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The Nagar Valley (Urdu. نگر) 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.
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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[citation needed].
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[citation needed]. 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.[1] 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.
Geography
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").
Rakaposhi and Diran Peaks are 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. Askurdas is the centre of Nagar.
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[citation needed].
According to the 1998 census, the population of the Nagar Valley was 85,000, and according to the 2000 figures the population had risen to 100,000[citation needed]. The languages spoken are Brushashki, Shena and Bedishki (or Dumaki). Sixty percent of the Burusho people live in Nagar. 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.
Polo
Nagar was famous for its polo team.[citation needed] 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.
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.
See also
References
Notes
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. * Where three Emperors meet by E.F. Night.
- Buroshall Say Nagar Tak ka Safar by Mohammad Ismail Taseen.
- Brushaal ke Qabail by Syed yahya shah
External links
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