User:RachelKarenG/Hunza Valley

The Hunza Valley is home to several high peaks that rise above 7,000 m in its the surroundings. These include Rakaposhi Distaghil Sar, Batura, Batura II, Batura III, Muchu Chhish, Kunyang Chhish, Shispare, Passu Sar, Kanjut Sar, Yukshin Gardan Sar, Pumari Chhish, and Momhil Sar.

The valley provides views of several mountains, including Ultar Sar 7,388 m (24,239 ft), Bojahagur Duanasir II 7,329 m (24,045 ft), Ghenta Peak 7,090 m (15,631 ft), Hunza Peak 6,270 m (20,571 ft), Darmyani Peak 6,090 m (19,980 ft), and Bublimating (Ladyfinger Peak) 6,000 m (19,685 ft).

Hunza Valley has a diverse religious history with it being home to several historic religious sites like the ancient watchtowers in Ganish village, Baltit Fort on top of karimabad which was built by the Mirs about 800 years ago , which is a historic landmark for hunza , and Altit Fort (at the bottom of the valley). In the 8th century AD, a huge Buddha figure surrounded by small Buddhisatvas was discovered carved on a rock. Prehistoric men and animal figures are carved on rocks along the valley. Before the arrival of Islam, the majority of the region practiced Buddhism. Since then, most of the population has converted to Islam. The region has many works of graffiti in the ancient Brahmi script written on rocks, produced by Buddhist monks as a form of worship and culture. With most locals converting to Islam, they had been mainly left ignored, destroyed, or forgotten, but are now being restored

Hunza also houses several lakes in its vicinity , which include Attabad Lake, Borith Lake, Shimshal Lakes, Hassanabad Lake.

The largest mountain pass Khunjerab Pass which is 4,693-meter-high ,paved at more 15000ft above sea level ,is in a strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan and on the southwest border of China and is connected through Gilgit Baltistan making it another significant landmark of hunza .

Hiking treks include Ondra Poygah Gulmit and Leopard Trek Shiskhat.

The 57 km long Batura Glacier, the fifth-longest glacier in the world outside the polar region, is surrounded by Shispare, Batura, and Kumpirdior peaks.

The valley is popularly believed to be one of the inspiration for the mythical valley of Shangri-La in James Hilton's 1933 novel, Lost Horizon.

The local languages spoken include Burushaski, Wakhi and Shina. The literacy rate of the Hunza valley is more than 95%. The establishment of community schools that provide high quality education ,and the influence of the Aga Khan Mirs , contributing towards building universities for higher education have directed towards the high literacy rate in Hunza Valley , especially for girls. The historical area of Hunza and present northern Pakistan has had, over the centuries, mass migrations, conflicts and resettling of tribes and ethnicities, of which the Shina people are the most prominent in regional history. People of the region have recounted their historical traditions down the generations. The Hunza Valley is also home to some Wakhi, who migrated there from northeastern Afghanistan beginning in the nineteenth century onwards. The majority of residents in Hunza belong to the Ismaili Shia sects of islam. They believe that Aga Khan IV is their religious figurehead and transcendent. He is also believed to be the biggest promotor and contributor towards the literacy success and overall well-being of the people of Hunza and the valley itself.

The longevity of Hunza people has been noted by some, but others refute this as a longevity myth promoted by the lack of birth records.

However, whether or not their putative longevity is true, it is undoubtable that the Hunza people lead a healthy lifestyle along with a healthy diet. Many researchers have lived with the Hunza people to answer this mystery including Robert McCarrison who did not discover a single person with diseases such as cancer, stomach ulcers or appendicitis. The research shows that high levels of exercise due the landscape and geography allows for them to be active and agile which factors in with their longevity , along with consumption of apricot seeds and oils , and the glacier water which contains minerals.