Khaplu (Urdu: خپلو) and (Balti: ཁཔ་ལུ།), also spelt Khapalu,[1] is a city that serves as the administrative capital of the Ghanche District of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan.[2] Lying 103 km (64 mi) east of the city of Skardu, it was the second-largest kingdom in old Baltistan under the Yabgo dynasty. It guarded the trade route to Ladakh along the Shyok River east of its confluence with the Indus.
Khaplu is a base for trekking into the Hushe valley, which leads to the high peaks of Masherbrum, K6, K7, and Chogolisa. Khaplu has a 700-year-old mosque, Chaqchan, founded by Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamadani (RA). Other tourist sites include Ehlie broq, Hanjor, ThoqsiKhar, Kaldaq, and the Shyok River.
According to tradition, Syed Ali Hamdani arrived in Khaplu in the late 14th century and converted locals to Islam. To this day, mosques and khanqahs attributed to him still exist in the region.[3]
The first mention of the former small kingdom called Khápula is in Mirza Haidar's work Tarikh-i-Rashidi, [4] which lists the Khaplu district of Balti(stan). Khaplu was also very well known in the 17th and 18th centuries due to its close political and family ties with the royal family of the neighbouring country of Ladakh.[citation needed]
The first European to visit Khaplu was probably Captain Claude Martin Wade, who mentioned "Chílú" in 1835 in an essay in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.[citation needed] Subsequently, William Moorcroft and George Trebeck wrote in their 1841 book:[5] "Kafalun is a province west of Nobra, on the left bank of the Shayuk." Godfrey Vigne was in the area in 1835-1838, relying in particular on the local mountain fortress, commented that he was still in an intact condition[6][clarification needed]
Alexander Cunningham,[7] who did not visit Baltistan, published a brief geographical description of Khaplu and a genealogy of its rulers in 1854. Thomas Thomson travelled there in November 1847 and briefly described a place of remarkable beauty. [8]Jane Duncan reached Khaplu in 1904 and stayed there for three weeks. De Filippi, who reached Khaplu in 1913, characterized the site as follows: "It is, perhaps, the loveliest oasis in all the region."[9] Further information on Khaplu was included in a travel report by Arthur Neve.[10]
In contrast to Skardu and Shigar, the territory of Khaplu was not focused on a single large river valley, but was instead spread over the three valleys of Shayok, namely on the territory of the present town of Khaplu, the valley of Thalle River, and the Hushe/Saltoro Valley. The area around the mouth of the river in the Thalle Shayok formed the western border of the kingdom.
Today Ganache district, whose administrative centre is located in Khaplu,[11][unreliable source?] covers Balghar and Daghoni in addition to the mouth of the Indus in Shayok. It includes the former Kingdom of Kiris as a military bulwark against incursions of the Skardu and Shigar. In Haldi, in eastern Hushe/Saltoro Tal, was another fortress.
Tourism
Raja Palace is a beautiful building and the last and best Tibetan-style palace in Pakistan. Khaplu Khanqah is attributed to Mir Mukhtar Akhyar and was built in 1712 AD/1124 AH.[12]
Khaplu is the gateway to Masherbrum Peak, K-7,[13]K-6, Chogolisa for mountaineers and Gondogoro la, Gondogoro Peak, Saraksa Glacier, Gondogoro Glacier, Masherbrum Glacier, Aling Glacier, Machlu Broq, Thaely La, Daholi lake, Kharfaq Lake, Ghangche Lake and Bara Lake for trekkers. There is rafting on the Shyok River and rock climbing places like Biamari Thoqsikhar and DowoKraming (hot spring).
Panoramic view of khaplu.
Architecture
Khaplu in autumn.
The most important religious monuments in Khaplu are the great Khanqa prayer hall and the Chaqchan Mosque. The former was built in 1712 by Sayyed Mohammad, a saint of the Islamic Nūrbkahshīya sect, whose Astana grave monument is in the immediate vicinity. The Astana grave monument has been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Pakistan and thereby saved from total disintegration.
