Beside the Karakoram Highway near Ganish lie the Sacred Rocks of Hunza — boulders covered in thousands of carvings and inscriptions left by traders, pilgrims and armies crossing the ancient Silk Road.
Known locally as Haldeikish ("place of the male ibex"), these rocks carry petroglyphs and inscriptions spanning more than two thousand years — ibex and hunting scenes, symbols, and writing in scripts left by the many peoples who passed through Hunza on the Silk Road. They are one of the most important rock-art sites along the Karakoram Highway.
Countless engravings of ibex, the enduring symbol of the mountains.
Texts in several old scripts left by travellers and rulers.
A tangible link to the caravans that once linked China, Central Asia and the subcontinent.
Right beside the KKH near Ganish — simple to add to any Upper Hunza day.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Haldeikish, near Ganish on the KKH |
| Best time | Any season, daylight |
| Duration | 30–60 minutes |
| Pairs well with | Ganish Village, Attabad Lake, Karimabad |
At Haldeikish beside the Karakoram Highway near Ganish, a short distance from Karimabad — an easy roadside stop.
The engravings and inscriptions span more than two thousand years, left by successive travellers along the Silk Road.
It's a simple roadside site; a local guide greatly enriches the visit by explaining the carvings and their history.
Tell us your dates and we will build it into a private, guided plan with hotels and transport — in PKR or USD.