User:Ishu samoon

Dardistan is a big world in itself. Inhabitants of Gurez are Indo-Aryan race (Dards) migrated from Central Asia. Dardistan is a term coined by Gottlieb William Leitner for the northern areas of Pakistan. Herodotus(III 102-105) is the first author who refers to the country of Dards, placing it between Kashmir and Afghanistan. “Other Indians are those who reside on the  frontiers of the  town ‘Kaspatyros’ and the Pakytan country”. Kaspatyros or kaspapyros is evidently Kashmir and Pakytan is Pashtuns or Afghans. It also has reference in Mahabharata where it mentions the tribute of an ant-gold Paopilika brought by the nations of the north to one of the Pandu sons. King Yuhisthira. The Dards are also the Darada of the Sanskrit writers. The Darada and Himavanta were the regions to which Buddha sent his missionaries. Dal Lake, Pehalgam, Gulmarg… the average tourist perceptions of Kashmir is usually limited to standard destinations. The place that many haven’t heard of and fewer still have traveled to is Gurez, a rugged and beautiful valley at an altitude of 8,000 ft, some 200 km from Srinagar. Mountain peaks tower on either side of the Gurez valley which is much narrower than the Kashmir valley. Gurez’s most formidable peak is Habba Khatoon around which quaint legends abound and at one time, even a film starring Dimple Kapadia was planned. A single narrow road, open only for few months in the year, links it with the outside world. It is precisely this isolation Beauty apart Gurez is also historically important. At one time, it fell along a section of the ancient Silk Route that connects the Kashmiri Valley with Gilgit. In terms of regional connectivity Gurez Valley can win enough connect Kashmir valley with Dras through “Kawbaal” peak in way the   northeast. It also connects Astore through “Burzal” pass in northwest of Tillail Valley. The ruins of the ancient Sharada University are preserved along the Kishenganga river that flows through Gurez. Though there has been no effect of prevailing situation on this Valley but it faces a different problem. The proposed Gurez Dam will inundate a large chunk of the Valley and wipe out the key archaeological and cultural treasures. In addition, the forced eviction of the Dard Shin to urban settings might place their culture in jeopardy. Pity that the Gurez might change significantly even before travel connoisseures get a chance to savour it's uniqueness. '''Ishtiyaq Samoon Badwan Gurez''' Ishu samoon (talk) 09:39, 10 May 2009 (UTC)