View allAll Photos Tagged Hussaini Bridge
First step on the suspension bridge forced me to grab the bridge hands as tight as possible. Second step, taken at a dead slow pace made me believe this is the farthest i can go. And then some very fast paced steps made me believe I have fallen down.
Yes it was the local kid in the picture ( look hard at the bridge center) who literally ran half way down the bridge.
I simply could not believe it. Stunned as I was, some common sense passed through making me realize its an every day thing for them, death daring for city dwellers like us.
Inside view of the demolished bridge. The tracks have been put here as a prop to show how the original bridge looked during its service.
Don’t become so caught up in the effort itself that you lose sight of the reason for it. Always remember that there is a living, feeling, knowing person inside of you.
Don’t become so overwhelmed by the consequences of your mistakes that you fail to learn their valuable lessons. Always remember that there are plenty of positive aspects to any living experience.
Don’t become so angry or bitter or resentful that you bring darkness to the world in which you live. Always remember that you are connected to all you see and know.
Don’t be too quick to pass judgment on the people and situations that come your way. Always remember that they are more than they first appear.
Don’t use anything that has happened as an excuse to give up. Always remember that you can make a difference in this moment, and move positively forward from any setback.
Always remember that life is magical, miraculous, with possibilities that have no limit. And you are here now to live it fully.
Taken: Reload of Hussaini Bridge, Passu, Gojal, Upper Hunza Valley, Pakistan
World Most Dangerous Bridge II Hussaini Hanging Bridge
Hussaini hanging bridge located in upper hunza. This hanging bridge is considered as one of the most dangerous bridge among world's bridges. Before it was very old and narrow seem like primitive but now it's repaired but still enough for legs to tremble.
Hussaini Suspension Bridge, The World's Most Dangerous Bridge
Location: In the village of Hussaini in Northern Pakistan, crossing the Hunza River.
The setting sun shines on the tip of the Passu Cathedral while tourists are seen over the Hunza River on the Hussaini Hanging Bridge in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, October 22, 2018. Photo by Tim Chong
Pasu cones are famous for their breath taking formation and textures. These cones accompany with you at Passu, viewable from Hussaini bridge and from a major area of the legendary Karakoram Highway
I describe it as, "Hussaini jigra chahiye Hussaini bridge cross karne k liye". It needs to have the Hussaini courage to cross the thrilling Hussaini bridge.
I could simply not go beyond the 5th step. My local guide, himself won't dare cross the third step and strictly prohibited me to attempt any dare. To our jaw dropping surprise, we saw a local 14-15 year old boy almost running on the bridge making it to the 40 something step in no time. He went to the middle of the bridge for a photo I guess. The locals “Hussaini” hunzai use it on daily basis. For them, it is an unavoidable means of connection.
One step into Hussaini bridge starts the smallest of the tensions in the suspension system. A micro sin wave has started. And your feet and your body can feel them. Every step multiplies the last effect. Imagine, just imagine the experience, keep in mind that the ice cold “Hunza river” water awaits to feast on you. Worst…. Like every bridge, it has two ends. And as I said, locals “RUN” on it. Their cat walks can surely make you jump into the river :P
I met brother Ali and Faheem from Islamabad who were travelling on bikes to explore the valley side. Ali told me back at Kamran hotel that he crossed 80% of the bridge. Ali definitely has it what it takes to cross this death daring, thrilling bridge.
Known as the most dangerous bridge in the world, the Hussaini Hanging Bridge is only one of many precarious rope bridges in Northern of pakistan
In a world of commercial space-flight and super sonic jet flight it can be easy to forget just how hard it can be to traverse certain parts of this planet.
But those living in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan were cut off from the rest of Pakistan until 1978 due to the mountainous terrain and lack of roads. You could take a small airplane, but that was reserved for only the richest citizens.
For everyone else, the only way to travel was by walking across mountain passes to Rawalpindi. In 1978, the Karakoram Highway was completed and the region was connected, but inter-region travel remains as difficult as it was 100 years ago.
