Field guides / Gilgit-Baltistan / Amburik Mosque
Field guide · Heritage
Amburik Mosque
Amburik Mosque in Shigar, Baltistan: a small wooden mosque of the 14th–15th century, linked by tradition with Sayyid Ali Hamadani.
In Ambarik (Amburik) village in the Shigar valley, about 30 km north of Skardu, stands one of the oldest mosques in Baltistan. It is small, about 6 by 5.4 metres, with a 1.8-metre verandah on the east, and sits on a low platform. Its carved timberwork is ornate and shows clear links with the woodworking tradition of Kashmir. An inscription is cut into the wood above the mihrab.
Why go
- ✦One of the oldest mosques in Baltistan
- ✦Carved timber in the Kashmiri tradition
- ✦Linked by tradition with Sayyid Ali Hamadani
- ✦A short drive from Shigar Fort
History
Tradition holds that the mosque was built by Sayyid Ali Hamadani, the preacher credited with bringing Islam to the region, and the register dates it to 783 AH (about 1381 CE), when Shigar's people turned from Buddhism to Islam. It is dated to the 14th–15th centuries and is listed as GB-19.
How to Reach
In Ambarik village in the Shigar valley, about 2 km from Shigar Fort and some 30 km north of Skardu.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, May to October; the Shigar road is best outside winter.
Getting there, In Ambarik village in the Shigar valley, about 2 km from Shigar Fort and some 30 km north of Skardu.
Allow, About 30 minutes.
