Silk Route

Banjaara miaN -- u r a walking encyclopedia -- very impressive.

re:bnajaarapost#5

dear shaista -- now there is the severed tail of your travelogue in banjaraas post #5 –

research -- my dear -- research...

``especially in Chalas where we stayed for breakfast too. I jumped out of the coaster for a breath of fresh air but we were told that people there do not like girls to roam about without wearing veils.``

This place is known as Chilas and was named Somnagar during the Gupta period in the 5th century AD. It`s midway between Patan and Gilgit and its landscape is filled with huge monoliths which have ancient carvings and hieroglyphics.The carvings are stylized images of wild animals eg: ibex, horses,and further down the river nearly a kilometer off the KKH is a huge rock with inscriptions in pali script announcing this the entrance to the city of Somnagar.This whole area is a treasure trove for archeologists. I wish you had the opportunity to see this place thoroughly.

About 5-6 miles west of Gilgit on the Punial Road is a 150 feet rockface, in the middle of it is a 10 feet image of Buddha carved out of the solid rock,close by are the remains of three Stupas which are a picture of benign neglect.My memories about the Baltit Palace aren`t very sharp,but it is nearly a thousand year old structure which was raised by Baltistani
masons and designers being the dowry of a Baltistani princess who had married the reigning Mir and the Altit was also part of the dowry.The only redeeming feature of the Baltit Palace was the Diwan e Aam which had faded sepia photos of the Mirs and some old portraits hanging on the walls.There was also a small museum behind the Hall which had a few old armours,breast plates,swords and muskets.All in all not very impressive.

I apologise for my post #3.

Regards.

banjara sahib -- why r u becoming so pessimistic -- this article is like a lizard crawling without its tail -- but please be patient -- the tail will regrow -- may be in the next trip...

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#3 by Banjaara:

...lahoul-e-wala...there....hit the delete button on my latest effort `My Plecosthomus: My Best Friend``...happy now?

rgds,

t

Somewhere else I had said that the ``fall and fall of Chowk continues``,this
piece further confirms my fears.Next we would probably see an essay on `your best friend` or `your pet.`

..... i guess the new chowk will print anything ......``Then came the most beautiful part. You could tell by the fresh fragrance in the air that Hunza is very near. The fresh air welcomed us. I was more than rejoiced, the sourroundings make you feel happy`` ............... what ! ..... what the heck is all this rejoicing about ?.......... after reading this ``travelogue`` i still don`t have the foggiest idea what the traveller is gushing over............ don`t get me wrong, hunza is a beautiful place but this silly write-up could be about some god forsaken sand dune in cholistan .........chowk editors, wake up and smell the hunza water ......