View source for Sacred Rock of Hunza

{{Short description|A cultural heritage site in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan}}
The '''Sacred Rocks of Hunza '''or '''Haldeikish''' constitute one of the earliest sites of [[Petroglyph]]s along the ancient Silk Route. It is a cultural heritage site in [[Gilgit-Baltistan]] region of northern [[Pakistan]]. The carvings on the rocks dates back to the 1st Millennium AD.<ref name="HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza">{{Cite web |title=HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza |url=https://www.hunzabytes.com.au/history/haldeikish-sacred-rocks-of-hunza/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Hunza Bytes |language=en}}</ref>
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Sacred Rock of Hunza
| image = Sacred Rock of Hunza 1.jpg
| image_size = 270px
| caption = One of the sacred rocks of Hunza
| locmapin = South_Asia#Pakistan#Gilgit Baltistan
| map_relief = yes
| map_width = 
| map_caption = 
| map_dot_mark = 
| coordinates = {{coord|36.3131816|N|74.6860350|E|region:DE_type:city}}
| location = [[Hunza District|Hunza]], [[Gilgit-Baltistan]], [[Pakistan]]
| area = [[Gilgit-Baltistan]]
| formed = 1st Millennium AD
| restored_by = [[Government of Pakistan]]
| owner = Commissioner of Northern Areas, Director of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan
}}

The rock is situated on a top of a hill which lies to the east of the [[Hunza River]]. The site is located on the main [[Karakoram Highway]] (KKH), positioned between the [[Ganish|Ganish village]] and the [[Attabad Lake]].  In times past, it was accessible via well-worn stone steps and harbored a collection of Buddhist cave shelters. However, due to the harsh weather conditions and the passage of time in this mountainous area, many of these shelters have deteriorated, leaving only a few preserved examples.<ref name="HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza"/> The rocks are one of the major tourist attractions in [[Gilgit-Baltistan]], [[Pakistan]].<ref name="Sacred Rock" />

==Location==
The Sacred Rocks (Haldeikish) are situated between the [[Hunza River]] and the [[Karakoram Highway|Karakorum Highway]] and a five minutes drive from the [[UNESCO]] enlisted village of [[Ganish]], near the town of [[Karimabad, Gilgit-Baltistan|Karimabad]] in [[Hunza Valley]].<ref name="Sacred Rock">{{cite web|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0004/000420/042046eb.pdf |title= UNESDoc (UNESCO)|website=Unesdoc.unesco.org |date= |accessdate=2014-07-05}}</ref> The rock is 180 metres in length and 9 metres at their highest point. It consists of four main boulders with two stages/portions of rock engravings and carvings.<ref name="HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza"/> It is easily accessible from the [[Karakoram Highway]] which connects Pakistan to [[China]] via metallic road. It is an isolated rock which is further divided into two portions.

== Haldeikish ==
The name '''Haldeikish''' translates to ‘a place of many male Ibex’, with engravings of Ibex scattered along the rock faces, a message to all travellers that wild Ibex were plentiful in this area.

'''Haldeikish''' has thousands of petroglyphs in [[Bactrian language|Bactrian]], [[Sogdian language|Sogdian]], [[Kharosthi|Kharoshti]], [[Tibetan script|Tibetan]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Brahmi script|Brahmi]] written by the Silk Route's 'many' travelers. These petroglyphs show the diverse cultural exchange that once passed through the [[Hunza District|Hunza region]] and helped us to understand the history of this entire region from the first millennium CE.<ref name="HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza"/>

==Specifications==
The Sacred Rock is divided into two portions, an upper portion and a lower one. Both the portions carry carvings on them which are basically inscriptions and images from Pre-Historic era. There used to be many Buddhist shelter caves in ancient times which later collapsed or fell over the time only some being preserved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan/attractions/sacred-rocks-at-hunza/a/poi-sig/501862/357183|title=Sacred Rocks at Hunza - Ganish, Pakistan Ganish|website=Lonelyplanet.com|accessdate=13 February 2019}}</ref>

===Upper Portion===
The upper portion of the rock consist of inscriptions which are carved in Sogdian, Kharosthi, Brahmi, Sarada and Proto Sarada languages. The  names of the Emperors of the [[Kushan Empire]] [[Kanishka]] and [[Huvishka]] appear in these inscriptions. The name of the Trukha King Ramadusa is also mentioned in inscriptions which are carved in the [[Brahmi script]].<ref name="Sacred Rock"/>

===Lower Portion===
The lower portion is engraved by the images of [[Ibex]]es. These ibexes are shown in different situations, including being hunted. The carvings also contain Horned-Human deities playing with the ibexes. The carvings of the Ibexes are a proof of the ibex being an animal which holds cultural importance to [[Buddhists]] as well as to the region in ancient times. One of the carvings also shows the image of an ancient Chinese King. Some carvings show a Tibetan styled Stupa.<ref name="Sacred Rock"/>

=== Inscription mentioning Chandragupta II ===
The inscription mentioning [[Chandragupta II]] of [[Gupta Empire|Gupta empire]] reads <nowiki>''Chandra Sri Vikramaditya conquers’'</nowiki> with a date corresponding to 419 AD.<ref>{{Cite web|title=HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza|url=https://www.hunzabytes.com.au/history/haldeikish-sacred-rocks-of-hunza/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Hunza Bytes|language=en}}</ref> If Chandra is identified with Chandragupta, it appears that Chandragupta marched through the [[Hunza (princely state)|Hunza]]. {{sfn|R. C. Majumdar|1981|p=56}} The Sanskrit inscriptions at the Sacred Rock of Hunza, written in [[Brahmi script]], mention the name Chandra. A few of these inscriptions also mention the name Harishena, and one particular inscription mentions Chandra with the epithet "Vikramaditya". Based on the identification of "Chandra" with Chandragupta. However, this identification is not certain, and Chandra of the Hunza inscriptions could have well been a local ruler.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=480}}

==Preservation==
The Sacred Rock of Hunza is a Cultural Heritage Site of Pakistan and is currently well preserved but still some the carvings carrying inscriptions are effected due to aging. There were many Buddhist shelter caves which fell over time and only few being preserved.<ref name="HALDEIKISH, Sacred Rocks of Hunza"/> Commissioner of Northern Areas of Pakistan and Director of Archaeology are responsible for the preservation of the site, both acting under the [[Government of Pakistan]]. Due to recent flooding in [[Hunza River]] the site faces extreme danger in future.<ref name="Sacred Rock"/>

== See also ==
{{commons category|Sacred Rock of Hunza}}
*[[List of forts in Pakistan]]
*[[List of museums in Pakistan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=R. C. Majumdar |author-link=R. C. Majumdar |title=A Comprehensive History of India |volume=3, Part I: A.D. 300-985 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mRBuAAAAMAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House |oclc=34008529}}
* {{cite book |author=Upinder Singh |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pq2iCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA505 |year=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-1677-9}}
{{refend}}

{{Museums in Pakistan}}
{{Cultural heritage sites in Gilgit-Baltistan |state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:History of Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:Sacred rocks]]