Administratively constitutes a Tehsil of Ghizer District. It is located at an altitude, ranging from 7000 to 12000 feet. The valley consists of 20 villages with a population of 30000 inhabitants. Three major languages Wakhi, Khowar and Shina are spoken here.
History of Ishkoman Valley
Until 1972, the area was ruled by the Rajas. Since 1947, it has been remained a disputed territory with outside the main stream of politics. However, later the local people got rid of the outside influences. Since then the Ishkoman valley mostly remained in touch with Pakistan. It remained usually unnoticed and backward. But the nature has been very generous in providing the Ishkoman valley with the wealth of beauty. People here, despite being deprived of the modern necessities of life, are not ready even to move from Ishkoman. The valley is compassed by the snow-capped peaks and Rocky Mountains. Crystal streams flow here, greatly contributing to the Indus River. One can never forget the orchards in Ishkoman. Along with, it offers rich cultural heritage to those who love to see the great cultures of the world. The valley is famous in assuaging the quench of trekking and hiking. A lot of tourists yearly move to Ishkoman valley as it is a place of great tranquility. Ishkoman valley is situated almost at a distance of 140 km from the Gilgit city taking 4 hours travel. Beauty is what can not be mentioned but experienced and that is words are not sufficient to write about this beautiful dale. Ishkoman is a settlement that used to be governed by Yasini Mehtars and Rajas. It was separated from Yasin during 1889 before it was ruled by the Puniali Rajas for several years. Later on it was again added to Yasin dynasty. In 1888 the Mehtar of Chitra annexed the valley and it remained under the rule of the Katoor Dynasty until 1895. After this British Gilgit Agency has made it as a province and sustained Mir Ali Mar Shah as governor. Mir Ali Mardan Shah was a former ruler in Afghan Wakhan corridor who later on migrated in to Chitral and made kinship with the royal family. The rular family of Chitral granted him Ishkoman valley as gift to her son-in-law. Mir Ali Mardan Shah ruled this valley till 1924. He died in Chilpi village while he was going to a meeting at Gilgit. After death Mr. Mir Baz Khan was assigned a governor of this valley he was a retire Subidar in British Army. He did his services for more than 10 years from 1924 to 1934. He has been transfer to Yasin valley as governor. Mr. Hussain Ali Khan was sent to this valley as new governor for Ishkoman. He ruled for four years form 1934 to 1938. Mr. Sultan Murad Khan (Khuswaqt) came here as new governor he ruled on this valley form 1938 to 1951 while Pakistan came in to being as new Muslim state in south Asia. This new Muslim state accommodates many areas as its new territories. The people of Gilgit Baltistan fought against the Dogra Raj and get ret of them sine then Ishkoman also being part of this war. So that after freedom from British rulers the surrounding areas of Gilgit Baltistan enjoyed freedom but Ishkoman till have unfortunate story. The FCR (Frontier crime rules) continued in this area and Mr. Sultan Ghazi Khan was assigned as raja of this area till 1972. Mr. Zullfiqar Ali butto hang up this system and dismissed FCR from this region. After this we are enjoying freedom and living in Gilgit-Baltistan as others live in. Chator Khand is its capital and Ishkoman have good opportunities of tourism. Its has rich natural pastures in different valleys and have best passes to other region. The main villages of this valley are: 1. Chator khand(Capital Of Ishkoman) 2. Dain 3. Pakora 4. Barjangle 5. Immit 6. Ishkoman proper 7. Faiz abad 8. kot 9. Koramber 10. ganja bad 11. piyakhin 12. Gotolti (Muhammad Jan Ishkoman) Ishkoman is a high mountain valley in the Hindukush and Karakorum mountains, in the northwest region of Gilgit in the Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. Ishkoman is connected to the Yasi Valley and Chipursan (in Gojal Hunza) valley by a high mountain pass.
The ownership of Ishkoman has changed hands several times over the years. It has been under the rule of the Mehtar of Chitral, the Maharaja of Kashmir, or the Raja of Punyal at different times in the past. Although sparsely populated, Ishkoman was important because it leads to a high mountain pass, to Yarkhun in Chitral, and then to Broghol Pass, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan, and into Tajikistan. During British rule, the government was concerned that Ishkoman could have formed an invasion route from Czarist Russia into India.
Languages in Ishkoman Valley
The primary language of Ishkoman area is the Khowar language. The Wakhi language, Burushaski language and the Shina language are also spoken. Burushaski language is spoken in Barjungle. Most of the people living in Barjungle have migrated from various villages of Hunza Valley. While Khowar is spoken in the southern villages of Ishkoman and Wakhi language,which is also spoken in Gojal Hunza, is spoken in Northern Ishkoman.
Villages of Ishkoman valley
The major villages in Ishkoman include Chatorkhand, Pakora, Barjungle, Immit, Iskoman, Gunjabad, Bilhanz and Borth.
- Chator khand( Capital Of Ishkoman Region)
- Dain
- Ameenabad
- Rahimabad
- Pakora
- Sholja
- Asumbar
- Shonas
- Baarjangal
- Gishgish
- Imit
- Proper Ishkoman
- Bilhuns
- Borit
