The Pamir Highway: Everything You Need to Know
A video about the history, places and people of Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan region, one of the world's highest inhabited mountain areas.
Sources:
A History of the Tajiks: Iranians of the East, Richard Foltz
Central Asia in World History, Peter B. Golden
Azan on the Moon: Entangling Modernity along Tajikistan’s Pamir Highway, Till Mostowlansky
Ferghana Valley: The Heart of Central Asia, Frederick Starr (Ed.)
Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia, Monica Whitlock
Also: The Economist, Eurasia.net and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty among others
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:11 Dushanbe to Qulai Qumb
04:31 Qulai QUmb to Vamd
06:05 Jizew Village
07:01 History I
11:40 Jizew to Ishkoshim
14:51 Langar
15:45 Wakhan Corridor
18:05 Murghab
21:39 History II
27:10 Karakul
31:00 Gorno Badakhsan Today
34:24 Bulunkul
38:07 Back to Qulai Qumb
40:15 Wedding
41:42 Conclusion
This video is just beautiful. Thanks for focusing on the people, history, and geography of Pamir.
History of the Pamirs!!! One of the earliest descriptions of the Pamirs can be found in the diaries of the Chinese Xuan-Tsang, who passed through it as a Buddhist pilgrim in the summer of 642. But Europe learned about the existence of the Pamirs much later - in the 13th century, after the publication of the diaries of the Venetian Marco Polo, who visited it in 1270, traveling along the Silk Road with other merchants. His memories seemed so incredible that they were questioned for a long time. And only now can one be surprised with what amazing accuracy he described everything that he saw. The very interpretation of the word “Pamir” still causes numerous disputes: some believe that it came from the abbreviation of the words “upa-Meru”, that is, “the country above Meru”, the divine mountain of the Indians, the habitat of the god Shiva, denoting the center of the Universe (it mentioned in the Indian poem "Mahabharata", 6th century BC); others from “Poi Mehr”, which means “foot of the sun”; the third - from the Chinese “Po-mi-lo”, that is, “land of the rising sun”. But recent historical and linguistic studies are inclined to believe that the word “Pamir” should be translated as “Country of the Aryans” (as well as Iran and Kashmir). In the legends of the Iranians, this is the legendary country of Aryana-Vaija, at the source of the Oxus (Amu Darya), from where Zarathustra came and from where they began their settlement throughout Western Asia in ancient times. In the Indian tradition, this is the mystical center of the universe, where the earth connects with the sky, the source of knowledge and world order. According to legend, a person burdened with sins does not dare to approach him, and a righteous person who sets foot on this earth never returns back. The Pamirs have long attracted the attention of scientists, but many of the secrets of its history have remained unrevealed. Despite the fact that for a long time small groups of related tribes from neighboring territories penetrated into the Pamirs, over the past centuries little has changed in the material culture, social structure and folk beliefs of the local residents.The closeness and unity of the ancestors of various Indo-Iranian tribes is evidenced by their common self-name It was widely known both from the most ancient Iranian and Indian texts, and from other sources. The modern comes from the same name - from the ancient Iranian (Country of the Aryans); Indian (Country of the Aryans) - Northern India or part of it with its center in the interfluve of Jammu and Ganges t i.e. one of the oldest Aryan centers in India) Avestan (Aryan expanse) - the legendary homeland of the Iranians; names of a number of Iranian tribes of fiery groups: the Median tribe of the Aryans (tribe of the Aryans), the Sarmatian tribe of the Aryans, the tribal union of the Alans (as well as the self-name of the Ossetians in their Nart epic - allon - from the ancient Iranian Aryan and shugni (shugni) Pamir tribal union, etc.History of the Pamirs!!! -Part 2. Due to its inaccessibility, the Pamirs have preserved not only ancient Aryan beliefs and way of life, but also a dozen relict East Iranian languages, the ancient Persian language - originating from ancient Aryan dialects (they were aptly defined at the beginning of the 20th century by the largest scientist from St. Petersburg, linguist and philologist Professor I .I. Zarubin as a “tangle of languages”) The Pamir languages include: 1) the Shugnan-Rushan language