The Burusho, also called Hunzakut or Botraj, are the people who have lived longest in the Hunza and Nagar valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, and in Yasin. They speak Burushaski, a language with no known relatives anywhere in the world, and are mostly Ismaili or Twelver Shia Muslims. Wikipedia puts their number at about 126,300 (2018). If you travel through Karimabad, Aliabad or Altit, you are mostly among Burusho families.
This guide covers who they are, what is known and unknown about their origins, and what visitors should understand about their customs. It is not a guide to everyone in Hunza: upper Hunza (Gojal) is home to Wakhi speakers, and Shina speakers live in parts of the wider region.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Hunzakut, Botraj, Brusho |
| Homeland | Hunza, Nagar and Yasin, Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Population | About 126,300 (2018, Wikipedia) |
| Language | Burushaski, a language isolate |
| Faith | Mostly Ismaili and Twelver Shia Islam |
| Old rulers | The Mirs of the princely states of Hunza and Nagar |
Where do the Burusho live?
The Burusho homeland is the middle Hunza valley and neighbouring Nagar on the opposite bank of the river, plus Yasin. Before Pakistan abolished the princely states in 1974, Hunza and Nagar were separate states, each ruled by a Mir. A small community of about 350 Burushaski speakers also lives in Jammu and Kashmir in India, descended, according to Wikipedia, from two princes who left in the 19th century.
Burusho villages sit on terraces above the Hunza river, with irrigation channels bringing glacier water to small fields of wheat, barley, potatoes and orchards of apricots, cherries and walnuts. Karimabad, Altit and Ganish are the places visitors usually know. Our guide to Hunza culture covers daily life, and the Burushaski language has its own page.
Where do they come from?
Nobody knows. Scholars have proposed that the Burusho were indigenous to north-western India and were pushed into the mountains by the movement of Indo-Aryan peoples, which Wikipedia places around 1800 BCE. Others point to Burushaski as a surviving pre-Aryan language. These are theories, not settled history.
You will also hear that the Burusho descend from soldiers of Alexander the Great. That is a popular local and travel-writing story, and scholarly sources describe it as unverified. If a host repeats it, it is better to listen than to argue, and not to repeat it as fact.
Faith and older traditions
Most Burusho in Hunza are Ismaili Muslims, and the community's connection with the Aga Khan is visible in the town name Karimabad, renamed in 1960 after Aga Khan IV. Some sources describe the conversion to Ismailism as relatively recent, in the 1800s. They also describe older customs surviving alongside Islam, such as tying prayer flags and stories of mountain spirits and fairies. If you are told such stories, treat them as folklore shared with you, not as something to photograph or make fun of.
The jamatkhana, the Ismaili place of worship, is a private space of prayer. Visitors should not walk in expecting access, and should ask a local host before approaching one.
The Mirs and the old order
For centuries the Burusho were ruled by a Mir. One source says the line ran for about 900 years, which is a tradition rather than a dated record. The Mir moved from Altit to Baltit, and the two forts remain the best visible record of that history. In 1974 the Mir handed over government to Pakistan and kept a ceremonial role. You can read the physical side of this story at Baltit Fort and Altit Fort, and the wider story in our history of Hunza.
Food, farming and the longevity myth
Traditional Burusho food rests on grains, apricots, nuts, vegetables and dairy. Apricots are eaten fresh in season and dried for winter, and much of the cooking in a homestay today will feel simple and filling rather than elaborate.
This is also where the "Hunza people live to 120" story comes from. It was popularised by health writers in the 20th century and is not supported. A Japanese research team examined Hunza residents in 1960 and found goitre, malnutrition, rheumatism and tuberculosis, and an academic account puts life expectancy at about 53 for men and 52 for women in the period studied. Hunza is a healthy, active place to walk in, but the legend is not fact. Our page on Hunza people and lifespan looks at it in detail.
Music, festivals and spring
The Burusho are known for their music and dance, with the drum (dadang) and flute (surnai) among the instruments. The spring festival Nauroz, shared with Central Asia and Iran, is marked with music, dance and feasting. See the pieces on Nauroz in Hunza and Ginani festival if you are planning around local events.
How to be a good guest
- Greet first and ask before photographing people, women especially, and anyone at work in the fields.
- Dress modestly, in loose clothes covering shoulders and knees.
- Accept tea if it is offered, and do not push to pay for hospitality; a small gift is a better return.
- Ask, don't assume, about customs, and avoid repeating myths about longevity or ancestry as facts.
- Leave places as you found them. The terraces and channels are working farmland.
Is there a "Burusho experience" worth seeking out?
Yes, but it is quiet. A homestay in Karimabad, Altit or Ganish, a walk through the old quarters, a meal of local dishes and a chat with the family who runs the place will teach you more than any museum. Read our homestays guide and see the Gilgit and Hunza section of our destinations.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the Burusho people?
An ethnolinguistic group native to Hunza, Nagar and Yasin in Gilgit-Baltistan, speaking Burushaski. They number about 126,300 (2018).
What language do the Burusho speak?
Burushaski, a language isolate with no proven relatives. It was traditionally unwritten, and its origins are debated.
Are the Burusho Ismaili?
Most are Ismaili or Twelver Shia Muslims. Hunza's Burusho communities are largely Ismaili.
Do the Burusho really live to 120?
No. The longevity legend is not supported by research, and studies from the 1960s found ordinary health problems and a life expectancy near 50 to 53.
Are the people of upper Hunza also Burusho?
Not mostly. Upper Hunza, or Gojal, is largely Wakhi, while the central valley is Burusho.
