Field guides / Diamer Division / Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat / Chilas Rock Carvings
Field guide · Heritage
Diamer Division
Diamer District · Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Chilas Rock Carvings
The Chilas rock carvings, located in Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan, are among the most significant archaeological treasures in Pakistan.
Carved along the banks of the Indus River, these petroglyphs date from the 1st millennium BCE to the 11th century CE. They were created by early travelers, traders, and Buddhist pilgrims journeying along the ancient Silk Route. The carvings include stupas, Bodhisattvas, hunting scenes, and religious symbols, often inscribed in Kharosthi, Brahmi, and Sogdian scripts. These engravings provide vital insights into ancient religious, cultural, and linguistic exchanges in the region. Today, many of these priceless carvings are threatened by the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. Urgent preservation efforts are needed to document and protect this fragile Buddhist and multicultural heritage.
Why go
- ✦Rock carvings along the Indus from the 1st millennium BCE to the 11th century
- ✦Stupas, Bodhisattvas and hunting scenes
- ✦Inscriptions in Kharoshthi, Brahmi and Sogdian
Current Condition
The Chilas Rock Carvings face imminent submersion due to the Diamer-Basha Dam construction, endangering thousands of ancient petroglyphs. Currently under nominal oversight by the Gilgit-Baltistan Archaeology Department, no active documentation or relocation efforts are underway. Urgent intervention by federal and provincial authorities is needed to preserve this UNESCO-noted heritage before irreversible loss occurs.
Planning tip
Best Time to Visit, April–May or September–October. Summer days in the Indus gorge at Chilas reach the mid-30s °C on bare rock, and winters are cool. The survey warns the carvings face submersion by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which makes a visit sooner rather than later worthwhile.
Getting there, Along the Indus beside the Karakoram Highway at Chilas, Diamer district, Gilgit-Baltistan.
What to Do
Nearby
Straight-line distance from Chilas Rock Carvings, within 5 km.
