One of the Oldest Mosques of Subcontinent in Gilgit Baltistan

Natures are multi-dimensional and if you don’t believe this, go to Gilgit Baltistan. You can enjoy the desert, the crystal clear water streams, lakes and roaring rivers, snowcapped mountains and the forests. Besides, Skardu valley has a historical dimension too. Not only the famous Khaplu palace, the Shigar Fort and of course the historic PTDC K2 motel which has been hosting the expeditions teams since decades, Gilgit Baltistan is also the origin of one of the oldest mosques of the subcontinent.

Khanqah-i-Chaqchan, the Noorbakhsi mosque, was built in 1381 by Mir Sayed Ali Hamadani (783 Hijri), in 1438 by Shah Syed Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani Sufi (842) and in 1505 by Mir Syed Shamsud-din  Iraqi (911)  a preacher who came from Iraq and help spread Islam in Kashmir region. The religious history of Khapulu highlights how Islam came to the region in successive decades and that the mosque was at the center of the spread of Islam. According to locals, the building was initially a Buddhist gompa (a center for knowledge and learning) that was converted into a mosque after the entire population embraced Islam.

However, in his book ‘Messianic Hopes and Mystical Visions: The Nûrbakhshîya Between Medieval and Modern Islam’ Shahzad Bashir states that the general lack of concrete information on the societies of Ladakh and Baltistan for the period means that commenting on the issue of Islamisation in the region is largely a matter of informed speculation.

One of the oldest mosques in Pakistan and listed as a heritage site by the government, the wooden structure is a vibrant mix of Persian, Kashmiri and Tibetan architecture, and has stood for almost 700 years, perched on a shaky foundation which posed a threat to worshippers. The mosque was restored under the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme and is now a major tourist attraction.

Stepping inside, one is transported into a bright sanctuary. The latticework on the ceiling, the wooden grills and the colorful paint with accents of gilded gold, give it the look of a Tibetan monastery. The first-floor balcony of the mosque offers a beautiful vista of the Masherbrums and Khaplu town. Another must-see and must-stay spot are the Serena Khaplu Palace Residency, locally called Yabgo Khar (The Fort on the Roof).

The local ruling Raja accepted Islam and commissioned the building of the mosque in 1370 CE. However, the dating of the latter theory contradicts historical source which suggests that the mosque was actually constructed more than two decades before the birth of Syed Nurbakhsh. The Government of Pakistan has listed the Chaqchan Mosque as a Pakistan Heritage Site. The mosque is now currently in use after extensive conservation works. The mosque’s construction style is similar to the Roman opus criticism, in which masonry walls that are suitable for the region’s harsh winter season are built.