Postcard from the Hunza Valley
Beautiful blossoms and snow capped mountains will be my lasting impression of the Hunza Valley
The Hunza valley is in the northern part of Gilgit-Baltistan at an elevation of 2,438 meters. Afghanistan is to the north and China is to the northeast. The Hunza River runs through the valley and you can still see remains of the Old Silk Road.
We visited during spring and the apricot blossom trees were in full bloom. The air was fresh, villages clean and terraces beautifully ordered. It was wonderful to walk along nearly deserted paths and hear nothing but the buzz of bees and the occasional motorbike.
In 1933 a novel by James Hilton was released called ‘Lost Horizon’. In 1937 it was made into a film by Frank Capra. The book and film are set in Shangri-La, a ‘mystical and harmonious’ valley in Tibet that is isolated and where people live for hundreds of years. It is thought that Hilton based his novel on the location and people of the Hunza Valley.
The Hunzakut were rumoured to live exceptionally long lives, to be very fit, to be vegetarian and never get ill. Unfortunately, this has turned out not to be true. The Hunzakut are very fit as most must walk to work in the fields, at altitude. During the summer they do follow a mostly vegetarian diet as the growing season for fresh fruit and vegetables is very short. Animals are kept for meat for during the long winter months. As Hunza is very difficult to reach a lot of diseases did not arrive until roads opened up the valley. As to living very long lives this depends on how you measure age. Apparently the Hunzakut do not measure age solely by years but also by wisdom.
If you are ‘wise beyond your years’ you will visit Hunza as it is a beautiful place filled with stunning landscapes and hospitable people.
Hunza Valley from Altit Fort
Hunza Valley panorama taken from Altit Fort. Hard to give you a sense of being surrounded by mountains
Hunza Valley from Baltit Fort
Snow gives way to barren mountain sides. Those squiggly lines in the middle are roads going up high into the mountains.
The Hunza River runs through the centre of the valley
Blossoms above and below
Poplar trees and patchwork terraces
A man rests and checks his phone
Pink blossoms against a blue sky and white snow capped mountains
Clouds lift and we can see the mountains from our hotel
Delicate apricot blossoms
The day ends, the sun sets, we watch the changing light on the mountains.