Regular aspects of travel through this region include the rickety cable and plank bridges which cross Northern Pakistan's mountain streams and rivers. Among these is the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, crossing Borit Lake in the Upper Hunza. This rope bridge is both long and poorly maintained. Many planks are missing, and strong winds shake the bridge as you cross it. It does little to ease nerves that a previous, older, broken bridge hangs in tatters next to the "new" one.
Despite its dangerous looks, however, the Hussaini is is a relatively safe bridge and has become something of a tourist draw, with hikers testing their nerves as they carefully work their way across
www.nuffy.net/articles/read/worlds-most-dangerous-rope-ha...
A farmer crossing the Hussaini ruined bridge over Hunza River, Gojal in front of Passu Cones also called Tupopdan (6010m).
Sukkur, or Sakharu (Urdu: سکھر [səkʰəru], Sindhi: سکر), formerly Aror (Sanskrit: अरोड, Urdu: اروڑ [əroːɽ]), is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. One conjecture is that when Arabs invaded Sukkur (Sindh) in the 8th century, they found an extreme climate (hot and cold), and called it Saqar, which means intense.[citation needed] However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the name. Sukkur is nicknamed Darya Dino (درياءَ ڏنو, meaning the gift of river), as without the Indus the city would be a desert. People of Sukkur speak Sindhi (70%), Urdu (17.5%), Punjabi (8%), Pashto (1.5%), Balochi (1%), and others 2%.
Administration
The city of Sukkur, as well as being district headquarters, is the capital of Sukkur Talukas and contains many Union council.
Geography & climate
The district of Sukkur (whose name is derived from its head quarter Sukkur city) covers an area of 5,165 square kilometres. Geographically it is spanned from 27°05' to 28°02' north latitudes and from 68°47' to 69°43' east longitudes. The city of Sukkur is located at an altitude of 220 feet (67 m) from sea level, having terrestrial coordinates 68°52' east and 27°42' north. It is also the narrowest point of the lower Indus course.
Sukkur district shares its northern border with Shikarpur and the recently constituted Kashmore districts. Ghotki is located on the north-eastern side while Khairpur on the south. Sukkur also shares its border with India (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan). Sukkur is also connected by road and by air with all major cities of Pakistan.
The climate of the Sukkur is characterized by hot and hazy weather during summer days with dry and cold weather in winter. During January, the temperature ranges from 7 to 22 °C (45 to 72 °F). The summer (month of June before the monsoon) temperature averages 35 °C (95 °F) though it often reaches up to 42 °C (108 °F). Generally the summer season commences in March - April and ends before October. The average rainfall of the district is 88 mm, and ranges from 0.59 mm to 25.62 mm per month.
History
Sukkur has been an important strategic centre and trading route from time immemorial. Alor (or Aror, Sukkur) held the status of capital under the reign of Musikanos, when Alexander invaded India in 326 BCE. The ruins of this ancient town still exist, 8 km east of Rohri, in Sukkur district. The Rai Dynasty built a huge temple of Shiva (Shankar), hence 'Sukkur'. In 711 CE, the Arabs invaded Sindh, led by 17 year old Muhammad bin Qasim, and Sukkur (including all of Sindh and lower Punjab) became part of the Umayyad Caliphate.
Later Mughals and many semi-autonomous tribes ruled over Sukkur. The city was ceded to Mirs of Khairpur between 1809 and 1824. In 1833, Shah Shuja (a warlord of Kandahar, Afghanistan) defeated the Talpurs near Sukkur and later made a solemn treaty with the Talpur ruler, by which he relinquished all claims on Sindh. In 1843, the British (General Charles James Napier) defeated the Talpurs at the battles of Miani and Dubbo near Hyderabad. Sukkur, along with the rest of Sindh, was under British rule until the independence of Pakistan in 1947. The (current) district of Sukkur was constituted in 1901 out of part of Shikarpur District, the remainder of which was formed into the Larkana District. Sukkur saw a significant socio-economic uplift after the 1930s, when the British built the world's largest barrage here on the Indus River. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, thousands of Muslim escaping from pograms and genocide moved to Pakistan and thousands of Hindu Sindhi refugees escaping from pograms and genocide left Sukkur for India.
