The Northern Areas in Pakistan hold immense significance, not only in terms of art and architecture, but it has a acquired a special position geographically. The three mountains range, the Himalayas, the Karakoram and Hindukush attract the attention of everyone towards the northern parts of
Pakistan. These mountain ranges divide the subcontinent from the highland of Central Asia. All the major rivers both in India and Pakistan flow from these mountains.
The northern areas are very rich in art and architecture. Rock engraving is found in the northern areas, particularly in Chilas, Thalpan, and Basin. It extends to Gilgit and Baltistan. These rocks engraving were first reported by Gulam Muhammadin 1907, then in 1942 by Sir Aural Stein. In 1973 by Mr Carl Jaimer, in 1976 by Gerard Fussman of Cambridge and in 1980 by a Pakistan-German Joint
venture headed by A.H. Dani.
In 2006 some people wanted to destroy these rock carvings the same was reported in a Japanese daily. The Pakistani Ambassador in Japan requested for its protection and the NWFP government selected this author for its inspection. I visited the area and a complete report was submitted to the concerned authorities.
The rock engravings include Stupa, Fire Alter, Temple Pagoda, drawing of animals, birds, human begins Axe scenes of fighting and hunting. The languages they used were Brahman, Kharoshti, Chine, Sodden, Syrian and Hebrew.
The Upper Indus route was used by invaders, travelers, merchants,artisans and many others. They left behind 30,000 drawings and 5,000 inscriptions inscribed on granite rocks with the dark brow surface.
The wild animal also caused the coming of hunter from Central Asia to the Upper Indus valley. In the 1st millennium B.C. the Iranian nomads,the Assyrian and Scythian also approached these valleys.
Darius I of Iran also ruled this area in 518 B.C., he extended his rule to Taxila, Gandhara and Sindh. In the 6th century B.C. the Achmenien also ruled this area. Later in 325 B.C. Alexander
conquered Taxila and other part of this area, but the Greek impact started slowly and gradually on this area from Taxila and Bactria.
The Mauryans defected the successor of Alexander and of their great ruler Ashoka (268-232 BC) who later stood as a great pillar of Buddhism. During his rule Buddhism spread from subcontinent to Central Asia. One of his famous rock edicts were there in Manshara and Shah Baz Gerhi (NWFP).In the 2nd century B.C. the Hsiung-Nu invaded the western periphery of the Chine’s empire driving out its
inhabitants. The yuch-chi (indo-Scythian) and they in their turn pushed sai wang (sakas) out from their pasturelands of bectria-akistani (seistan) to the west.
The sakas migrated to the south and put an end to the Hellenistic hegemony in Bactria around 130 B.C. in the 1st Century B.C. maues (moga) extended his rule to Taxila.Then Parthian came they ruled this area for a short time before the yeuh-chi, Nomad in 50 A.D. The first inscription in Khiroshti showed that King Kusapa approached Indus Kashmir in 3rd century A.D.The inscription in Khroshti and
Brahmi illustrate that great number of travelers; Sogthia, Parthian, Bactrians, Chine and Hebrew passed through this area.In the northern area Shatial was a stopover for the merchants on their way to the subcontinent.
Baltit Fort, the former residence of the Mirs of Hunza The Hunza is situated at an elevation
of 2,438 metres (7,999 feet). For many centuries, Hunza has provided the quickest access to Swat and Gandhara for a person travelling on foot. The route was impassable to baggage animals; only human porters could get through, and then only with permission from the locals.
Hunza was formerly a princely state and was an independent principality for more than 900 years. The British controlled the Hunza valley and Nagar Valley in the last quarter of 19th century but they never ruled directly the hunza valley. Thee valley were ruled by the Mir's of Hunza and Noger
and the tribute sent to the Kashmir Durbar till 1947.
It is more interesting that the Muslim thumb mention here a short story of the northern area some 200 years after the introduction of Islam in Gilgit, the traditions says that mayroo khan married a daughter of trakhan of Gilgit and bore him twins sons named as Maglot and Girkis, descended from the ruling family of nagar called Ayeshe (Heavenly)a branch of the hahries, the ruling family of
Gilgit Hunza and Nagar was one state but the capital was Nagar. Mayroo Khan divided the state in two parts because of the hostility of his sons for the succession of empire. The area south
of his kingdom was given to Maghlot and north to the Girki.
The rulers were called as Thums by the people of Nagar and Hunza.thums were addressed as soori or India name Sri,an appellation of lakshmi,Hindu wealth goddess for the respect and honour as prefix the wives are styled ghenish and their sons are called gushpor.
Hunza Valley River
In the 8th 6th centuries A.D a conflict arose between the empires of Tibet and China.It also affected the area adjacent to china. The scenes of rock carving shows thee skirmish the rock carvings manifest three periods that is pre-Buddhist, Buddhist and post Buddhist.
Rock Carvings
The Buddhist carvings were skillfully mad. it show that how expert they were in art , Architecture an rock carving some of the Buddhist devotees spending all their life to create some of the master pieces like stupa standing Buddha seated Buddha's an so many related carving with Buddhism.. There
elements that dominate the post Buddhist period are Axes, Circles and Monument.
Axes scenes are very frequent. They show their way of fighting. The Axes vary form simple to the decorated one.
A number of beautiful circles have also engraved on the rock. Its shows the Chakra or ‘Wheel of wisdom’. The other circles either the symbol of shield or sun. It also indicates that the sun worshiper lied in this area. Ancient petroglyphs near Chilas:
Geography: Elevation of Hunza is 2438 meters (7999feet).from swat and Gandhara the quickest way I provided for the people on foot because the route is half meter wide with bare cliffs and wide cracks, exposed to damage due to weather.The route was called as feared hanging passageways by the chine's historians Buddhist monks such as Xuanzang.
Climate: The temperature in May is maximum 27 °C (81 °F) and minimum 14 °C (57 °F) and October maximum is 10 °C (50 °F) and 0 °C (32 °F). Hunza's tourist season is from May to October, because in winter the Karakoram Highway is often blocked by the snow.
Rakaposhi, 7,788 m (25,551 ft)
Greek Influence: The Greek ruled the Gandhara region but as northern area is adjacent to it so their influence was definite. The Greek made tremendous achievement in art and architecture. They developed coins the instrument of war and so many other things.
They shaped their building have very unique way so they affect the over all culture of the northern area. It is a common error that it is not mentioned that the Greek have influenced the indigenous art and architecture in Gandhara so the same effect was made on the culture of northern area.
The Greco Iranian influence is also visible on carving of this area.
Architecture: The stupa is said that it was for the first time introduced (constructed) by Asoka but here I have to point out that kings Agathoclus had issued his coin which had the same symbol. Moreover the ancient fort of Baltit if we are thoroughly studies so many Hellenic influence in the
style of Architecture and woodwork and so many other example in this area.
The Greek influence still in northern area in Buddhist carving the seated Buddha in Chilas and other carving shows the Hellenic influence in the form of Acanthus leaves and styles and so many others things which show the Greek influence in the Buddhist art.
