Nagar Valley

Nagar Valley is a former princely state and one of the ten districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The valley is along the Karakoram Highway on the way north from the city of Gilgit. The valley is home to many high mountain peaks including Rakaposhi (7788m), Diran Peak (7265m), Golden Peak and Rush Peak.

The Nagar valley is administratively divided into two tehsils: Nagar-I and Nagar-II. All the villages of upper Nagar including Shayar, Askurdas, Sumayar, Nagarkhas, Hoper Valley, and Hispar come under Nagar-I, whereas the villages of lower Nagar including Chalt Paeen, Chalt Bala, Sonikot, Akbarabad, Rabat, Bar, Buddalas, Chaprote, Skandarabad, Jafarabad, Nilt, Thol, Ghulmet, Pisan, Minapin, Meacher, Dadhimal, Phekar, and Hakuchar are part of Nagar-II. Burushaski and Shina languages are spoken in the valley.

The Rush Lake, the highest alpine lake of Pakistan and the 27^th highest lake in the world,.also lies in this valley.

Geography

The entire region is hilly and mountainous topographically, but every part of the valley is easily accessible. The Karakoram mountain range covers the whole region, of which Rakaposhi is part. Of the total area of Nagar valley, 90% is above 3,000 meters above sea level and 30% is 5,000 meters above sea level.

History

Nagar was an independent principality for more than 1,200 years. The British gained control of Nagar during the Anglo-Brusho war, locally known as Jangir-e-Lae. Jangir-e-Lae was fought between the people of Nagar state and the troops of the British Raj at Nilt from 1 to 23 December 1891.

The British troops faced intense resistance from the people of Nagar under the leadership of the Tham (Chief) of that time, Azur Khan, at the Nilt Nallah (known as Jamila Mo Har).
The people of Nagar fought bravely for more than 20 days but were defeated due to a lack of armaments. Over 100 Nagar lost their lives and 127 were imprisoned. On the British side, four British officers and over 50 Dogra levies lost their lives. The British retained Nagar's status as a principality. Even after the revolt against the Maharaja of Kashmir and unconditional accession to Pakistan in 1948, Nagar's status continued to be that of a princely state.

During the 1960s, people start protesting against the despotism of the Mir, demanding the abolition of Begar and reduction in taxation. In 1970, they organized a march to Gilgit to register their demands authorities, while Gilgit sent scouts against the people. The scouts opened fire on the demonstrators in Chalt, killing nine people and wounding many more. The leaders of the protest were imprisoned. Later, on 25 September 1974, Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto dissolved the princely states of Nagar and Hunza, set the prisoners free and gave democratic representation to the Northern Areas Council, now the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.

Tourist attractions

Famous Spots

* Miachar Daman-e-Koh
* Rakaposhi
* Gappa Valley
* Baraimoch-e-Pharimuch

Meadows and pastures

Nagar is home to many famous high altitude meadows such as:
* Kacheli
*Taghafari
* Gappa Valley
* Thayngi
*Barkot
*Bar Ter
*Barpu
*Sumayar Bar
*Silkiyang
*Hapakun
*Pissan Natural Cricket Ground
*Summayar Teir
Askurdas Ruen
Rakaposhi Base Camp
Daitar
Nagar Ruen
shah shabaran ghulmat

Mountain peaks

Famous peaks in the region are:
* Rakaposhi
*Diran
*Golden Peak (also known as Spantik)
*Miar Peak (Miar Chhish)
* Shiltar Peak
*Alchori Sar
*Hispar Sar
*Kunyang Chhish
* Malubiting

Lakes

Famous alpine Lakes in the region are:
*Bario Darukush lake (pakistan)
*Rush Lake (Pakistan)
* Snow Lake
*Kacheli Lake

Glaciers

Famous glaciers in the region are:
*Hopar Glacier
*Miar Glacier
*Hisper Glacier
*Biafo Glacier
*Barpu Glacier
*Minapin Glacier
*Pisan Glacier
*Silkiyang Glacier
*Summayar Glaciers

Mountain passes

Famous passes in the region are:
*Hispar Pass also known as Hispar La
*Chaprot Pass
* Chumar Bakur Pass
* Boe Ghulmat

Mines and Minerals

Nagar is considered to be a one of gemstones rich valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. It contains numerous mining sites of a range of precious and semiprecious gemstones.

Mining Sites

* Chumar Bakhoor, Sumayar
* Hapakun Mining site Minapin
* Aquamarine Mines Phekar
* Marble deposits Pisan, Minapin, Nagar Khas, and Sumayar Nagar
* Granite deposits Pisan, Minapin, Nagar Khas and Sumayar Nagar

Minerals

* Aquamarine
Aquamarine is precious gemstones found in Chumar Bakhoor area of Sumayar and adjoining mountains of Phekar Nagar.
* Fluorite
Fluorite is precious gemstones found in Chumar Bakhoor area of Sumayar and Bar Ter, Nagar Khas.
*Apatite
Apatite is rear and precious gemstone found in Chumar Bakhoor along with Aquamarine and Fluorite.
*Jet (Gemstone)
Jet deposits are found in various areas of Nagar District such as, Minapin, Chalt and Nagar Khas.
*Marble
Marble deposits are found in Pisan, Minapin, Nagar Khas and Sumayar regions of Nagar.

See also

*Hoper Valley
*Hisper Valley
* Nagarkhas
* Hunza Valley
* Naltar Valley
*Shigar valley
* Ghulmat valley
* Chalat Valley
* Hisper Valley
* Wali abad mazar hazrat shah wali ullah RA

References

{{Wikivoyage, Northern_Areas_(Pakistan)

General

* Leitner, G. W. (1893): ''Dardistan in 1866, 1886 and 1893: Being An Account of the History, Religions, Customs, Legends, Fables and Songs of Gilgit, Chilas, Kandia (Gabrial) Yasin, Chitral, Hunza, Nagyr and other parts of the Hindukush, as also a supplement to the second edition of The Hunza and Nagyr Handbook. And An Epitome of Part III of the author’s "The Languages and Races of Dardistan".'' First Reprint 1978. Manjusri Publishing House, New Delhi.

Valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan
Populated places in Nagar District