Economy
Industry
Sukkur is a hub of many small and large scale industries. Among important industries are cotton textiles, cement, leather, tobacco, paint and varnish, pharmaceuticals, agriculture implements, hand pumps, lock making, rice-husking, and sugar. Small-scale cottage industries comprise hosiery, boat making, fishing accessories, thread ball spooling, trunk making brass-wares, cutlery and ceramics.
Agriculture
Sukkur had a large fertile and cultivable land area until a few decades ago, when the Indus river was not as barren as today. Now its agricultural productivity has been much reduced. It has not achieved a reasonable yield per unit area over time, on account of continuous shortages of water and ignorance of modern irrigation systems. Despite the lack of water, during kharif, rice, bajra, cotton, tomatoes and peas are cultivated; whereas during rabi the main crops are wheat, barley, graham and melons. Sukkur is famous, world over, for its delicious dates. Sukkur also has a large Riveraine forest along the course of the Indus. These tropical forests are found within the protective embankments on either side of the Indus. During 1997-98 the total area under forests was 510 km2 which yielded 55,000 cubic feet (1,600 m3) of timber and 27,000 cubic feet (760 m3) of firewood besides other mine products.
Sites of interest
•War Mubarak Mohammad in Rohri City
•Manzilgah, Bundar road
•Rohri
•Aror (ruins of historical city)
•Shrine of Syed Sadar-Ur-Din-Shah
•Tomb of Shah Khairuddin Jillani
•Tomb of the Seven Maidens Sateen Jo Aastan
•Kot Mir Yakoob Ali Shah Rohri
•Tomb of Abdul Baqi Purani, Ex-Governor of Bukkur.
•Bukkur Island
•Tomb of Syed Hakim Ali
•Minaret of Masum Shah
•Sadh Belo Temple on River Indus
•Thermal Power Station Sukkur
•Lansdowne Bridge Rohri
•Sukkur (Lloyd) Barrage
•Shikarpur Road connecting Quetta via Shikarpur
•Shrine of Qazi Baba
•Adam Shah je Takri
•Degree College
•Islamia College
•Dadu Choke conneting Shikarpur Road, Waritar Rd & Hussaini Rd
•Lab-e-Mehran
•Lansdowne Bridge
•Minara Road (sarak)
•Shahi Bazaar, Frere Road
•Ayub Gate
•Ladies and Children Hill Park
•Looks Park/Qasim Park
•Acher Ghitti
•Bhutta Road (old Garden Road)
•Bunder Road
•Barrage colony
•Mir-ki-street
•Purana Sukkur (Old Sukkur)
•Sheikh Shee Road Sukkur
•Raharki sahib
•Jinnat (Genie's) Building, Old Sukkur
•Hyderi Masjid, Old Sukkur
•Tomb Syed Mukhdoom Shah Badshah
•Shah Khair ud din Shah Badshah (G. A. Shah) - Old Sukkur
Hanging Bridge of hussaini
True companions of life, the women equally participate in the physically demanding works in remote #Northern areas of Pakistan. Holding fuel wood on their backs and gossiping on the way, they are on their way
There are places in this world which can stun the viewer in so many ways. Gigantic forts delivering the feel of human ingenuity and those wonders of the world which are always a fascination for human made by human.
Apart from those well known wonders, there are so many places which remains unexplored in so many ways... Places where time still stand still, where traditions are centuries old. The more deep you go into those places the more you come close to God.
On the other side of the river Khunjerab, around the small town of Pasu in Gojal area of Upper Hunza, there are magical places which change it colors and weather in moments and stun the traveler with its vibrant presence under the mighty mountains of Karakorum and adversity of those architectural marvel bridges one has to cross to get to the other side... To me, it was a whole new dimension to look at life. It feels like some other planet, some other universe.
