But for four centuries, the name of a female ruler in Gilgit has been recalled every time the crops were watered a sip was taken at one of the two irrigation canals that feed the valley.

Dadi Jawari, a 17th century ruler of Gilgit, gave the region perhaps one of its greatest gifts ever.

Ajeeni daljah and Khireeni daljah are the two main irrigation channels feeding Gilgit which had been built by Jawari between 1630 and 1660 AD.

They had been built to irrigate what is now Kashrote, Nargal, Majini Muhallas, Barmas and Sonikot areas in the heart of Gilgit.

“I am sure that she was one of the finest administrators this region has even seen,” says Sherbaz Bercha, a noted historian in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“The two main channels [Ajeeni daljah and Khireeni daljah] were dug during her rule and I must say we owe the expansion of our city to that great lady,” Barcha told The Express Tribune.

The channels were built to help expand existing settlements of the time which were confined to Barmas, Jutial and Napoor.
Interestingly, Gilgit’s residents refused to help with the canal’s construction.

The queen, thus, was forced to seek help from the Darel valley – what is today known as the Diamer district – to build her canal.

In the absence of proper recorded history of the region, Barcha conceded that they mostly rely on folklore and other accounts to piece together the history.

Ahmad Hasan Dani, a famous historian who wrote History of Northern Areas of Pakistan, wrote that Dadi Jawari used to dress like a man and ride horses and issued orders in her name.

“She took great interest in ameliorating the lives of people, undertook many welfare measures and built many roads in the country, [region]” Dani wrote. He corroborates the construction of the canals in his book.

The queen is also said to have travelled to all parts of her dominion, meeting the locals and inquiring after their troubles.

Once when she was said to be visiting the Sanekar fort in Bagrote area, she was besieged by her opponents. But being a resourceful and capable woman, she managed to break through the siege.

According to Dani, Jawari twice ruled the region. First from 1630 to 1660 AD and then from 1689 to 1705.

This account, however, is disputed by another historian, the late Shah Raees Khan. He says Jawari ruled Gilgit from 1642 to 1667.

While Jawari brought the gift of water to greater Gilgit, it has been neglected by subsequent generations.

The water of the canals was used for drinking till the early 80s. However, a fast growing population and lack of care for the canals means that water in the channels is highly contaminated and not fit for drinking.

Despite that, the canals, along with her work for women empowerment, mean that Jawari is immortalised in the region.
Today, we can see some of her legacy carried forward by pioneering women such as famous climber Samina Baig. via ET

(Published by: Mountain TV)

GILGIT (AP TV): Hasan stands outside a house in a Gilgit street. He is visibly nervous. “Should I knock on the door,” he hesitantly asks a group of boys surrounding him. “Yes you have to,” replies a boy in the group. Excited to be doing it for the first time, Hasan pulled down his mask and knocks on the door.

When the door opens, the entire group of children rushes in and starts performing a traditional play. The 14-year-old was part of ‘Shaap’, a traditional form of street theatre popular in Gilgit. It is a nascent form of  entertainment for children.

The shows are performed by groups of around 15 young boys, aged between 10 and 17. During the cold winter nights of December and January, they go house-to-house knocking on doors. When someone lets them in, they start performing the musical play.

The main characters in ‘Shaap’ are “Jaro” and “Jari” – a old man and an old woman, respectively. The couple’s characters are usually performed by teenagers under the age of 15. Their props are generally limited to masks and walking sticks to add a bit of visual depth to their characters.

The boys also bring their own musical arrangements, with the senior-most member of group carrying a drum.

The drummer usually goes door-to-door, beating the drum to alert residents about the arrival of Jari and Jaro, as the rest of the team who follow in tow.

“Apart from alerting the residents, the drumbeat ‘heats up’ the frozen atmosphere and the actors,” said city resident Altaf Khan.

The boys only visit around four houses a night before returning to their respective homes due to the extreme cold.

But in some cases, residents are not interested in allowing the kids into their homes. They simply tell the boys off at the gate.

