|
HUNZA LONGEVITY TOUR
A Guide to Shangri-La: The Leading Longevity Sites on Earth
HUNZA
 Location. Hunza is located in a remote valley some 200 mi.
long but only one mi. wide. It is situated at an elevation of
8,500' and is completely enclosed by mountain peaks. These
peaks soar as high as 25,550' and belong to the Karakoram
Range, broadly known in the West as "the Himalayas" or the
"Roof of the World." Situated in the far northeast of
Pakistan, it is only a stone's throw from Pakistan-controlled
Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Soviet Russia, and China. The
valley's only access is through Rawalpindi, Pakistan's new
capital. From there a 45-minute plane ride takes you due north
375 mi. to Gilgit. This trip involves some of the world's most
hazardous flying conditions, as the small plane must negotiate
treacherous mountain passes. Although you are now only 68 mi.
from Baltit, the village capital of Hunza, the rest of the
trip used to require 3 days and had to be made by mule,
shanks' mare, and finally--for the drop down from a height of
16,000' into the valley--by jeep. Today, the entire 68 mi. can
be covered in only 3 hours on the new Karakoram Highway.
 Longevity. The longevity claims made for Hunzukuts by foreign
visitors vary considerably, with the highest estimate being
150 years of age. Renee Taylor writes in her book Hunza Health
Secrets for Long Life and Happiness: "In Hunza, people manage
to live to over 100 years of age in perfect mental and
physical health . . . men of 90 [are] new fathers and women of
50 still conceive." Betty Lee Morales, president of the
American Cancer Society and a 2-time visitor to Hunza,
reported to the Los Angeles Times (July 16, 1973), "It's an
exaggeration to say that they live to be 150 but there's no
need to gild the lily. The average age is 90 when they die."
Dr. Alexander Leaf, Chief of Medical Services at Massachusetts
General Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School,
has reliably reported meeting a 106-year-old man who still
worked herding goats during the summer months, while "the
oldest Hunzukut" was "revered" for being 110. Dr. Leaf also
has pointed out that it is "the fitness of many of the elderly
rather than their age that impresses me," and he has
 noted
that no written records of births or deaths were then kept in
Hunza. According to the Mir of Hunza, out of a present
population of 40,000, 6 men are over 100 years of age and many
are 90 years old or more. (Before the 1st road came, there
were at least 50 over the age of 100.) In America, by
contrast, there are only 3 centenarians for every 100,000
people.
ITINERARY:
Day 01: Islamabad/Rawalpindi: Arrival at Islamabad
International Airport, Transfer to designated hotel with your
luggage. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 02: Islamabad/Rawalpindi (170 km): Leave for Peshawar, en
route visit Taxila Museum (1 hour drive up to Taxila). The
modern town of Taxila is 35 km from Islamabad. Most of the
archeological site at Taxila (600 BC-500 AD) are located
around Taxila Museum. For over 100 years, Taxila remained
fomous as a center of learning in respect of Gandhara art of
sculpture, education and Budhism in the days of Buddhist
glory. There are over 50 archeological sites scattered in a
radius of 30 km around Taxila. Some of the mot important sites
are include Dharamarijika, Stupa and Monestry (300 BC-200 AD),
Bhir Mound (600 BC-200 AD), Sirkap (200 BC – 600 AD), Jundial
Temple (250 BC), and Juallian Monastery (200-600 AD).
Overnight stay at hotel.
 Day 03: Khyber Pass and Peshawar: Morning visit to the Khyber
Pass is like walking back into history. The Khyber Pass has
been the silent witness to countless great events in the
history of mankind. The historic pass begins 18 km (11 miles)
west of Peshawar and runs up to the Pakistan-Afghanistan
border at Torkham, 57 km / 35 miles from Peshawar. It has been
conquered by the Greeks, ruled by the Buddhists, destroyed by
the Huns, rebuilt by the Brahmins and still later invaded by
the great Moguls. The Sikhs and Afghans also left their mark
here before the Pass fell to the British. Today the Khyber
Pass is the site of famous forts such as Jamrud and Shangai.
Some of the forts are still occupied by the Khyber Regiment of
the Pakistan Army. The "Smuggler's Bazaar" at Landi Kotal,
situated en route to the Khyber Pass, is also covered in this
tour. (Excursion to Khyber Pass is subject to permission from
local authorities.). An afternoon tour of Peshawar city
includes: The Peshawar Museum that houses a rich treasure of
art, sculpture and historical relics dating from the Gandhara
period (300 BC to 300 AD) to modern times. Visit to the Yadgar
Square and the Mahabat Khan Mosque, a beautiful towering
structure with lofty minarets. The Qissa Khawani Bazaar
(storyteller's bazaar), the Peshawar Pottery Works, Bater
Bazaar (street of partridge lovers) and Mochi Lara, famous for
it's exquisitely embroidered sandals. Peshawar is a colorful
and cosmopolitan city and many different people gather here;
Afghans, Iranis, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Afridis and Shinwaris all add
to the excitement.