Taken: One wet afternoon at Hussaini Village, Pasu, Gojal, Upper Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Sukkur, or Sakharu (Urdu: سکھر [səkʰəru], Sindhi: سکر), formerly Aror (Sanskrit: अरोड, Urdu: اروڑ [əroːɽ]), is the third largest city of Sindh province, situated on the west bank of Indus River in Pakistan in Sukkur District. One conjecture is that when Arabs invaded Sukkur (Sindh) in the 8th century, they found an extreme climate (hot and cold), and called it Saqar, which means intense.[citation needed] However, the word Sakharu in Sindhi means "superior", which the spelling of the city's name in Sindhi suggests is the origin of the name. Sukkur is nicknamed Darya Dino (درياءَ ڏنو, meaning the gift of river), as without the Indus the city would be a desert. People of Sukkur speak Sindhi (70%), Urdu (17.5%), Punjabi (8%), Pashto (1.5%), Balochi (1%), and others 2%.
Administration
The city of Sukkur, as well as being district headquarters, is the capital of Sukkur Talukas and contains many Union council.
Geography & climate
The district of Sukkur (whose name is derived from its head quarter Sukkur city) covers an area of 5,165 square kilometres. Geographically it is spanned from 27°05' to 28°02' north latitudes and from 68°47' to 69°43' east longitudes. The city of Sukkur is located at an altitude of 220 feet (67 m) from sea level, having terrestrial coordinates 68°52' east and 27°42' north. It is also the narrowest point of the lower Indus course.
Sukkur district shares its northern border with Shikarpur and the recently constituted Kashmore districts. Ghotki is located on the north-eastern side while Khairpur on the south. Sukkur also shares its border with India (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan). Sukkur is also connected by road and by air with all major cities of Pakistan.
The climate of the Sukkur is characterized by hot and hazy weather during summer days with dry and cold weather in winter. During January, the temperature ranges from 7 to 22 °C (45 to 72 °F). The summer (month of June before the monsoon) temperature averages 35 °C (95 °F) though it often reaches up to 42 °C (108 °F). Generally the summer season commences in March - April and ends before October. The average rainfall of the district is 88 mm, and ranges from 0.59 mm to 25.62 mm per month.
History
Sukkur has been an important strategic centre and trading route from time immemorial. Alor (or Aror, Sukkur) held the status of capital under the reign of Musikanos, when Alexander invaded India in 326 BCE. The ruins of this ancient town still exist, 8 km east of Rohri, in Sukkur district. The Rai Dynasty built a huge temple of Shiva (Shankar), hence 'Sukkur'. In 711 CE, the Arabs invaded Sindh, led by 17 year old Muhammad bin Qasim, and Sukkur (including all of Sindh and lower Punjab) became part of the Umayyad Caliphate.
Later Mughals and many semi-autonomous tribes ruled over Sukkur. The city was ceded to Mirs of Khairpur between 1809 and 1824. In 1833, Shah Shuja (a warlord of Kandahar, Afghanistan) defeated the Talpurs near Sukkur and later made a solemn treaty with the Talpur ruler, by which he relinquished all claims on Sindh. In 1843, the British (General Charles James Napier) defeated the Talpurs at the battles of Miani and Dubbo near Hyderabad. Sukkur, along with the rest of Sindh, was under British rule until the independence of Pakistan in 1947. The (current) district of Sukkur was constituted in 1901 out of part of Shikarpur District, the remainder of which was formed into the Larkana District. Sukkur saw a significant socio-economic uplift after the 1930s, when the British built the world's largest barrage here on the Indus River. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, thousands of Muslim escaping from pograms and genocide moved to Pakistan and thousands of Hindu Sindhi refugees escaping from pograms and genocide left Sukkur for India.
Economy
Industry
Sukkur is a hub of many small and large scale industries. Among important industries are cotton textiles, cement, leather, tobacco, paint and varnish, pharmaceuticals, agriculture implements, hand pumps, lock making, rice-husking, and sugar. Small-scale cottage industries comprise hosiery, boat making, fishing accessories, thread ball spooling, trunk making brass-wares, cutlery and ceramics.
