Archive
Dassi
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Tolti
- Vallery skardu
Dassi
Value
Attachment
Location
Kharmang_Tolti
Nature
Product
Genesis
The mosque was originally used for religious purposes like offering prayers, khutba (sermons), Friday prayers and Muharram Majalis. History of this mosque is unknown but they believed it is as old as other old mosques in Tolti. This place was also used to store grains as locals believed that if someone steals from this place he/she will die within 24 hours. Locals also believe that from 1st to 10th Muharram, voices of crying people can be heard from inside the mosque.
Kur
- Value Abandonment
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Tolti
- Vallery skardu
Kur
Value
Abandonment
Location
Kharmang_Tolti
Nature
Product
Risk
High
Genesis
Before collecting wool, the sheep is washed. Once the wool, selected women from within the community beat the wool and make thread out of it. After the thread is ready, they set it in a handmade machine and make a roll out of it. The woolen thread may be boiled with herbs as natural dye that gives it a red color. The woolen threads are then weaved into Kur (Men shawl).
Zinkha
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Tolti
- Vallery skardu
Zinkha
Value
Adaptation
Location
Kharmang_Tolti
Nature
Product
Risk
High
Genesis
This fort was built by Raja Muhammad Ali Khan (about 100 to 150 years ago) to stay in spring season while Morkun was his winter home. There was a hall, rooms, kitchen (Hasiri Khand in Balti language) and minarets in this fort. Other important features of this fort were pool and royal garden. This placed has named as Zingkha, from the Balti word Zinkh which means four corners of the pool. These were the only remains of fort left and in 2015 a power house was built by government inside the fort. New building of the power house destroyed other remains of the old fort. Garden of the old fort is currently part of the power house.
Funeral ritual
- Value Cache
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Kharmang_Khamango
- Vallery skardu
Funeral ritual
Value
Cache
Location
Kharmang_Khamango
Nature
Practice
Risk
Low
Genesis
This was part of the funeral ritual. If there is a death in the family, all the family members are gathered and their heads are washed by their friends and other members of community. Then they are taken to their workplaces. This ritual symbolises the transition from grief to life again after the loss of a loved one.
Kesar
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang
- Vallery skardu
Kesar
Value
Attachment
Location
Kharmang
Nature
Product
Risk
Medium
Genesis
A legendary fictional character of local folklore, the story of Qesar is attributed to everything unusual seen or experienced by people in the region. There are different narratives of these stories and each valley affiliates with stories of Qesar. Once an old patriotic man named Aba Dongdu from Ling Yule (Capital of Tibet) requested to Khla Yoke Pon to go to the upper pasture. He went to the upper pastures and left his cattle for grazing. All of a sudden Aba Dondu saw a white yak appear from the belly of the hill and soon after a black yak burst out of the hill. He had heard that white was a deity or ‘hLa’ (soul) whereas black was evil spirit. While Aba Dongbu was thinking, the two yaks fought and by mid day, he saw the black one losing but as the fight continued, towards the evening, the black one was succeeding. Aba Dondgu shot his sling at the black yak, and the white triumphed. White Yak appeared in the form of hLa (soul) and asked Aba Dongbu to make a wish. In return for the goodness, the old man borrowed a great leader for his country (Yul). His request was granted and Kesar was sent as the king of Ling to fulfil his promise.
Bulbul Chand
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Khamango
- Vallery skardu
Bulbul Chand
Value
Attachment
Location
Kharmang_Khamango
Nature
Product
Risk
No risk
Genesis
A local tale fondly told to children to keep them indoors during evening time. They are told not to carry raw meat while leaving home after sunset. If they do so they'll have to offer a share to the Jinn named Bulbul Chand.
Parqoota Settlement
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Mehdiabad
- Vallery skardu
Parqoota Settlement
Value
Adaptation
Location
Kharmang_Mehdiabad
Nature
Product
Risk
Medium Risk
Genesis
A cluster of vernacular houses stacked together narrates the logic of close-knit built environment for security purposes for these mountain communities. These houses still stand intact and are in use by the community. The four tribes that reside here have their distinct clusters within the larger town with their own mosque and pathways.
Sermik Washed Out Settlement (چھوسمین)
- Value Cache
- Age 76 years
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Sermik
- Vallery skardu
Sermik Washed Out Settlement (چھوسمین)
Value
Cache
Location
Kharmang_Sermik
Nature
Product
Age
76 years
Risk
Asset no longer exists.
Genesis
The village once located along the main channel is now relocated altogether. The washed out settlement owes its destruction to a mega flood that swept away the entire village
Olive Tree (سرسینگ)
- Value Adaptation
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_Sermik
- Vallery skardu
Olive Tree (سرسینگ)
Value
Adaptation
Location
Kharmang_Sermik
Nature
Product
Risk
Low risk A safe asset and is protected by the community
Genesis
These Russian olives and are known for fragrant flowers during blossom season. People keep the flowers or a branch of the tree in their cars and homes for pleasant aura. The olive plants are grown where there is less water as the plant symbolizes strength and resilience in harsh conditions and survival when there is less or no water.
Antokhar Astana (آستانا)
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_kharmang village
- Vallery skardu
Antokhar Astana (آستانا)
Value
Attachment
Location
Kharmang_kharmang village
Nature
Product
Risk
Low
Genesis
The religious site holds a significant affiliation for the community across valleys. It is said to be keeping the hair of the Muslims' last Prophet Muhammad sealed in a silver box that has never been opened. The current Astana was rebuilt after the older wooden building caught fire through an oil lamp.
Kharmang Palace
- Value Attachment
- Age 1300
- Nature Product
- Location Kharmang_kharmang village
- Vallery skardu
Kharmang Palace
Value
Attachment
Location
Kharmang_kharmang village
Nature
Product
Age
1300
Risk
High
Genesis
Built in the 1300 the palace is like a masterpiece of art and craftsmen skills by the River Indus in the Kharmang Valley. Its hand painted ceilings crafted wood work decorated balconies and rich gardens depict the story of its rulers and their rich history. The palace still stands intact but in a vulnerable state with a constant risk of sliding boulders from the surrounding slopes. The palace balcony is said to be designed in a similar pattern as a palace built by the Nile River. It shows a connection of the Raja's Egyptian origin. The Kharmang Palace by the Indus River is symbolized to be a jewel by the river as that palace by the Nile. Skilled craftsmen were brought here from Kashmir to carry out the construction and decorate the ceilings and walls. In one of the balconies there is an interesting detail. One of the wooden panels of the ceiling has a monkey painted secretly within the floral design. The Raja used to challenge his visitors to find it and those who would succeed would be rewarded by the Raja.
Mayfung
- Value Attachment
- Age
- Nature Practice
- Location Kharmang
- Vallery skardu
Mayfung
Value
Attachment
Location
Kharmang
Nature
Practice
Risk
Medium
Genesis
The longest winter night calls for lighting up fire on the mountains and musical festivity. People celebrate all night long. It dates back to centuries old tradition where people celebrated the day they got relief from a tyrant ruler. It is said the ruler would ask for offerings from the community and those who would fail to do so were killed brutally. With the passage of time his cruelty increased and instead of animals the ruler started eating humans. People of the village decided to get rid of this ruler and lit up a big fire. When the ruler came to the gathering he joined the dancing party around the fire and was pushed into the fire. After they got relief from their tyrant ruler, people started celebrating Mayfung. It is still celebrated in the valleys to mark the longest night of the year. It is also said to be the time when the duration of the night starts shifting and intensity of cold changes with an interval of twenty days.