Culture & Heritage

New Settlements in Hunza

Up to the reign of Mir Saleem Khan II, the Hunza valley was restricted within 3 fortified villages of Altit, Baltit and Ganish. During the reign of Mir Saleem II the local people were settled down to different barren lands by constructing irrigation channels.  Hunza and Nagar were two rival states and Raja of Nagar, Babar Khan (who was the maternal uncle as well as father in law of Mir Saleem Khan II of Hunza) said that the Mir of Hunza is not of my standing as he is ruling on just 3 forts. So the Mir of Hunza also started to construct new channels to barren lands in order to expand his territory. The Samarqund channel was excavated to irrigate the land of Burum Moss (Black flood) through the combine work of all people under these forts. This settlement is now called Aliabad. When the irrigation channel was completed the land was divided in to 5 parts; Altit, Baltit, Ghanish, for Mir family and for the people of Shinaki in case of attack from Nagar on Hindi. Similarily, during the reign of Mir Nazim Khan the settlements were further expanded and people from Central Hunza were settled down in Gojal areas and to surroundings of Gilgit.

Mir Nazim Khan, who expanded the Hunza fortified villages

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