Agriculture
Sukkur had a large fertile and cultivable land area until a few decades ago, when the Indus river was not as barren as today. Now its agricultural productivity has been much reduced. It has not achieved a reasonable yield per unit area over time, on account of continuous shortages of water and ignorance of modern irrigation systems. Despite the lack of water, during kharif, rice, bajra, cotton, tomatoes and peas are cultivated; whereas during rabi the main crops are wheat, barley, graham and melons. Sukkur is famous, world over, for its delicious dates. Sukkur also has a large Riveraine forest along the course of the Indus. These tropical forests are found within the protective embankments on either side of the Indus. During 1997-98 the total area under forests was 510 km2 which yielded 55,000 cubic feet (1,600 m3) of timber and 27,000 cubic feet (760 m3) of firewood besides other mine products.
Sites of interest
•War Mubarak Mohammad in Rohri City
•Manzilgah, Bundar road
•Rohri
•Aror (ruins of historical city)
•Shrine of Syed Sadar-Ur-Din-Shah
•Tomb of Shah Khairuddin Jillani
•Tomb of the Seven Maidens Sateen Jo Aastan
•Kot Mir Yakoob Ali Shah Rohri
•Tomb of Abdul Baqi Purani, Ex-Governor of Bukkur.
•Bukkur Island
•Tomb of Syed Hakim Ali
•Minaret of Masum Shah
•Sadh Belo Temple on River Indus
•Thermal Power Station Sukkur
•Lansdowne Bridge Rohri
•Sukkur (Lloyd) Barrage
•Shikarpur Road connecting Quetta via Shikarpur
•Shrine of Qazi Baba
•Adam Shah je Takri
•Degree College
•Islamia College
•Dadu Choke conneting Shikarpur Road, Waritar Rd & Hussaini Rd
•Lab-e-Mehran
•Lansdowne Bridge
•Minara Road (sarak)
•Shahi Bazaar, Frere Road
•Ayub Gate
•Ladies and Children Hill Park
•Looks Park/Qasim Park
•Acher Ghitti
•Bhutta Road (old Garden Road)
•Bunder Road
•Barrage colony
•Mir-ki-street
•Purana Sukkur (Old Sukkur)
•Sheikh Shee Road Sukkur
•Raharki sahib
•Jinnat (Genie's) Building, Old Sukkur
•Hyderi Masjid, Old Sukkur
•Tomb Syed Mukhdoom Shah Badshah
•Shah Khair ud din Shah Badshah (G. A. Shah) - Old Sukkur
I was so upset because I wanted my life to be about something and feared more than anything that it wouldn't be about anything. I knew that I had potential and that I wanted to use all of it, and it felt like I was flapping my wings against the bars of a cage, trying desperately to get out so that I stood a chance of creating the life I wanted.
In these troubled times I read this quotation from George Bernard Shaw...
"This is the true joy in life - being used for a purpose recognized by yourself; being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, being a force of Nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."
What brings happiness to you is doing something that matters to you and not making that happiness dependent on how things turn out. A common mistake people make is to think that their purpose has to be something 'mighty', something big or grand or life- changing, when the truth is that it can often be smaller or gentler than that - and still mean just as much. So, my advice is to be "used for a purpose recognized by yourself as something that matters." To me, being a Force of Nature is using your nature to do something that matters to you - and engaging with every moment of it.
That's where it all happens.
Taken: Broken bridge of Hussaini Village, Upper Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Viewed from a distance, the challenge appears difficult, complex, and insurmountable. Yet when you get close enough to it, you see that it's nothing more than a lot of simple, easily conquered challenges bundled together.
Is there something you've been avoiding because it just seems so overwhelming? Move in closer to it, to where you can see the details. Pick one of those details and go to work on it. When you've moved past that small challenge go on to the next one.
Soon you'll see that the big, complex, overwhelming challenge is in fact something you can handle. Once you've gotten inside and gone to work, you'll soon find your way through the whole thing.