But the boys are stubborn and do not leave without exacting a ‘tip’ – which could range from Rs10 to Rs200.

Once the ‘tip’ exchanges hands, the boys move on to the next house, happy to have at least earned something.

Dying tradition

While boys continue to perform the traditional theatre in areas such as Nagral, Kashrot, Majini Muhalla, Barmas, Amphery and Napura, its prevalence has decreased considerably over the years.

Technology is the chief culprit in this regard, keeping young and old alike preoccupied.

“There was a time when we had free time for such activities,” Khan told The Express Tribune.

“But now our kids only have time for technology,” he said, fearing that the decades old tradition was at risk of being forgotten.

Whether you’re a safari addict stuck in a rut or a first-timer with a wild side, these 10 safaris will help you find your way off the beaten path.

MIGRATION OF THE BATS SAFARI

Where: Zambia

Mention that you’re heading to Africa to see the migration, and most people will assume you’re talking about wildebeests. But Robin Pope Safaris offers an insider’s look at a very different creature on the move: the bat. Each fall, around 10 million fruit bats descend on Kasanka National Park in Zambia, as the fruit on local trees ripens. It is the largest mammal migration in the world: There are so many bats that their flapping wings can darken the Zambian sky.

GOLFER'S SAFARI

Where: South Africa

Golf fanatics don’t have to worry about leaving their irons behind when they go on safari. South Africa is a great destination for a game of golf with the added bonus of wildlife sightings. Great Safaris can help organize a game at Leopard Creek Country Club, near the Crocodile River on the southern border of Kruger National Park. Another option is the Skukuza Golf Course, the only golf course located inside Kruger. A lion once killed a buffalo here on the first green.

SAFARI ON A QUAD BIKE

Where: Kenya

Most people assume the only way to get around on a safari is by open-top Land Rover. But for a more hands-on approach, consider a quad bike safari. Cheli & Peacock Safaris offers bike trips into the unexplored territories of the Northern Frontier in Kenya. Travelers might spot Grévy's zebra, reticulated giraffes as well as elephants, buffalo, and Somali ostriches.

Insider Tip: No need to worry about tearing up the land. The quad bikes follow old game trails, so your wheel marks won’t disturb the natural environment.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Kenya Guide

GORILLA LOVER'S SAFARI

Where: Uganda and Rwanda

A safari doesn’t have to be limited to the big five: Luxury tour company Cox & Kings can organize gorilla viewing safaris in Rwanda as well as Uganda. Intrepid travelers can see endangered mountain gorillas in southern Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to a dense jungle. Or head to Rwanda to catch a glimpse of mountain gorillas on the volcanic slopes of the Virungas.

Insider Tip: Want to look for more apes? Cox & Kings safaris also offers chimpanzees searches in Rwanda near Lake Kivu orin Uganda’s Kibale Forest.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Tourism Uganda and Rwanda Tourism for more information.

SAFARI ON FOOT

Where: Zambia

If the thought of sitting in a safari vehicle for hours at a time gives you restless legs, consider a walking safari. UK-based safari specialists Sally and Alice can organize a Zambian walking safari with Norman Carr Safaris. Carr was a pioneer of the walking safari, and the "week on the wild side" itinerary allows guests to move between three of the company’s traditional bush camps, which are located near the game-rich wilderness areas of the South Luangwa National Park. With the help of your guide, you can track big game on foot and take in all the sights of the bush, all with the added bonus of burning more calories than you would sitting in a 4x4.

Insider Tip: Finish your safari by spending a few nights in Zambia’s newest luxury lodge, Chinzombo, which was designed by the South African architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, who were also behind the plan for the iconic North Island in the Seychelles.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Zambia Guide

SAFARI FROM THE SKY

Where: Tanzania

One of the best ways to take in the scenery while on safari is from above. At the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti Tanzania, guests can sign up for a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti. The flight lasts about an hour, and once it’s over, guests can enjoy a Champagne breakfast in the bush.

