Rock Art and Buddhist Sites along the Karakoram Highway
Long before the Karakoram Highway was built, the valleys of the upper Indus and Hunza rivers were travelled by traders, pilgrims and herders, many of whom left their mark on the rocks. Tens of thousands of carvings and inscriptions, from prehistoric animals to Buddhist stupas and scripts from across Asia, survive along the route.
This guide introduces the most accessible sites, explains why they matter and shows where our itineraries stop to see them.
Why there is so much rock art here
The upper Indus valley was one of the routes that linked Gandhara, the Buddhist heartland around Peshawar, Swat and Taxila, with Central Asia and China. Travellers camped by the river and carved images and inscriptions on the dark, smooth boulders, which survived thanks to the dry climate. The carvings span thousands of years, from early hunting scenes to Buddhist images and inscriptions in several scripts.
Chinese Buddhist pilgrims and many anonymous travellers are thought to have passed this way. For visitors today, the carvings connect the northern valleys to the Gandharan sites further south, which our Gandhara Civilization Tour also visits.
The petroglyphs of Chilas and Shatial
The stretch of the Karakoram Highway around Shatial and Chilas holds the greatest concentration of carvings, documented over many years by archaeologists including a long-running German research project. Boulders near the road carry ibex, hunters, stupas, Buddhas and inscriptions, some easy to find with a local guide. Several of our itineraries stop to see them: the Gandhara tour visits the Shatial, Chilas and Alam Bridge carvings, and the autumn and cherry blossom tours stop at the old rock drawings at Shatial on the way to Gilgit.
Many of these carvings lie in the area that will be flooded by the reservoir of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, which is under construction. Recording work has been carried out, but seeing the carvings in place may not be possible indefinitely.
Kargah Buddha and Danyor near Gilgit
A few kilometres outside Gilgit, a large standing Buddha is carved high on a cliff face at the mouth of the Kargah valley. It is generally dated to around the seventh century and is one of the best-known Buddhist monuments in the north. Near Gilgit, the Danyor rock inscriptions are another stop on the Gandhara tour. Our Gilgit guide covers the town and its surroundings, and the Kargah valley is also the setting for part of our trout fishing trip.
The Sacred Rocks of Hunza
Near Ganish village below Karimabad, a cluster of boulders known as the Sacred Rocks of Hunza carries carvings and inscriptions left by travellers over many centuries, including images of ibex and inscriptions in several ancient scripts. The site sits close to the Karakoram Highway and is easy to combine with Ganish, Altit and Baltit. Our Gandhara tour visits Ganish and the Sacred Rocks; see the Hunza Valley guide.
Manthal Buddha Rock near Skardu
On the outskirts of Skardu, near the road to Satpara Lake, the Manthal Buddha Rock bears a carved relief of a seated Buddha surrounded by smaller figures, generally dated to around the eighth century. It is a short visit from Skardu and a good addition to a day around the lakes near Skardu or an acclimatisation day before a trek; see the Skardu guide.
Itinerary days that visit these sites
Day 14: Singal – Gilgit
The final cycling stage brings us to Gilgit, the historic hub of the northern region. A visit to the local bazaar and the ancient Kargah Buddha rock carving. Overnight in hotel.
Day 7
Besham Shatial & Chilas & Alam Bridge Buddhist rock carvings – Nanga Parbat viewpoint -Gilgit
Day 8
Gilgit – sightseeing: Bazaar, Danyor Buddhist rock carvings, Kargah Buddha.
Day 10
Karimabad – Ganish Village & Sacred Rocks – Altit Fort – Duikar.
Autumn Tour in Gilgit-Baltistan
03: Besham to Gilgit
After breakfast, we will leave for Gilgit; en route, see the old rock drawings at Shatial and also see the mighty Nanga Parbat (8125m) before Chilas. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at Gilgit.
Visiting respectfully
- Do not touch, chalk, wet or trace the carvings to make them clearer; it damages the surface.
- Do not climb on carved boulders or move stones.
- Never add your own marks or graffiti.
- Photography is generally fine, but follow any rules posted at protected sites.
- Use a local guide; many carvings are hard to find and easy to miss.
Seeing the sites in one journey
Because the sites lie along the main road north, they fit naturally into a single journey. Driving up the Karakoram Highway from Besham, the Shatial and Chilas carvings come first, followed by the Kargah Buddha and the Danyor inscriptions around Gilgit. In Hunza, the Sacred Rocks near Ganish sit below Altit and Baltit forts, and if the route continues to Skardu, the Manthal Buddha Rock is a short drive from town.
Our autumn and cherry blossom tours follow much of this route, stopping at Shatial on the way to Gilgit, visiting Baltit and Altit in Hunza and continuing to Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu. The Gandhara tour adds the southern half of the story, with Taxila, Takht-i-Bahi and the Swat Museum before the drive north. Allow time at each stop: the carvings reward slow looking, and low morning or evening sun shows them best.
Frequently asked questions
How old are the rock carvings near Chilas?
They span a very long period, from prehistoric images to carvings and inscriptions of the Buddhist era, roughly the first millennium AD.
Where is the Kargah Buddha?
On a cliff at the mouth of the Kargah valley, a short drive from Gilgit.
Can I see the carvings on a normal tour?
Yes. Several of our tours stop at Shatial or Chilas on the drive north, and the Gandhara tour includes several rock art sites.
Are the carvings threatened?
Many around Chilas lie in the future reservoir area of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, so seeing them in place may not always be possible.
Is there Buddhist heritage elsewhere in Pakistan?
Yes, especially in Gandhara: Taxila, Swat and Takht-i-Bahi. Our guide to UNESCO World Heritage sites in Pakistan covers the major sites.
Add the rock art to your trip
Tell us which sites interest you and we can build them into a northern tour. Browse our cultural tours or contact us through the enquiry form.