The most ambitious goals, the most burdensome problems are not nearly as daunting as they may first appear. Have the courage to walk right up to them and get a closer look.
When you do, you'll discover a secret shared by all those who accomplish great things. There's no limit to what you can achieve when you take it one step at a time.
Taken: A bridge of Hussaini at Pasu, Upper Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan.
Same place but 8 years later (see my other Pakistan set). Nothing has changed and similarly stunningly beautiful.
A sure-footed Hunzakut with a load on his back walks across the new Hussaini bridge built to carry villagers and livestock over the Hunza River hanging beside the old bridge blown apart by winter winds, Gojal, Pakistan. --- September 1991, Hunza River, Gojal, Pakistan ---
I describe it as, "Hussaini jigra chahiye Hussaini bridge cross karne k liye". It needs to have the Hussaini courage to cross the thrilling Hussaini bridge.
I could simply not go beyond the 5th step. My local guide, himself won't dare cross the third step and strictly prohibited me to attempt any dare. To our jaw dropping surprise, we saw a local 14-15 year old boy almost running on the bridge making it to the 40 something step in no time. He went to the middle of the bridge for a photo I guess. The locals “Hussaini” hunzai use it on daily basis. For them, it is an unavoidable means of connection.
One step into Hussaini bridge starts the smallest of the tensions in the suspension system. A micro sin wave has started. And your feet and your body can feel them. Every step multiplies the last effect. Imagine, just imagine the experience, keep in mind that the ice cold “Hunza river” water awaits to feast on you. Worst…. Like every bridge, it has two ends. And as I said, locals “RUN” on it. Their cat walks can surely make you jump into the river :P
I met brother Ali and Faheem from Islamabad who were travelling on bikes to explore the valley side. Ali told me back at Kamran hotel that he crossed 80% of the bridge. Ali definitely has it what it takes to cross this death daring, thrilling bridge.
One of the "highlights" of travelling in Passu in northern Pakistan. Crossing the rickety Hussaini Bridge! The old broken bridge is just on the left, although the current "working" one is just a tad better only! :)
A tourist crosses the Hunza river on the Hussaini Hanging Bridge in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan at dusk October 22, 2018. Photo by Tim Chong
There is something special about this specific place, something mysterious that it calls the traveller back to take another yet entierly different view. Zar abad is one place just like that.
On the other side of the river, it seems like there is another world. World which has been carved for million of years to give the impression of nature's forces at play to shape the dimension of this world.
Two years ago, it was totally a differnt view. The clouds were shedding rain and there were no peaks that can be viewed. But this time it was an exception, I was blessed with the complete view of Other Universe.
Taken: Zar Abad, Hussaini, Gojal, Upper Hunza Valley, Pakistan
One of the many scary bridge crossings on the spectacular Zarabad/Hussaini trek, south of Passu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
A dreamland called Passu is a fascinating place with amazing diversity of places, people and customs, and is mixing bowl of ancient civilization and dream of nature lovers, well known about its extraordinary contrast of landscapes in the world. For many, Passu is one of the most beautiful village of Pakistan. Situated in the spectacular Karakorum mountains on the old silk route at the west bank of Hunza River near the border with china.
Passu is considered the worlds heights landmass, where there is nothing below 2500 meters, surrounded by some of the world most famous peaks, glaciers and lakes, such as Passu peak, Shisper peak, Batura, and the most remarkable is Passu cathedral peak 6500, right in front of you.
In the shadow of lofty mountains are the Passu glacier with white skin and Batura glacier with black, both at the length of 56km, which is the fifth largest glacier of the world.
Taken: One wet afternoon while standing at the step of Hussaini (Pasu) Bridge, Upper Hunza, Pasu Village, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
Daulatabad Fort - Open courtyard after the Maha Kot with the Guard Rooms and still usable guns.
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: China Palace), is the ruin of a building once of great beauty. In it Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last of the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda, was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in 1687.
The KKH astonish the visitor most when it en-routes from Gulmit to Passu. The famous bridge of hussaini which is considered to be most dangerous bridge in the world existed here, which was destroyed by flooding of Attabad lake. This part consisted of the final part of the lake last year.
