Skardu history

Foundation and Historical Roots

The exact founding date of Skardu is lost in the depth of centuries, as settlements in this fertile valley have existed since ancient times. Historically, the city developed as the capital of Baltistan—a region often referred to as "Little Tibet" due to its geographical and ethnographic similarities. A pivotal stage in the city's formation is considered to be the rise of the Maqpon dynasty (approximately in the 12th–13th centuries), whose rulers united scattered settlements and established Skardu as their administrative centre.

Factors of Formation and Development

The transformation of Skardu into the region's key city was facilitated by a unique combination of natural and strategic conditions:

• Geography: The city is located at the confluence of the Indus and Shigar rivers, protected by the Karakoram mountain ranges. This provided natural defence and access to water for irrigating fields.
• Trade Routes: Skardu served as a vital transit hub connecting Kashmir, Ladakh, and Central Asia. Routes linking various parts of the Himalayas passed through the city.
• Consolidation of Power: The city's heyday occurred in the 16th–17th centuries, particularly during the reign of Ali Sher Khan Anchan. It was then that the famous Kharpocho Fort ("King of Forts") was erected, becoming a symbol of the region's political power.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The culture of early Skardu represented a unique synthesis. Initially, Buddhism dominated here, as evidenced by ancient rock reliefs such as the Buddha in Manthal. Later, with the arrival of preachers, the region smoothly embraced Islam while retaining many elements of Tibetan architecture and the Balti language.

For centuries, the city's economy was based on high-altitude agriculture and horticulture (local apricots were particularly renowned), as well as servicing trade caravans that required rest before difficult crossings over icy passes.

Key Milestones in Skardu's History

• 8th–9th Centuries: Creation of the famous Manthal Buddha rock carving, testifying to the region's deep Buddhist roots prior to the arrival of Islam.
• Circa 1190: Foundation of the Maqpon dynasty, whose rulers united scattered settlements and made Skardu the capital of Baltistan.
• Early 16th Century: Active spread of Islam in the valley due to the activities of the Sufi preacher Mir Shamsuddin Iraqi.
• Late 16th Century: Construction of the monumental Kharpocho Fort ("King of Forts") by ruler Ali Sher Khan Anchan to protect the city and control trade routes.
• 1840: Conquest of Skardu by the troops of General Zorawar Singh and the region's annexation to the Dogra dynasty's domains.
• 1846: Inclusion of the territory into the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the Treaty of Amritsar.
• 1948: Establishment of Pakistan's de facto administrative control over the Gilgit-Baltistan region, including the city of Skardu.
• 1954: The first successful ascent of K2 by an Italian expedition, cementing Skardu's status as the main gateway to the peaks of the Karakoram.
• 1982: Completion of Skardu Road, connecting the city to the Karakoram Highway and ending its centuries-old isolation.
• 1993: Establishment of the Deosai National Park near the city to protect the unique ecosystem of the high-altitude plateau.
• 2021: Skardu Airport granted international status, opening direct air routes for foreign tourists.

Stages of Development and Transformation of Skardu

Skardu has come a long way from a strategic outpost in the Himalayas to a modern centre of tourism and mountaineering. Below are the key stages that have defined the city's current appearance and economy.

• Construction of Kharpocho Fort (16th Century)
  Significance: Creation of an urban core. The erection of the fortress on the rock not only ensured military security but also cemented Skardu's status as an administrative centre, around which residential quarters and markets formed.
• Construction of Skardu Road
  Significance: Overcoming isolation. The construction and subsequent modernisation of the road connecting the city to the Karakoram Highway became a crucial economic breakthrough, ensuring stable supplies of goods and land connectivity with the rest of the world.
• Launch of Satpara Dam
  Significance: Infrastructure revolution. The implementation of this massive project resolved critical water supply and electricity issues, providing a powerful impulse for urban population growth and agricultural development.
• Emergence as a High-Altitude Tourism Hub
  Significance: Economic transformation. Skardu transformed into the main logistics base for expeditions to K2 and other eight-thousanders, reorienting the local economy towards the service sector, hospitality business, and tourist support.
• Opening of the University of Baltistan (2017)
  Significance: Cultural and educational rise. The establishment of a higher education institution created opportunities for the region's youth, contributing to the preservation of unique cultural heritage and the Balti language in an academic environment.
• Granting of International Status to the Airport (2021)
  Significance: Global integration. The ability to receive direct international flights radically changed the city's tourism potential, reducing travel time for foreign travellers and simplifying access to the natural beauties of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Skardu is a unique example of human adaptation to the harsh conditions of the high mountains. One will not find the familiar succession of European styles like Baroque or Classicism here. The city's appearance was formed under the influence of Tibetan traditions, Islamic culture, and the necessity to survive in the seismically active zone of the Karakoram.

