Ancient Civilization of Baltistan : Photos, Diagrams & Topos : SummitPost

Comments

reinhard2 - Aug 8, 2008 7:26 am - Hasn't voted

Interesting pic

but it is not quite clear what it actually shows.

Cheers - Reinhard

Afzal - Aug 8, 2008 9:28 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Interesting pic

Thanks for your looking at my photos of Baltitsan. The photo is taken in a basement of a old house, which is used by local people as kitchen during winter season. You can see the ancient wood work in this photo.

In this perpendicular wilderness, treacherous and forbidding, life is hard. Not surprisingly, less than one percent of the world’s most populous nation lives in the 26000 square kilometers of Baltistan, north Pakistan, but the proud and intricate cultures of those who do create a mosaic that is a colourful and priceless heritage. Alone in their mountains fastnesses, cut off for centuries from any real contact with the outside world, these communities have maintained and enriched their traditions, uncorrupted by outside “civilizing” influences. Thus aided by nature in preserving their independence, even isolated from one another during long winter’s night, they formed separate communities and for millenniums lived their separate lives within the same narrow limits. They existed much as their forbears did, unaffected by the changes taking place around them and only slightly distracted by internal strife and feuding. Only in the closing stages of twentieth century, with swift new lines of communications, have the people of Baltistan begun to move into the mainstream of national life, and at a pace suited to their hardy, independent life styles.

Best regards, Afzal

reinhard2 - Aug 10, 2008 7:12 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Interesting pic

Thanks, Afzal,
for your long, informative and fascinating reply.
"... proud and intricate cultures ... cut off for centuries from any real contact with the outside world" - do you mean this also with respect to the Pakistani culture and society?
Do they speak the same language?

Cheers
Reinhard

Afzal - Aug 12, 2008 4:55 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Interesting pic

Thanks Reinhard, The Article of Baltistan is only for Baltistan not for all Pakistan. The spirit of Baltistan, however is the Balti People & their culture. While Baltis have been a strictly Islamic people for over 500 years, Buddhism influenced the Balti's under the Tibetan rule long before. Their language "Balti", remains an archaic dialect of classical Tibetan. During the Maqpon dynasty of the 16th and 17th centuries, the Balti people were a nation led by potent Rajas who ruled a powerful kingdom. Today, the Baltis are a peaceful people, leading a simple, rural life in harmony with their environment.

reinhard2 - Aug 13, 2008 4:04 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Interesting pic

Again thanks,
Afzal, for your full explanation.
Here in Europe we know so little about the rich and diverse history of your countries.

Afzal - Aug 14, 2008 1:25 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Interesting pic

Thanks again for your reply. I will add some more articles and mountains of Karakoram, Himalayas, Hindukush ranges of Pakistan in next few days, and I hope you and all SP members will these article/photos/mountains too.
Best regards, Afzal