The fairy tale mountain in the background and Hunza River at the base with a piece of land in the middle so seldom visited, remains a mystery for so many people who visited the area.
Shakespeare's Hamlet,
"There are more things in Heaven and Earth than man can dream of."
The lines in effect say that some things are 'un-knowable' in our world; but that does not mean that we cannot acknowledge their existence. That 'hidden world' to us does exist. We just can't see it. It exists in other, higher dimensions.
Taken: suspension bridge of Hussaini Village, Passu, Gojal, Gilgit Baltistan.
Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments[edit]
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: China Palace), is the ruin of a building once of great beauty. In it Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last of the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda, was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in 1687.
Hussaini Suspension Bridges that link Zarabad Village to Hussain Village near Passu.
More from my Northern Pakistan Travel Blog.
Passu is a small village on the Karakoram Highway, beside the Hunza River. It is one of the oldest settlement sites in Gojal (Upper Hunza), and lies between the black Batura Glacier and white Passu Glacier.
Lost in the land, where there is only what's needed, not more, not less. I did not know where I was, but in my mind there was a place, which I have been thinking and manifesting for a long time. I have crossed glaciers, walked beside the snow-capped mountains, sat at the bank of a lake, but my desire for more just kept me walking and talking to myself. I need to see what I have been dreaming for, and I can feel it all around me. It has about to reveal itself.
After crossing the road which I traveled all the way to this remoteness, elements of nature were blending just for me. Gojal seems to become a part of me. This part is considered to be a part of Hunza, but actually their language, and culture is different. There were gusts of wind, pushing my body from the known world to unknown. Huge set of triangular mountain tops were covered in clouds at a far distance. Around me was the fields, like steps they was descending with me, glacial waters irrigating the land.
Welcome to the village of Hussaini, Gojal Area, Near Pasu, Gilgit Baltistan, Northern Areas of Pakistan. This seems to be the end of the world. On the other-side was the great unknown and the Suspension Bridge of Hussaini.
Taken: Hitch Hiking in Hussaini Village, Pasu, Gojal, Pakistan.
Daulatabad Fort
Daulatabad also known as Devagiri, is a town which includes the Devagiri-Daulatabad fort It is a 14th-century fort city in Maharashtra state of India, about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of Aurangabad. The place was originally named Devagiri when it was an important uplands city along caravan routes (ca. sixth century AD), but the intervening centuries have reduced it to a village. However it is also considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot.
The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by first Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187.
Starting 1327, it famously remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325-1351), who also changed its name, and forcibly moved the entire population of Delhi for two years before it was abandoned for lack of water and Tughluq was constantly known to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and Daulatabad to Delhi.
There is a belief that Devagiri was built in 1203 AD by a Dhangar or herdsman who acquired vast wealth by his good fortune. He had a brother who was a shepherd named 'Raja Ram' and in correlation with it he assumed the rank of a Raja (King).
Lord Shiva is believed to have been stayed on the hills surrounding this region. Hence the fort was originally known as Devagiri, literally (Hills of Gods)
The area of the city includes the hill-fortress of Devagiri (sometimes Latinised to Deogiri). It stands on a conical hill, about 200 meters high. Much of the lower slopes of the hill has been cut away by Yadava dynasty rulers to leave 50 meter vertical sides to improve defenses. The fort is a place of extraordinary strength. The only means of access to the summit is by a narrow bridge, with passage for not more than two people abreast, and a long gallery, excavated in the rock, which has for the most part a very gradual upward slope.
About midway along this gallery, the access gallery has steep stairs, the top of which is covered by a grating destined in time of war to form the hearth of a huge fire kept burning by the garrison above. At the summit, and at intervals on the slope, are specimens of massive old cannon facing out over the surrounding countryside. Also at the mid way, there is a cave entrance meant to confuse the enemies.
The fort had the following specialities which are listed along with their advantages :
No separate exit from the fort, only one entrance/exit - This is designed to confuse the enemy soldiers to drive deep into the fort in search of an exit, at their own peril.