Transport
Khaplu is only approachable by road. The normal road into Khaplu is a link road from the Skardu Valley. Four or five other roads link to Kashmir, Ladakh and Yarqand.[14]
An all-weather road once linked Khaplu to Drass, a city in Ladakh. Since the joining of Gilgit Baltistan with Pakistan, the road has been closed. However, today there are a few helipads (helicopter landing pads).[citation needed]
^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.
^Travels in the Himalayan Provinces of Hindustan and the Punjab in Ladakh and Kashmir in Peshawar, Kabul, Kunduz and Bokhara From 1819 to 1825 (in two volumes)Part II, p 264
Khaplu in the Tibet-Encyclopaedia (in German) - contains a variety of photos of Khaplu as well
View of the village at panoramio.com
Photos from Khaplu by Atif Khan Youguvi
Tarikh-i-Rashidi on Wikisource
February 21, 2023
khaplu, urdu, خپلو, balti, ཁཔ, also, spelt, khapalu, city, that, serves, administrative, capital, ghanche, district, gilgit, baltistan, northern, pakistan, lying, east, city, skardu, second, largest, kingdom, baltistan, under, yabgo, dynasty, guarded, trade, r. Khaplu Urdu خپلو and Balti ཁཔ ལ also spelt Khapalu 1 is a city that serves as the administrative capital of the Ghanche District of Gilgit Baltistan in northern Pakistan 2 Lying 103 km 64 mi east of the city of Skardu it was the second largest kingdom in old Baltistan under the Yabgo dynasty It guarded the trade route to Ladakh along the Shyok River east of its confluence with the Indus Khaplu خپلو ཁཔ ལ CityClockwise from the top Khaplu Palace Thogsikhar Karakoram Range and Chaqchan MosqueNickname Shyok valleyKhapluLocation in PakistanShow map of Gilgit BaltistanKhapluKhaplu Pakistan Show map of PakistanCoordinates 35 10 N 76 20 E 35 167 N 76 333 E 35 167 76 333 Coordinates 35 10 N 76 20 E 35 167 N 76 333 E 35 167 76 333CountryPakistanAutonomous territory Gilgit BaltistanBaltistan divisionGhancheGovernment Deputy CommissionerAdeel Haider Baryar PAS Elevation8 532 504 ft 2 600 707 m Population Total175 000Time zoneUTC 5 PST Summer DST UTC 6 GMT 6 WebsiteKhaplu Valley SkarduKhaplu is a base for trekking into the Hushe valley which leads to the high peaks of Masherbrum K6 K7 and Chogolisa Khaplu has a 700 year old mosque Chaqchan founded by Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamadani RA Other tourist sites include Ehlie broq Hanjor ThoqsiKhar Kaldaq and the Shyok River Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Tourism 4 Architecture 5 Transport 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 See also 9 External linksHistory EditAccording to tradition Syed Ali Hamdani arrived in Khaplu in the late 14th century and converted locals to Islam To this day mosques and khanqahs attributed to him still exist in the region 3 The first mention of the former small kingdom called Khapula is in Mirza Haidar s work Tarikh i Rashidi 4 which lists the Khaplu district of Balti stan Khaplu was also very well known in the 17th and 18th centuries due to its close political and family ties with the royal family of the neighbouring country of Ladakh citation needed The first European to visit Khaplu was probably Captain Claude Martin Wade who mentioned Chilu in 1835 in an essay in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal citation needed Subsequently William Moorcroft and George Trebeck wrote in their 1841 book 5 Kafalun is a province west of Nobra on the left bank of the Shayuk Godfrey Vigne was in the area in 1835 1838 relying in particular on the local mountain fortress commented that he was still in an intact condition 6 clarification needed Alexander Cunningham 7 who did not visit Baltistan published a brief geographical description of Khaplu and a genealogy of its rulers in 1854 Thomas Thomson travelled there in November 1847 and briefly described a place of remarkable beauty 8 Jane Duncan reached Khaplu in 1904 and stayed there for