Ishkoman Valley: An Introduction

by Asghar Khan

The Ishkoman River joins the Gilgit River at Gakuch. The Ishkoman valley, running north to south to join Gilgit, separates the Karakoram mountain range from the Hindu Kush. Incorporated into Pakistan in 1972, Ishkoman was vassal principality of Chitral in recent centuries and the ex-Raja of Ishkoman still lives at the capital, Chatorkhand. Most people speak Khowar, Shina and Wakhi. It is about 100 kilometers to Chatorkhand, reach the Ishkoman valley turnoff, after 68 kilometers, From Chatorkhand public transport goes up the east side of the Ishkoman River through Phakora to the road head a limit. It takes three and half hours drive form Gilgit to Imit and Ishkoman. There are five possible treks from the Ishkoman River through Phakora across the 4,600-meter Naltar Pass, 55 kilometers long, Chipursan valley, Koz Sar 6,677 meters, Chillinji Pass 5,291 meters and Karumber Pass 4,343 meters. The Ishkoman Pass is well used by locals going to Darkot or upper Chitral, but the route is narrower, higher, less scenic and less populated than the Asumbar Pass.

Just below Imit, the Karambar River joins the Ishkoman River. Many Gujars, migrants form Indus Kohistan, have moved into the Ishkoman Valley. Imit and Bar Jungal Villages are predominantly Wakhi. Khowar is also widely spoken in Ishkoman, Imit and Bar Jungal. The two east-west passes, the Punji Pass (4680m) and the Asumbar Haghost (4560m) link the Yasin and Ishkoman valleys.

Posted by pamiradmin on September 13, 2008. Filed under Gilgit - Baltistan,Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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5 Responses to Ishkoman Valley: An Introduction

S. Jalal ud din Shah Reply

September 15, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Dear Asghar

I appreciate your efforts to provide information on beautiful valleys of our area. Such researched based information is vital in understanding the history of area. I wish and hope that you will continue exploring other valleys of N.As

Best

Jalal
Nasir ahmad Reply

September 15, 2008 at 11:34 pm

i had been to ishokomen valley two years back..and i saw that its beauty and very high plurisim.. i think it has been neglected for a long time but now things are changing…and i appreciate jalal ‘s effort..
keep it up!!!
munna Reply

February 10, 2009 at 4:03 pm

i love ishkoman
ahmad Reply

April 15, 2009 at 11:04 am

fantabolus.i m vey happy to see ur constructive efforts to make the world to know about our valley ishkoman just over the boder.i need ur help and geneoristy to know about the raj system which prevailed in our region in past.

with love and regard
ur ahmad.
Mohd Reply

December 3, 2009 at 3:51 pm

nice but one thing there IMMIT was a capital of Ishkoman vally not chatorkhand

thanks
Akbar