No parallal gates - This is designed to break the momentum of theconfusing the invading army. Also, the flag mast is on the left hill, which the enemy will try to capitualte, thus will always turn left. But the real gates of the fort are on the right & the false ones on the left, thus confusing the enemy.
Spikes on the gates - In the era before gunpowder, intoxicated elephants were used as a battering ram to break open the gates. The presence of spikes ensured that the elephants died of injury.
Complex arrangement of entryways, curved walls, false doors - Designed to confuse the enemy, false, but well-designed gates on the left side lured the enemy soldiers in & trapped them inside, eventually feeding them to crocodiles.
The hill is shaped like a smooth tortoise back - this prevented the use of mountain lizards as climbers, because they cannot stick on it.
The site had been occupied since at least 100 BCE, and now has remains of Buddhist temples similar to those at Ajanta and Ellora.
The city is said to have been founded c. 1187 by Bhillama V, a Yadava prince who renounced his allegiance to the Chalukyas and established the power of the Yadava dynasty in the west. During the rule of the Yadava king Ramachandra, Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate raided Devagiri in 1296, forcing the Yadavas to pay a hefty tribute. When the tribute payments stopped, Alauddin sent a second expedition to Devagiri in 1308, forcing Ramachandra to become his vassal.
In 1328, Muhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate transferred the capital of his kingdom to Devagiri, and renamed it Daulatabad. Some scholars ague that it the idea behind transfer of the capital was rational, because it lied more or less in the centre of the kingdom, and geographically secured the capital from the north-west frontier attacks.
In the Daulatabad fort, he found the area arid & dry. Hence he built a huge reservoir for water storage & connected it with a far-away river. He used siphon system to fill up the reservoir. However, his capital-shift strategy failed miserably due to lack of application & other factors. Hence he shifted back to Delhi & earned him the moniker "Mad King".
The next important event in the Daulatabad fort time-line was the construction of the Chand Minar by the Bahmani ruler Hasan Gangu Bahmani, also known as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (r. 3 August 1347 – 11 February 1358).
Hasan Gangu built the Chand Minar as a replica of the Qutb Minar of Delhi, of which he was a great fan of. He employed Iranian architects to built the Minar who used Lapis Lazuli & Red Ochre for coloring. Currently, the Minar is out of bounds for the tourists, because of a suicide case.
As we move further into the fort, we can see the Chini Mahal, a VIP prison built by Aurangzeb. In this prison, he kept Abul Hasan Tana Shah of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty of Hyderabad. The antecedents of Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last Qutub Shahi king are shrouded in mystery. Although a kinsman of the Golconda royals, he spent his formative years as a disciple of renowned Sufi saint Shah Raju Qattal, leading a spartan existence away from the pomp and grandeur of royalty. Shah Raziuddin Hussaini, popularly known as Shah Raju, was held in high esteem by both the nobility and commoners of Hyderabad. Abdullah Qutub Shah, the seventh king of Golconda was among his most ardent devotees. He died in prison leaving no male heir to the throne.
In this Chini Mahal, Sambhaji, son of Shivaji was kept.
Most of the present-day fortification was constructed under the Bahmanis and the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. The Mughal Governor of the Deccan under Shah Jahan, captured the fortress in 1632 and imprisoned the Nizam Shahi prince Husain Shah.
Monuments
The outer wall, 2.75 miles (4.43 km) in circumference, once enclosed the ancient city of Devagiri and between this and the base of the upper fort are three lines of defences.
Along with the fortifications, Devagiri contains several notable monuments, of which the chief are the Chand Minar and the Chini Mahal. The Chand Minar is a tower 210 ft (64 m). high and 70 ft (21 m). in circumference at the base, and was originally covered with beautiful Persian glazed tiles. It was erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani to commemorate his capture of the fort. The Chini Mahal (literally: China Palace), is the ruin of a building once of great beauty. In it Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last of the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda, was imprisoned by Aurangzeb in 1687.