Skip to content
  • Home
  • About us
  • Email US
  • Pakistan Tours
  • Umrah Packages
  • Pakistan Guide
Pakistan Travel & Culture

Pakistan Travel & Culture

Pakistan Travel & Tourism, culture, history and news articles.

The historical buildings of Ganish Hunza

Posted on May 12, 2010March 20, 2012 By Jamal Panhwar No Comments on The historical buildings of Ganish Hunza


GANISH, a beautiful village in Hunza valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, is famous for its rich history, splendid wooden mosques, impressive village guest house, imposing towers that mark the landscape. It is situated on the right bank of Hunza River and is one of the oldest settlements of the valley.

?Ganish has been home to many tribes and caravans travelling through the ancient Silk route that stayed back captivated by the beautiful setting of the village.

There are many interpretations of the name Ganish. Iftikhar Hussain, an oral historian, says there are three meanings: one, it denotes crossroads since it is located on the junction of Hunza and Nagar; second, it means gold that people in the past used to prospect from the waters of Hunza River; third, it means a place from where a road takes you somewhere.

Ganish is believed to have been founded by Shish Kin, a Chinese visitor. After him many other people and tribes namely the Shigri from Baltistan and Hamachiting settled down in Ganish. Then a number of prominent persons whose names survive made Ganish their home. Their descendants bear their names. The descendants of one Barcha are called Barchating. He had his three sons Sukh after whom the Sukhkutz are named, Barah from whom sprang Brahkutz and Bak, after whom the Bakkutz are named. When they embraced Islam, some of the families of the Barchating, Raley Ramal and Shish Kin built mosques which carried their names. Some also built towers to keep an eye on the outsiders.

According to Mumtaz, a graduate from Quaid-i-Azam University, there were total 14 towers of which three survives, including Tamorukutz tower, Shaikutz tower, and Rupikutz tower. While the others namely Dodasen tower, Lutoting tower, are believed to have swept away the flood that inundated the Ganish village in 1958.

 

There are total eight mosques carrying the names of the lineages which include Budinkutz, built by Budin, Shaikutz, built by Shai, Kuyokutz, built by Kuyo I, Kuyokutz II, Yarikutz, built by Yari, Mamorokutz, built by Mamoro and Rupikutz, built by Rupi and Balkhankutz, built by Balkhan. Except for Balkhankutz, all other mosques are one-chambered. Of these, however, the Mamorokutz, Rupikutz, Harikutz, and Shaikutz are noted for intricate carvings. The Mamorokutz, Rupikutz, Harikutz and Kuyokutz mosques are located at jastaq in the Ganish Khun. The jastaq is open space used for communal gatherings. Ritual congregations, dancing and singing festivities also take place in the jastaq.

All these four mosques are located at the jastak. The Rupikutz mosque which was restored by AKCSP-P is noted for the floral and geometric designs. The designs of the lotus flower and swastika is found on the Rupikutz mosque. The swastika has been the favorite design of the artists in the Hunza val ley. One finds the most impressive swastika designs on the pillars of the Qirghiz Bhai house in Ghulkin, Gojal. The mosques at Altit and Baltit forts also bear swastika designs.

The mosques of Badun Kutz, Kuyokutz II and Mamorokutz also bear the swastika designs. The door frame of the Budinkutz mos que also carries the swastika designs. The door frame and bracket volutes of the Kuyokutz II mosque?s pillars also contain swastika design.

Both Rupikutz and Mamorokutz bear stupa-like niches. The decoration on these two mosques is remarkable as compared to other mosques.

Apart from mosques, the other historical building that dots the landscape of the Ganish Khun is the Sawab-Ha (village guest house) which is belived to have been built by Oyumkutz family for the travelers. The travelers passing through the silk route were given food and accommodation free of cost in the village guest house. It is two story building located near the Pharee (pond). The carvings on the guest house indicate the aesthetic and taste of the builder. However, it has also been restored by the AKSCP.

Written by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro. The writer is Staff Anthropologist at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad. He can be reached at: ?zulfi04@yahoo.com

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Articles, General

Post navigation

Previous Post: Karachi City Station Building – Keeping track of history
Next Post: Scientific Research Studies on Spiritual Science and Philosophy

Related Posts

Sindh seeks return of Moenjodaro’s Dancing Girl from India General
Dubai Culture announces SIKKA Art Fair 2018 line-up General
Road being built on protected land near Moenjodaro Archeology & History
First test Tube Baby born in Sargodha General
Swat – Using local wisdom against natural disasters Articles
Zardari seeks Belgium support for Pakistan?s access to European market General

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

  • About us
  • Advertise on our website
  • Email US
  • Hunza Valley
  • Pakistan Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Writers Required
  • Advertisements
  • Airlines in Pakistan
  • Archeology & History
  • Articles
  • Books about Pakistan
  • General
  • gilgit-baltistan
  • Hajj & Umrah Packages
  • Images of Pakistan
  • International Travel Deals
  • Jobs in Pakistan
  • Life in Pakistan
  • Mountain Expeditions
  • Pakistan Art
  • Pakistan Business News
  • Pakistan Events/Conferences
  • Pakistan General News
  • Pakistan Hotels News
  • Pakistan News
  • Pakistan People
  • Pakistan Travel News
  • Pakistani Leaders Speeches
  • Pakistani News Cartoons
  • Pakistani Videos
  • Places in Pakistan
  • Scholarship Announcements
  • Scholarships
  • Science and Technology
  • Singers and Instuments
  • Sufis of Pakistan
  • WikiLeaks
  • Workingmen
  • Advertisements
  • Airlines in Pakistan
  • Archeology & History
  • Articles
  • Books about Pakistan
  • General
  • gilgit-baltistan
  • Hajj & Umrah Packages
  • Images of Pakistan
  • International Travel Deals
  • Jobs in Pakistan
  • Life in Pakistan
  • Mountain Expeditions
  • Pakistan Art
  • Pakistan Business News
  • Pakistan Events/Conferences
  • Pakistan General News
  • Pakistan Hotels News
  • Pakistan News
  • Pakistan People
  • Pakistan Travel News
  • Pakistani Leaders Speeches
  • Pakistani News Cartoons
  • Pakistani Videos
  • Places in Pakistan
  • Scholarship Announcements
  • Scholarships
  • Science and Technology
  • Singers and Instuments
  • Sufis of Pakistan
  • WikiLeaks
  • Workingmen
  • Pakistan India agree to Ceasefire All flights and airports open
  • Sukkur Airport will get international flights soon
  • Pakistan Travel and tourism sector likely to generate over $4b in revenue by 2025
  • Pakistan is ‘Number 1’ among the most beautiful countries in the world
  • Recent terrorism incidents to have adverse effect on Pakistan tourism

Copyright © 2025 Pakistan Travel & Culture.

Powered by PressBook Grid Blogs theme

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d