Shigar

Shigar (Urdu: شگر) is the headquarter of its namesake district and tehsil in the Baltistan division of Gilgit–Baltistan in northern Pakistan. It is located at the bank of Shigar River in the most remote and dramatic part of the region. It is a popular site for tourists and trekkers and contains many historical buildings of architectural significance associated with several different communities.

Shigar
شگر
Town
Shigar, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
Shigar
Location in the Karakoram region
Coordinates: 35°25′25″N 75°44′20″E
ProvinceGilgit–Baltistan
DistrictShigar
Elevation
2,230 m (7,320 ft)
Time zoneUTC+5:00 (PST)

The town is inhabited almost exclusively by the Balti people of Tibetan descent. Almost 65% of the population belongs to the Shia sect of Islam, 26% belongs to the Norbakhshi sect and the remaining belong to the Sunni sect. It is the gateway to the great mountain range of Karakoram including where 5 Eight-thousanders of the world falls, including the K2.[1]

The town serves as a gateway to the Karakoram mountains including K2, via the Shigar Valley.[2]

History

According to tradition, Syed Ali Hamdani arrived to Shigar in the late 14th century and converted the locals to Islam. To this day, mosques and khanqahs attributed to him exist in the region.[3]

Tourist attractions
Doko bridge in Shigar
Clouds over Shigar Valley
Bhasha Valley
Bhasha Valley

Popular tourist attractions in the town include:

  • Dambuchan Hurchose Shigar
  • Shigar Fort
  • Amburik Mosque
  • Khilingrong Mosque
  • Khanqah-e-Muallah Shigar
  • Hashoo pi Bhag
  • Khubanistan Agri Tourisem model village
  • Khubanistan Ranga
  • Marapi Ranga
  • Ree Masjid
  • Astana of Syed Mir Yahya
  • Khureed Ranga Gulabpur
  • Choutran (Garam Chasma)
  • Hlanokhore Bridge
  • Khanqah Gulabpur
  • Wazirpur Khanqah
  • Bissel (Garam Chasma)
  • Hassan Abad (Bunpa)
  • Kharmang Pi Dus

Climate

Shigar has a cold desert climate (Köppen: BWk).[4]

Climate data for Shigar, elevation: 2,289 m (7,510 ft), 1982–2012 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)		 2.2
(36.0)		 8.9
(48.0)		 16.2
(61.2)		 21.8
(71.2)		 26.8
(80.2)		 30.3
(86.5)		 30.0
(86.0)		 25.0
(77.0)		 18.4
(65.1)		 10.9
(51.6)		 3.5
(38.3)		 16.1
(61.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.2
(22.6)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 3.9
(39.0)		 10.6
(51.1)		 15.4
(59.7)		 19.9
(67.8)		 23.4
(74.1)		 23.0
(73.4)		 18.1
(64.6)		 11.4
(52.5)		 4.3
(39.7)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 10.0
(50.0)
Average low °C (°F) −9.9
(14.2)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 5.0
(41.0)		 9.1
(48.4)		 13.0
(55.4)		 16.5
(61.7)		 16.1
(61.0)		 11.3
(52.3)		 4.4
(39.9)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 −6.6
(20.1)		 4.0
(39.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18
(0.7)		 17
(0.7)		 29
(1.1)		 22
(0.9)		 23
(0.9)		 6
(0.2)		 7
(0.3)		 8
(0.3)		 9
(0.4)		 5
(0.2)		 3
(0.1)		 12
(0.5)		 159
(6.3)
Source: Climate-Data.org[4]
  • All roads out of Shigar, such as the one to Skardu pictured here, pass through rugged mountainous terrain.
  • Khilingrong Mosque at Shigar
  • Polo is enjoyed by local Pakistanis in Shigar.
  • Gulabpur Bridge
  • Bisil sunset, Bhasha Valley, Shigar
  • Bisil, Bhasha Valley, Shigar
  • Shigar river, Zil Shigar
  • Shigar Bhasha Valley road
  • Tisar village, Shigar Valley

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Valley, Shigar. "Places To Visit in Shigar Valley". Skardu.pk. Skardu.pk. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  3. Rieck, Andreas (1995). "The Nurbakhshis of Baltistan — Crisis and Revival of a Five Centuries Old Community". Die Welt des Islams. 35 (2): 159–188. doi:10.1163/1570060952597761. ISSN 0043-2539 – via JSTOR.
  4. "Shigar climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Shigar weather averages - Climate-Data.org". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 30 May 2020.


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