Hazara Before The Christ

The complete ancient history of Hazara is shrouded in obscurity. Besides some salient points, repeated by different writers, historians have also not written much about it. Though some old caves discovered in the Khanpur area have been regarded by them as, of stone age of human civilization which means some 8000 years B.C, but their views seem to be controversial.

          The first authentic point, related with the ancient history of this area, is about the time of Alexander the Great,s Punjab campaign during 327 B.C. At the time Arsakas was the ruler of this land. Alexander was offered a lot of resistance during his passage through the present Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa(N.W.F.P). He also faced opposition of the wild tribes of lower Hazara, and for a time being, the subjugation of the Gandgar fort, according to Ahmad Hasssan Dani, was a hard task for the Greek Army.

           Hazara, even upto 1847 was divided in several fiefdoms of different chiefs and was controlled by different rulers at the same time. This was some at Alexander the Great,s arrival in this area. As the upper portion (Manshera district) of Hazarawals granted by the Greek invader to Abisara in 327 B.C, while Arsakas was the ruler of the lower part (Haripur district) of this area.

           But during the Budhist dynasty, this area for some time remained under the direct sway of the Governor of Taxila. And when in 272 B.C. Arsokavardhana, commonly known as 'Ashoka' ascended the throne and made this area and the Gandhara Valley as his main seats of Government. He was undoubtedly the greatest ruler of the Maurya dynasty. During his sway, Buddhism spread over a vast area and from the above mentioned places preachers of  this creed used to be sent to the far-flung lands.

  Besides his other achievements, he had left some enduring monuments in the forms of edicts, which according to Akbar.S.Ahmad, are amongst the most remarkable historical remains in the world. Ashoka's edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars, 13 in number, have been found in different areas. Among them three were discovered near the base of Barrari hills, a mile to the west of Mansehra town. These in meanings are similar to those of Ashokans edicts found in Shahbaz-Garhi in Mardan Division. One of Ashokan Mansehra edicts declares:- Father and mother must be obeyed; equal respect for all living creatures must be enforced: truth must be spoken. These are the virtues of the Law of duty (Dharma) which must be practised. Similarly the teachers must be reverenced by the pupils and proper courtesy must be shown to the relations.

            According to Dr. Stein, the area where these edicts were found was a famous place of pilgrimage and a convenient  halting place for the pilgrims, on their way to the spiritual heights of Srinagar. These pilgrims can perform a local religious obligation to 'Shiv' by climbing up to the Barrari Peak. According yo local traditions, and stories, an annual fair was held there till 1947.

Physical Features of Hazara

2. Plain Tracks.

Hill Tracks

Though Hazara is a mountainous region (almost three quarters of the land surface of the Division is covered by the mountains) but the level tracks between the mountain system of east and the west are fertile farms of varying sizes and character. As for as these plains are concerned they are three main plain tracks, namely the Pakhli, the Orash or Rash and the Haripur plains. Beside these major plains a number of  other small patches of level land of similar character namely Mangal, Kharri, Chatter, Nara Khanpur-Panjkatha, Dhan and Lora are famous.



valley

 Though these  areas are part of the single administrative unit (HAZARA) but are different in almost every aspect from one another.  These per-acre yield rate , soil, capacity, elevation, types of crops reaping season, value of land etc., vary from one another. For instance the altitude of Haripur plains is between 1600 feet to 3000 feet while the elevation of Pakhli plain is about 4000 feet above the Sea level. Besides inter tracks intra-track differences in fertility of land is also a common features. 





                  Nathia Gali Road

As the central and upper portion of Haripur plains is fertile,  intensively cultivated,  while the lower or southern Portion of the same area consists of unirrigated land and deep ravines. due to these difficulties and shortage of level land as well as deficiency of proper irrigation Hazara Division is constrained to import  agricultural products.



Physical Features of Hazara

1. Mountains.

The distinctive physical feature of Hazara Division is its forest-rich mountains, full of trees of different kinds and snow (Great natural attraction for local as well as International visitors and tourists), especially in the winter. These mountains vary in height i.e, from 4,000 feet to 17,000 feet and are naturally divided into two i.e, the western and the eastern range. These run down either side of the Division with a trend generally from the north-east to the south-west and work like a dividing line between Hazara, Azad Kashmir, Murree, Rawalpindi, Swat and Malakand on their respective sides.

Besides other, Malka-Parbat (17000feet) Musa_ka_Mussala (13379 feet) Bhingra (8500 feet) Biliana (6192) Tanglai, Serri and Phambla are important peaks in this area, and these mountains, besides providing healthy environments,  are a constant source of income to the country. 

Musa-ka-Musalla

                                        

Mali-Ka-Parbat            

Mountain covered with snow in Naran Valley.

                     

Peak of Miran opposite of Nathia Gali

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