group, including: Shugnan with the Badzhuv subdialect, Rushan with the Khuf subdialect, Bartang and Roshorv, 2) Yazgulyam language, 3) Wakhan language, 4) Ishkashim language, 5) Munjan language, 6) Sanglich language, as well as recently extinct languages: 7) Sargulyam and 8) Old Vanj. Along with these languages, the so-called Inter-Pamir Farsi is also widespread in the Pamirs (this term was introduced into scientific use by I.I. Zarubin and his student A.Z. Rosenfeld), which serves for communication between all nationalities. Religious rituals and folklore works are performed on it, poetry is written, rock inscriptions and epitaphs are created. Based on historical and linguistic research, many of the largest Indologists and Iranianists of the past were inclined to consider the Pamirs as the cradle of all Indo-European peoples. Starting from ancient times, the Aryan tribes, exploring new territories, settled in several migration waves and were in close contact with each other for a long time, finally dividing only towards the end of the 3rd millennium BC. e. on Indo-Iranians and ancient Europeans. Naturally, contacts between them occurred later, in the form of constant migrations of individual tribes. By the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. e. The Aryans are already invading much of Greece, Iran and India. Moving through the mountainous territories of the Pamirs and Hindu Kush, many nomads settled down, adopting the related culture of the local people who had lived here since Neolithic times and whose early migrations may have formed the first centers of Indo-European civilization. Their primitive - natural and harsh, but at the same time fair life, personified their own past for passing peoples.
I am proud of my country especially of my region the Pamirs. It is famous with its high mountains and with its beautiful scenery
Thanks for watching!
These are the places I like to see, too late in my life, so I am enjoying videos like this , my latest Asian travel was to Mongolia in 2008
Great film! There are a lot of videos out there about overloading the Pamir, but many of them focus more on the vehicle and the road conditions than the people and culture. You did a fantastic job here! I hope this video will get some more viewers. It deserves it!
Thanks for watching!
@@AlexRothman Your comments on the Pamiris, the Ismaili, the autonomisme, the strange situation of the kirghizes in Est Pamir... are highly relevant and quite rare in travelers v-logs. In addition to Gorno-Badakhshan, Pamiris are living in China (around Tashkorgan, despite being officially called tadjiks), in the afghan Wakhan, and there are Wakhis in some part of Northern Pakistan (northern Chitral, high part of the Hunza Valley). All Ismaili. "Kh" in Khorog (or Badakhshan, Wakhan...) has to be pronounced as a guttural "R", like the Spanish jota, the German "ch", the Cyrillic X (like in Kherson). Not a "K".
@@AlexRothman Minor critic, associating Pamiris to the Iran Shah Cyrus could be culturally better than the association to Alexander the Great, despite his popularity as Iskander.
Absolutely stellar video and storytelling, one of the most underrated videos on KZhead. Thanks for providing insight into such an obscure and isolated part of the globe!!
Wow, thank you! And thank you for commenting
Спасибо за видео. Я родом из Памира. Приезжайте еще раз к нам
Thanks for watching!
This content is so underrated!
Not only fun, but really helpful video! Thanks a lot
WOW😍, how amazing and incredibly beautiful it is, my mountainous homeland - Tajikistan. ♥️🇹🇯♥️ I am proud to be Tajik 👑
It is PAMIR. And this content is about pamir and pamiri people.
@@user-lh4rc7bc6k Pamir is already a Tajik land. Pamiri people are Tajiks. And Tajikistan is my homeland. There is no separatism in my country and we don't accept it at all. We are all Tajik people.
@@omario.khafizi It is not separatism we are not tajik.
@@user-lh4rc7bc6k you're all Tajiks as the Sogdians, Bactrians, Bukharians. Don't be such a stupid separatist!
@@omario.khafiziтвоя земля Бухара и Самарканд Памир это Горно Бадахшанская Область шииты Исмаилиты изучай историю и грамотно пиши не позорьтесь
Really impressive mix of travel content and story-telling on historical / cultural context. Reminds me of the old Pilot Guides / Lonely Planet at it's best. Great to see someone who is both curious and engaged.
Just found your channel and I've watched the 4 parts of Tajikistan one after the other. Amazing work! Going to watch more. One thing. The level of the music is much much higher than the narration.
