Exploring Pakistan's Ancient Petroglyphs
Pakistan is home to some of the most incredible ancient petroglyphs and rock paintings in the world, especially in the Balochistan region and along the Karakoram Highway. These ancient artworks give a fascinating glimpse into the culture and history of early civilizations that lived here long ago.
Balochistan’s Hidden Rock Art Treasures
Balochistan is known for its rich culture and deep history; here you can find some of the oldest rock art in Pakistan; these rock paintings show scenes such as hunting rituals, symbolic signs and everyday life activities from thousands of years ago. Exploring these sites feels like stepping back in time to see how ancient people lived and thought.
Ancient Petroglyphs of Chilas Along the Karakoram Highway
Chilas is one of the most famous rock art destinations in Pakistan; located along the historic Karakoram Highway, it offers carvings that tell stories of hunting battles and spiritual life. At the site known as Chilas II, you can see carved images of ibex, a symbol of fertility and ancient Buddhist stupas; the nearby Chilas I site shows large stupas, mythical beings and scenes from the life of Buddha. These carvings along the Indus River reflect the strong Buddhist heritage of the region.
Thor Site: A Blend of Ancient Art Styles
About thirty kilometres from Chilas is the Thor site; here you will find a mix of prehistoric and later historic carvings: on one part you see a unique horse figure with curved horns made in a style similar to Scythian art; nearby you will also find a small rock with an old Kharosthi inscription from the first century B C.
Gichi Nullah Site Stupas and Geometric Carvings
Between Thor and Chilas VI along the Karakoram Highway the Gichi Nullah site is worth visiting; here carved stupas animal shapes handprints and geometric patterns fill the rocks; ancient scripts are also engraved here adding to the historical value of the place.
Minar Gah Site: A Hub of Rock Art
About thirty kilometres west of Chilas is the Minar Gah site; it has a large number of rock carvings including ancient Brahmi inscriptions; near the riverbank you can find prehistoric figures and along the roadside there are images of animal’s hunters warriors and dancing scenes. One of the most striking carvings here is a linga representing the Hindu god Shiva.
Shatial Site: A Major Rock Art Treasure
In Upper Kohistan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Shatial site along the Karakoram Highway is a major rock art location; here you will find both prehistoric and historic carvings such as Buddhist stupas mounted figures and hunting scenes. The most notable carving is a complex stupa surrounded by many figures showing the influence of Central Asian Buddhist art; this site also has ancient scripts including Kharosthi Brahmi and even Chinese markings.
Hodur Site Prehistoric and Historic Artwork
In the Diamer district of Gilgit Baltistan on the right bank of the Indus River is the Hodur site; this place has both early hunting scenes and Buddhist carvings from later periods; here you will also see tower like stupas old temples depictions of Buddha, disc symbols and human figures with old style axes telling stories of life long ago.
Oshibat Site with Diverse Themes
Also, in Diamer the Oshibat site brings together many carved themes; you can see images of animal’s, people and handprints; one unique carving here shows a mysterious demon like figure, adding an element of ancient legend and mystery.
Kargah Buddha Site: A Guardian of Gilgit
Just six kilometres west of Gilgit city is the famous Kargah Buddha carving; this large three meter tall rock carving dates back to the seventh century and looks over the region protectively; according to local legend, this Buddha once protected the people from a feared ogress known as Yatshini, giving this site spiritual and cultural importance.
Sacred Rock of Hunza: A Silk Route Visitor Book
Hunza was once an important stop on the ancient Silk Route; here you will find the Sacred Rocks of Hunza; these large boulders along the Karakoram Highway are filled with ancient inscriptions in old scripts like Kharosthi Brahmi Gupta Soghian and Tibetan; images of ibex King Gondophares of the Kushan Empire and many hunting scenes are carved deeply into the stone; these rocks act like a visitor book of travellers who passed through this historic route.
Manthal Buddha Rock Skardu: A Buddhist Relic
In Skardu, the Manthal Buddha Rock is a key Buddhist site found in Manthal village; this ninth century carving shows a meditating Buddha surrounded by smaller spiritual figures known as Bodhisattvas and two standing Maitreya Buddhas; the carving represents the later period of Buddhism Golden Era in the Upper Indus Valley.
Conclusion
Exploring the petroglyphs and rock paintings of Pakistan especially in Balochistan and along the Karakoram Highway is like traveling through time; these ancient artworks reveal the beliefs daily lives and spiritual journeys of the people who made them; they connect us to a rich cultural heritage that continues to inspire historians art lovers and adventurous travellers; whether you love history art or outdoor exploration these ancient rock art sites offer an unforgettable glimpse into Pakistan’s deep and diverse past.