three weeks De Filippi who reached Khaplu in 1913 characterized the site as follows It is perhaps the loveliest oasis in all the region 9 Further information on Khaplu was included in a travel report by Arthur Neve 10 Geography Edit Haldi Cones Khaplu lies at the base of the Karakoram Range In contrast to Skardu and Shigar the territory of Khaplu was not focused on a single large river valley but was instead spread over the three valleys of Shayok namely on the territory of the present town of Khaplu the valley of Thalle River and the Hushe Saltoro Valley The area around the mouth of the river in the Thalle Shayok formed the western border of the kingdom Today Ganache district whose administrative centre is located in Khaplu 11 unreliable source covers Balghar and Daghoni in addition to the mouth of the Indus in Shayok It includes the former Kingdom of Kiris as a military bulwark against incursions of the Skardu and Shigar In Haldi in eastern Hushe Saltoro Tal was another fortress Tourism EditRaja Palace is a beautiful building and the last and best Tibetan style palace in Pakistan Khaplu Khanqah is attributed to Mir Mukhtar Akhyar and was built in 1712 AD 1124 AH 12 Khaplu is the gateway to Masherbrum Peak K 7 13 K 6 Chogolisa for mountaineers and Gondogoro la Gondogoro Peak Saraksa Glacier Gondogoro Glacier Masherbrum Glacier Aling Glacier Machlu Broq Thaely La Daholi lake Kharfaq Lake Ghangche Lake and Bara Lake for trekkers There is rafting on the Shyok River and rock climbing places like Biamari Thoqsikhar and DowoKraming hot spring Panoramic view of khaplu Architecture Edit Khaplu in autumn The most important religious monuments in Khaplu are the great Khanqa prayer hall and the Chaqchan Mosque The former was built in 1712 by Sayyed Mohammad a saint of the Islamic Nurbkahshiya sect whose Astana grave monument is in the immediate vicinity The Astana grave monument has been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture Pakistan and thereby saved from total disintegration Transport EditKhaplu is only approachable by road The normal road into Khaplu is a link road from the Skardu Valley Four or five other roads link to Kashmir Ladakh and Yarqand 14 An all weather road once linked Khaplu to Drass a city in Ladakh Since the joining of Gilgit Baltistan with Pakistan the road has been closed However today there are a few helipads helicopter landing pads citation needed References Edit Khapalu Approved at GEOnet Names Server United States National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Khaplu off the beaten path 27 July 2014 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 p 410 Travels in the Himalayan Provinces of Hindustan and the Punjab in Ladakh and Kashmir in Peshawar Kabul Kunduz and Bokhara From 1819 to 1825 in two volumes Part II p 264 Part 2 pp 317f p 28ff p 210ff Khaplu off the beaten path by Sumaira Jajja The Sun July 27 2014 p 99f District Headquarter Khaplu A historical settlement visitgilgitbaltistan gov pk Retrieved 9 September 2019 History of Baltistan Hassan Hasnu Baltistan in History Banat Gul Afridi Baltistan aik nazar usaf AbadiBibliography EditShridhar Kaul Ladakh through the Ages towards a New Identity Indus Publishing 1992 ISBN 81 85182 75 2 resricted online copy Google Books Sarina Singh Lindsay Brown Paul Clammer Rodney Cocks John Mock Kimberley O Neil Pakistan amp the Karakoram Highway Lonely Planet 2008 ISBN 1 74104 542 8 p 292 293 resricted online copy Google Books See also EditKhaplu PalaceExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khaplu Khaplu in the Tibet Encyclopaedia in German contains a variety of photos of Khaplu as well Fort Khaplu auf archnet org View of the village at panoramio com Photos from Khaplu by Atif Khan Youguvi Tarikh i Rashidi on Wikisource Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Khaplu amp oldid 1139690797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
