Invitation to House of Heaven
Invitation to House of Heaven – Hunza Karimabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard but must be felt with the heart.
by Khalil Shah
Skeem Bano, who is 88 years old
While we are exploring the streets of Hunza Karimabad we met Skeem Bano, who is 88 years old. The best thing the people of Hunza is that they are very sincere and very welcoming by heart.
I was watching a lady who is Skeem Bano quiet busy with the surroundings and helping the young girl within the boundaries of her home.
I was very keen at that moment to take a shot of her as her face telling so many stories as her eye showing a few decades of different weather that touches the rock and soil of her garden, I was unable to connect with her and looking forward to taking permission and capture whatever she is doing as a routine work but feeling uncomfortable or I should say I was unable to connect with her as she was bit far.
There was a boy nearby who was playing with lambs he came to me and say Salaam to me, I asked the boy to get permission to meet the family there.
Suddenly Skeem Bano raises his hand and invites me to his home it was quite surprising as she was watching my willingness to get inside.
I asked the boy to give my salam and introduce me as I was watching the path towards his house which was built by rocks As soon as we crossed the entrance it is hard to describe how beautiful it was, it was like a house in heaven with the green grass and flowers all around and view of Rakaposhi at the back, I think it is only felt once you were there.
Sher Ullah Baig (96 years old)
View of whole Hunza Valley can be seen from his house and it’s like a view of paradise, green, red, yellow, trees, leaves rustle, the rays of the sun coming from between the trees, the snow with the wind in the mountains above the clouds that still covered. Meanwhile, my friend also came behind me and we were introduced by Islam Uddin our beloved from Hunza, he introduced us to the family where we met her husband Sher Ullah Baig (96 years old).
Islam Uddin told us that Skeem Bano was a teacher of me till my primary schooling there in Karimabad Hunza and he got a position in the village. Then we move inside to the house where we see different dry fruits and fresh fruits farms inside their house, She offers us apples and berries, show us how they dry up the fruits for winter use for themselves as well as for animals as well.
In September, cold breeze begins and the month when Hunza start getting cold and dry as the arrival of the windy season it is welcoming alarm of Autumn Season and due to snow within a month water system getting cold and freeze the irrigational system all around the Hunza Valley
Glacier on the 25,550 foot (7788 m) high Mount Rakaposhi
The gardens were watered with mineral-rich glacier water carried by an aqueduct system running a distance of 50 miles (80 km) from the Ultar Glacier on the 25,550 foot (7788 m) high Mount Rakaposhi.
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The wooden aqueduct trough was hung from the sheer cliffs by steel nails hammered into the rock walls. Silt from the river below was carried up the side of the valley to form and replenish the terraced gardens.
The average annual precipitation in Hunza is less than two inches. Ultar Peak rising above Baltit, the capital of Hunza, is spectacular. The Old Palace is on the hill above the village.
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