Long before Islam reached Gilgit-Baltistan, the region was Buddhist, and it sat on a branch of the Silk Road that carried monks, traders and pilgrims between Central Asia and the Indian plains. What they left behind is still visible today: a standing Buddha cut into a cliff above Gilgit, a rock relief at Skardu, and tens of thousands of carvings pecked into the boulders along the Indus. None of this needs a permit or an entry fee, and most of it can be seen in an hour or two added to a normal Hunza or Skardu itinerary.
This guide covers the main sites, what they show, and how to fit them into a trip.
The Kargah Buddha, near Gilgit
The best-known site is a ten-foot standing Buddha carved into a cliff face at Kargah, about 9 km west of Gilgit city, at the junction of the Kargah and Sultanabad streams. It was carved sometime in the 7th century under the Patola Shahi dynasty, who ruled Gilgit as Buddhist kings, and was uncovered along with the remains of a monastery and stupas when it was documented in the late 1930s. Holes cut into the rock around the figure suggest it once stood under a wooden shelter.
It is a short drive and a five-minute walk from central Gilgit, and is easily combined with an afternoon in the bazaar. We cover it in more detail in our guide to the Kargah Buddha.
Manthal Buddha Rock, Skardu
At Manthal village on the edge of Skardu town, a large granite boulder carries a relief of a seated Buddha surrounded by smaller bodhisattva figures, probably carved in the 8th century. It was a place of worship into the 13th century, by which time Buddhism in the region was giving way to Islam, and it stayed largely unknown outside Baltistan until a Scottish traveller wrote about it in the early 20th century.
It sits inside Skardu town, an easy stop on the way to or from Kharpocho Fort or the bazaar. Details on timings and how to find it are in our guide to Manthal Buddha Rock.
The Chilas and Thalpan petroglyphs
The single largest concentration of Buddhist rock art in the region is around Chilas, on the Karakoram Highway between the Babusar turn-off and the Astore road. Across roughly ten sites between Hunza and Shatial, researchers have recorded tens of thousands of carvings and inscriptions spanning several thousand years, from Bronze Age hunting scenes to Buddhist stupas, seated Buddhas and Bodhisattva figures added by travellers between roughly the 1st and 8th centuries AD.
The most visited cluster is at Thalpan, across the Indus from Chilas town, reachable by a short bridge crossing and a walk among the boulders. Because Chilas sits on the KKH, most visitors see it as a stop on the drive north or south rather than a destination on its own; see our guide to Chilas rock carvings for what to look for.
Other carvings worth knowing about
A handful of smaller sites round out the picture, and are worth a stop if you are already nearby rather than a special detour:
- Sacred Rock of Hunza (Haldeikish), near Ganish village on the old Silk Road route below Karimabad, carries carvings and inscriptions left by travellers over centuries, including Buddhist stupas and script in several ancient languages.
- Hanzal, a village near Gilgit, has a stupa site among a small group of locations the Gilgit-Baltistan government has listed for archaeological preservation, though it sees far fewer visitors than Kargah or Chilas and has little tourist infrastructure.
- Smaller carvings appear at various points along the Indus and Hunza rivers wherever a flat rock face meets the old trade route; local guides in Gilgit and Chilas can usually point to the closest one.
How to see them on a trip
None of these sites need advance booking or a guide, though a local driver who knows exactly where to stop saves time, especially at Chilas where the carvings are spread across several boulder fields rather than one signposted spot.
A practical way to fit them in:
- Gilgit-Hunza route: stop at Kargah on the way into or out of Gilgit, and at Chilas or Thalpan if you are driving the Karakoram Highway rather than flying. Both sit naturally on our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour.
- Skardu route: see Manthal as part of a half day in Skardu town alongside Kharpocho Fort, easily added to our Skardu and Deosai itinerary.
- Carry water and sun protection; the sites themselves are outdoors with little shade, and Chilas in particular is hot in summer.
Is it worth the detour?
For most travellers, yes, because the detour is small. Kargah and Manthal each take under an hour including the drive, and Chilas is usually a stop you are already making on the KKH rather than an extra day. If you have a serious interest in Buddhist art or Silk Road history, Chilas rewards a longer, unhurried look; for everyone else, an hour at one or two sites is enough to get a sense of what came before the region's mosques and shrines.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best-preserved Buddha carving in Gilgit-Baltistan?
The Kargah Buddha, near Gilgit city, is the most complete standing figure and the easiest to reach. Manthal Buddha Rock in Skardu is a close second, with more surrounding detail in the seated Buddha and bodhisattva figures.
Do I need a permit to visit these sites?
No. Kargah, Manthal and the Chilas petroglyphs are all open to visitors without a permit or ticket, though a local guide is useful for finding the more scattered carvings around Chilas.
How old are the Chilas rock carvings?
The carvings at Chilas and nearby Thalpan span a wide period, from Bronze Age hunting scenes several thousand years old to Buddhist inscriptions and stupa images added mainly between the 1st and 8th centuries AD by travellers on the trade route.
Can I visit these sites on a normal Hunza or Skardu trip?
Yes. Kargah and Chilas sit directly on the route most travellers already take along the Karakoram Highway, and Manthal is inside Skardu town, so none require a special trip.
Is there an entry fee?
No fee is charged at Kargah, Manthal or the Chilas carvings. Bring cash for a driver or informal guide if you use one at Chilas.
