It starts from Sost and ends on the
Irshad Pass which links Pakistan to Afghanistan
via the Wakhan Corridor. It's around a 4
hour jeep ride from Sost to Baba Ghundi
Ziarat (the tomb of an ancient saint who
is said to come from Ghund a place in north
of Afghanistan). Though the valley is very
narrow, it’s still extremely interesting
for tourists because of its high mountains,
historical places and mysterious stories.
Tourists come to visit special historical
places and natural landscapes situated in
the valley at different spots.
Leaving Sost (Pakistan China border trade
centre), the road crosses a bridge on the
KKH and turns to the left on the first non
metallic link road into the high mountains.
After 45 minutes we reach the first village
of Chipursan which is called Yarzrich. The
vehicles that usually make this run are
small sized 4X4 ones specially used for
tourism. Before reaching Yazrich we come
to Chipursan's first holy place called Punja
Shah and near to this there are many symbols
from ancient times. Chipursan has a wealth
of high snowcapped mountains, fresh water
fountains, fresh cool air and attractive
glaciers. The people are educated and friendly
and live in 12 villages spread throughout
the valley. The population of Chipursan
is about 4000 living in the following villages.
Yarzrich is the first village of Chipursan
when coming from Sost. Cundahail and Virkhun
are famous meadows of this village and conifer
trees are found here in abundance. Raminj
is 3095 meters high above sea level on the
upper side of the Chipursan link road. Lupghar
is also a famous meadow here and is the
village of the famous Mountaineer Mr. Nazeer
Sabir.
Kirmin (3100m) is the second village and
consists of three small subordinate villages
called (Aminabad, Rahimabad and Noorabad).
Here are four famous and small treks for
Tourists on different meadows like Spandrin
Sar which is surrounded by beautiful green
pastures. This meadow is not only full of
flowers but also of many useful herbs which
can cure many diseases. Yet of all the herbs,
the most famous is Chumuro which can be
brewed as a tea. The beverage has an extremely
pleasant aroma that appeals to both resident
and visitor alike. Other herbs can also
be brewed to cure many diseases known to
afflict residents such as flu. They include
Bozlanj, Yinath (curable for jaundice),
Naghurdum wosh (for eye treatment), Youm
wosh, Mandirich, Nilterk and many others.
However their importance to science is squandered
every day as to this day no significant
research has been made regarding the properties
of these Himalayan herbs. Other meadows
with the above mentioned qualities are Vuin
Sue Qeer and both are regarded as special
scenic spots for tourists.
The third village is Khill, which consists
of two small villages. Here there is also
a beautiful water fall across the river
called Sumayar surrounded by greenery and
beautiful pasture areas. The stream flows
from the top of a nearby mountain called
Khill-a-dur which welcomes the tourist into
its lap. After walking some distance there
is another attractive snowcapped peak and
climbing spot for tourists along with a
tributary glacier which leads and connects
to the Lupghar and Battura glacier which
are encompassed by the same flowers, herbs
& minerals mentioned earlier around
Kirmin village.
Fourth is the vibrant village of Rashit
whose heart-catching meadow is called Rashtigar.
This eye-catching beauty spot is also a
well-known peak for climbing. The fifth
village is Sherisubz and the holy place
Jamal Khan is situated here which is a part
of the story of Yish Kok. Ispenj is the
sixth village here the beautiful waterfall
of Yoth Mitch is really very famous and
attractive and Bidah Hel (Bedah Meadow)
is also famous for its past unique events.
The seventh (two) subordinate villages are
Shitmerg & Kampeer Dior which is very
famous for its past events and finally the
hamlet of Zood Khon. After the last village
the meadow areas called Yish Kok (3450m),
begin which has a lengthy story which I
would like to express to you in detail over
the following pages. After Yish Kok, Ruvai
Lake follows and then Dan Koth meadow and
at last Baba Ghundi (4000m), the Tomb of
the Saint.
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