Era of Fortifications and Tibetan Influence (16th–17th Centuries)

The historical core of the city was formed during the heyday of the Maqpon dynasty. The architecture of this period bears a distinctly defensive character, combining the massiveness of stone with the flexibility of wooden structures.

• Style: Himalayan vernacular architecture with elements of Tibetan building traditions. Characteristic features include sloped walls (for stability) and the use of the cator and crib technique—alternating layers of stone and wooden beams, which makes buildings earthquake-resistant.
• Landmark Object: Kharpocho Fort. This citadel, towering over the city, is Skardu's main architectural monument. It demonstrates the classic structure of a mountain fortress: massive outer walls, narrow arrow slits, and a strategic location on a rock.

Traditional Housing and Religious Architecture

Before the onset of large-scale modernisation, Skardu's residential development consisted of compact settlements closely linked to the landscape.

• Residential Houses: Traditionally built from adobe and stone. A distinct feature of local homes is their flat roofs, which are used as utility areas for drying apricots and grain during the summer. In winter, this design helps retain heat.
• Mosques and Khanqahs: The religious buildings of the Baltistan region differ from the familiar domed mosques. These are wooden structures with flat roofs, often adorned with intricate carvings featuring floral and geometric motifs reminiscent of the Kashmiri style.

Modern Stage (20th–21st Centuries)

With the opening of roads and the development of tourism, the appearance of Skardu began to change rapidly. Modern development is chaotic but functional in character.

• Functionalism and Concrete: New buildings for hotels, banks, and administrative institutions are constructed from concrete. This has changed the city's colour palette, adding grey tones to the valley's natural ochre hues.
• Coloured Roofs: A characteristic feature of modern Skardu, visible from above, is the bright corrugated metal roofs (most often green, red, or blue). They have replaced traditional flat roofs in new districts as they handle heavy snowfall better.
• Commercial Rows: The central part of the city has turned into an extended bazaar (New Bazaar and Old Bazaar), where architecture is subordinate to commerce: ground floors are occupied by shops with open facades facing the street.

Distinguished Figures of Skardu and Baltistan

The history and modernity of Skardu are inextricably linked with the names of great rulers, courageous mountaineers, and cultural figures. Below are key figures who have left a noticeable mark on the region's chronicles.

• Ali Sher Khan Anchan
  Ruler of the Maqpon Dynasty (16th–17th centuries)
  The most powerful king in the history of Baltistan. During his reign, the state's borders stretched from Ladakh to Chitral. It was he who built the famous Kharpocho Fort in Skardu and fostered the flourishing of arts, architecture, and the irrigation system in the valley.
• Mir Shamsuddin Iraqi
  Sufi Preacher and Missionary (15th–16th centuries)
  Played a key role in the religious transformation of the region. His sermons contributed to the mass acceptance of Islam by the population of Baltistan, who previously practiced Buddhism. His influence is still felt in the spiritual culture of Skardu.
• General Zorawar Singh
  Military Commander of the Sikh Empire and Dogra Dynasty (19th century)
  Known as the "Napoleon of India", he led the military campaign of 1840, during which Skardu was conquered and annexed to the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir. This event marked the end of the independence of local dynasties.
• Muhammad Ali Sadpara
  High-Altitude Mountaineer (1976–2021)
  A national hero of Pakistan, born in the vicinity of Skardu. He became the only Pakistani to summit 8 of the world's 14 eight-thousanders. He became famous for the first-ever winter ascent of Nanga Parbat. He tragically perished during a winter attempt on K2, leaving a legacy of courage and resilience.
• Hassan Sadpara
  Mountaineer (1963–2016)
  The first Pakistani to summit six eight-thousanders, including Everest and K2. The uniqueness of his achievements lies in the fact that he began his career as a simple porter and performed the most difficult ascents without the use of supplemental oxygen.
• Abdul Karim, known as "Little Karim"
  Legendary Porter and Mountaineer (1950s – 2022)
  A world-renowned high-altitude porter from the Hushe Valley (Skardu district). Despite his small stature, he possessed phenomenal endurance. He became the subject of documentaries and a symbol of the local people's strength of spirit, assisting European expeditions for decades.
• Yusuf Hussain Abadi
  Writer, Historian, and Linguist
  A modern educator who dedicated his life to preserving the Balti language and culture. He revived the ancient Tibetan script for the local language, opened a museum in Skardu, and wrote numerous works on the history of the region, saving the heritage of his ancestors from oblivion.