Ganish

Ganish is the oldest village in the heart of Hunza, Six kilometres (4 miles) beyond Aliabad, the KKH makes a sweeping S-bend down past Ganish village to the bridge across the Hunza River. Ganish, on fertile flat and above the river, is guarded by an old watchtower and fort. The old craved mosque is also worth a visit.

In the past, all the local children used to learn to swim in the pool in front of the tower. Until this century boys had to swim across the Hunza River to prove that they could escape or attack across the river when necessary. Until the British came in 1891, the men of Hunza used to keep a sword, gun, shield and a loaf of bread (which was replaced every eight days) beside their doors. When the drums beat the alarm from Altit fort, heralding the approach of raiders, each man would grab these things and run for the fort (presumably his family went too).

Like Gilgit, Hunza was an important staging post on the Silk Route and was heavily travelled for thousands of years by traders going back and forth between China, India and the west over the Kilik, Mintaka, Parpik and Khunjerab passes. The most convincing proof of this lies in the inscriptions on the Ganish rock, a sort of Silk Route guest book.

The majority of people living in Ganish follow the Twelver branch of Shia Islam.

Ganish is full of rich culture and traditional hospitality, Following are the places to visit in Ganish Village.

• Ganish Watch Towers
• Hunza River
• Sacred Rocks
• Mosques