Insider Tip: Don’t miss the hotel’s Discovery Centre. It’s a combination museum and lecture hall, where guests can learn about the wildlife, people and history of the Serengeti.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide

SELF-DRIVE SAFARI

Where: Botswana

Travelers looking for an independent safari experience—but with a little help on hand—can try Belmond’s self-drive safari in Botswana. Here’s how it works: Guests drive themselves in a Toyota Land Cruiser through the wilderness and deserts of Northern Botswana to reach the Belmond Khwai River Lodge in Chobe National Park. Two experts, a safari guide and an animal finder, accompany travelers in the vehicle to offer assistance when needed.

Insider Tip: Guests receive maps with different routes to reach their destination. They can wind their way to Baobab Hill to see the bushman paintings near the Savute Marsh, or opt for a game drive through the twilit evening.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Botswana Guide

SAFARI IN A KAYAK

Where: Tanzania

Most people don’t think of Africa as a kayaking destination, but it can be thanks to Infinite Safari Adventures. (This boutique safari company is the only one in Tanzania that offers kayaking as a safari extension.) Guests will travel to the remote Fish Eagle Point, which has only one lodge located on a private bay, and base themselves there for several days of kayaking in the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean. Itineraries are flexible, but guests can kayak to local villages, down quiet mangrove tributaries, or to sand islands that appear only at low tide.

Insider Tip: The kayaking tour is added on to a safari, so the best times to go depend on the season and what you want to see. September–October is a prime time for the great wildebeest migration.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide

CONSERVATIONIST'S SAFARI

Where: Namibia

One of most valuable things that travelers can do on safari is roll up their sleeves and give back, especially when it comes to conservation. For one of the best experiences, Sally & Alice can organize a stay at Namibia’s recently renovated Desert Rhino Camp, where guests work alongside the Save the Rhino Trust team who are based at the camp. Travelers venture out with the team on daily research expeditions, and can even help them track rhinoceros on foot.

Insider Tip: Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) is almost single-handedly responsible for the preservation of the desert-adapted black rhinoceros in the area.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Namibia Guide

SAFARI ON HORSEBACK

Where: Kenya and Botswana

Imagine galloping alongside zebra over the plains of Africa, with sun in your face and wind in your hair. Luxury tour operator Asia to Africa can make it happen. The company offers half-day and full-day horseback safaris in Kenya and Botswana. A typical day includes four to seven hours in the saddle. In Botswana, guests travel on horseback through the Okavango Delta. In Kenya, they ride from the dry lakebeds of Amboseli in the east to the Chyulu Hills in the west—with a view of Mount Kilimanjaroin the distance.

Insider Tip: Horses aren’t the only animals of choice for a safari. Asia to Africa also offers guests the chance to ride atop elephants through the bush in Botswana, or journey through Kenya on the backs of camels.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Kenya Guide and Fodor’s Botswana Guide

2016 has been a year like no other. We were blown away by the breathtaking pictures we have seen day in and day out from our amazing followers on Instagram. In the last week of the year, we asked our followers to send their top shot along with the reason why they chose it; their words provide the captions that accompany their photos below.

From the thousands of entries we received through #AwesomePakistan.net TopShot2016, here are some of the best pictures of the year — curated from photographers on our Instagram account.

'Sufi musician' by @rollingstone16:

"Taking a walk near Badshahi Masjid, on the food street I saw this artist singing a sufi number I can't recall but I totally found it mesmerizing. I kept thinking of so many artists that do not get exposure and they are just left to entertain people on the streets."

'Karachi's downtown' by @mystapaki:

"I chose this particular image of mine as my top shot for the entire year because through this particular image I was able to capture the feel (sounds, smells and general chaos) of this particular area deep in Karachi's downtown area. This alleyway is a microcosmic representation of the day to day hustle bustle one experiences in Karachi where multiple parallel worlds coexist with one another simultaneously. The light coming from a skylight in the alley adds an extra amount of oomph to my picture."

'A light from heaven' by @farooqsuhail:

"This shot was taken on our way to Rama valley Astore. I have not done anything special to take that shot, I just got lucky that I witnessed the most beautiful moment"

For more News update Please visit: AwesomePakistan.net