Day 04: Peshawar / Swat (Drive 159 kms / 98 miles)
Driving along the picturesque Malakand Pass you will first
visit the magnificent ancient Buddhist monastery Takht-i-Bahi
dating back to 1st to 7th Century AD. Takht-e-Bhai consists of
numerous chapels and stupas sticking to the high, rocky spurs.
Next continue to the enchanting Swat Valley visiting the
famous Churchill's Picket en route. Later a city tour of Saidu
Shariff, the capital of Swat Valley. You will see the small,
but well preserved Swat Museum and Mingora known for its very
colorful bazaar and Marghazar.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 05: Swat / Chilas (Drive 308 kms / 190 miles)
In the morning ascending north, you cross the 2134m Shangrila
Pass, which gives a breathtaking and panoramic view of the
Swat Valley before getting along side the Indus River on your
way to the Gilgit Valley. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Chilas / Hunza (Drive 240 kms / 148 miles)
We enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery on our drive to
Hunza; first we get to see the Himalayas and later the
Karakoram ranges. En route we stop at various scenic spots and
local villages. Even the amazing scenery along the way does
not prepare us for the majesty and serenity that the Hunza
Valley will present to us. We are warmly welcomed by the
Hunzakuts as we arrive at Karimabad, the capital of Hunza
Valley. Overnight
 Day 07: Hunza: Full day tour of Hunza. Very few places in the
world compare with this small mountainous region, which was a
semi-autonomous state until very recently but is now fully
unified with Pakistan, the ruling dynasty of Hunza having
lasted for over 600 years. The scenic beauty of this area,
with its greenery and snow-capped mountains, makes it a true
paradise. During the summer there is an abundance of apricots,
peaches, pears and grapes. Hunza lies on the ancient trade
route to Kashgar in the Chinese province of Sinkiang. Today
the Karakoram Highway runs along this route with Karimabad
being the main town of Hunza. Hunza is probably most famous
for the longevity of its people, due to their simplicity and
natural diet, along with the unpolluted mountain air. Tibetan
traders referred to the beauty of this humble paradise as
"Shangri-La". The tour will include meeting with local folks,
understanding the secrets of their longevity and also visit
some of the important historical sites including the recently
renovated, simple yet overpowering, Baltit Fort and the Ganesh
watch Tower. Visit to Nagar Valley and Hopper Glacier are also
included. Visit to the Baltit Fort is of immense interest. For
many years the fort served as an administrative headquarter
and home to the former Mirs (rulers) of Hunza. The porters who
accompanied the Balti bride for the then Mir of Hunza built it
more than 700 years ago. The style of construction originates
from Ladakh. A maze of rooms serving as living and
administrative offices were added periodically, designed with
indigenous woodwork. It is strategically located on a prospect
point, which gives it an immense overview of Hunza and
neighboring valleys. Currently it serves as a Fort Museum with
a good collection of exhibit of artifacts and musical
instruments from Hunza. The fort is now administered by the
Aga Khan Trust for Culture Foundation, which undertook the
reconstruction and re-establishment to its original grandeur.
Visit to Hoper offers a fine view of some of the highest peaks
in Hunza and Nagar.
Day 08: Hunza / Gilgit (Drive 100 kms / 62 miles)
Today we drive southwards reaching the ancient silk
route-trading town of Gilgit, the administrative centre of
Northern Pakistan. Our afternoon tour of Gilgit, includes a
visit to a local school, the home of a Gilgiton, the popular
polo grounds and the very typical mountain bazaar. We'll also
visit the impressive rock carvings of the Buddha near Kargah.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Gilgit / Besham (Drive 345 kms / 215 miles)
Today we will drive to on KKH to Besham. It is a stopover
developing rapidly into a busy commercial town. Following the
down stream course of River Indus, we will make photo stops at
the confluence of River Indus & Gilgit, our next stop will be
at the unique point where three mountain rages, Karakoram,
Himalayas and Hindu Kush meet, Nanga Parbat viewpoint offers
breathtaking panorama on behind. We will also stop at Chilas &
Shatial rocks with ancient graffiti's on it before reaching at
Besham. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 10: Besham / Islamabad (Drive 245 kms / 155 miles)
 Morning drive to Islamabad with visit to Taxila. A fallen
world of glories now, Taxila was once the seat of oriental
culture. Situated only 32 km from Rawalpindi, Taxila is famous
for the rare specimens of stucco from the Gandhara period
excavated from Sirkap, as well as various Buddhist Stupas and
Monasteries. Taxila is first mentioned as a territory of the
Great Achaemenian Empire of Persia in the 6th century BC in
inscriptions of Darius the Great at Beghistun. It was invaded
by Alexander the Great to assert his claim over the lost
provinces of the Achaemenian Empire, and then ruled by Mauryas
such as Ashoka the Great, Bactrian Greeks, Scythians,
Parthians and the Kushan kings. It came to an undignified end
around 450 AD when it was ransacked by hordes of White Huns.
The museum here houses various objects and sculptures dating
from the 4th century BC to the 5th century AD. The excavations
are spread out over an area of 8 km. Once the sightseeing is
over then we will drive to Islamabad.
Day 11: Farewell dinner after all the adventure and
excitement. Its time to say good bye to each other with a wish
to meeting again at some other.
For more information or for another queries, please
click here
|