Brilliant documentary, feels like I was in Gilgit Baltistan. I am a Pakistani and this region shares so much similarities with Gilgit and its surroundings.
И тут и там живут Памирцы
Amazingly beautiful area. I am always fascinated by the mountains of the Pamir range ending up to the Karakorum range. Such a beautiful place.
Beautiful. I wish I could go there. Thank you for sharing.
Fascinating story, stunning video! I look forward to more of your amazing work.
Thank you for content. We are PAMIRI people. Welcome to PAMIR.
I came here for the first video of Tajikistan and watched them all. Beautiful footage. Honest content. Awesome documentary. Keep on! Suscribed.
Thanks for this five stars vídeo, i Will do Pamir Highway in 2024 on bike touring. I Will see this vídeo again before go there.
Thank you for this amazing documentary. I myself am a Pamiri from Pakistan and I admire your interest in the history and cultural dynamics of this region. I feel a bit cringy about being associated with Alexander the great haha. Anyway if you have a chance to visit Pakistan in the future please do visit the Hunza region. The history of this region is also very rich and the state of Hunza had played a very interesting role during the period of "The Great Game".
Salam Ather, Pamiri and Wakhi are the same people?
Your not pamiri their are no pamiris in Pakistan
@@AfghanKing- wakhi's are pamiris, they live in Gojal, Chipursan, Shimshal valley and Ishkomen in Gilgit-baltistan.
This is an absolute amazing video Mr Alex, it’s so well done. This is a travel video of the highest standards, and I’m sure that it will do really well.
Thank you for watching, Mr Pulatov
Wonderfully informative and enjoyable.
You're hands down the best there is. Finally a blog I cannot fault - balanced, insightful, detailed, engaging and satisfying
This video is terrific! It deserves 1 million views! Thank you for focusing on the people and not just the road. I learned a lot.
One of the most off-the-beaten-tracks places I have ever seen. Beautifully presented and intelligent video. Thanks
Thanks a lot for this fantastic film!!
Thanks Alex for bringing your travels stories to us, along with the history and its relations with current politics. This is is very rich information..Wow..KZhead has taken us to places, we only dreamt of going
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching and commenting
Thank-you for that. Really enjoyed the clip.
Qué buen video! Learned tons as always. Can’t wait for the next ones
Great video, jam packed with information!! Well done!!
your saying in 21:00 made my day 👏
what a wonderful documentation.....keep up the excellent work!
Awesome Documentary. Much appreciated.
Amazing video! Educational but highly entertaining. Loved it. Keep it up, Alex!
This video is a learning curve for us all, a great video.
Amazing video, by far the best and most informative Pamir Highway video I’ve seen. It’s my dream to do this trip one day! How has this only got 9k views?!!
Thank you, that’s very kind! Thanks for watching and commenting
Simply stunning work, much better than many other
Well done Roth, each video is such a leap in quality bro. I enjoyed watching it from beginning to end. I love the storytelling style you are forming for yourself, you are bringing together different videography styles and welding them into a form that suits you so well. You mix in depth, contextual history with really well edited fottage you collect on the ground. I love the way you manage to get the shots that serve you to tell the story you want to share and you also manage to weave in the shots that were completely random and unplanned like the wedding or the way the kids and dogs played in a similar way side by side. So so impressive! Keep this up.
Thanks my brother! Much love, your support means a ton, sincerely
The boy
U only move through Tajikistan or some parts of Afganistan
Make it clear it only through Tajikistan or you passed Afganistan
Greatest journey very difficult life unbelievable life
I couldn't be happier with this video and story. Thank you so much for the wonderful video. Good job.
You are explaining in details history,geography culture and the people of the area. Hats off to you .
Another well-informed and well-produced video about this fascinating part of the world. Great work, Alex!
Excellent work.
Nice film. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Wonderful video! Keep doing what you do!
An excellent documentary. Well done
Thank you for sharing your travel with us. I especially like to see the chilren and the games they play.
Alex your series of four videos brought me to tears at some points. Excellent quality, wonderful narrative and the places where I've travelled to, people I've met on my journey. I'm back home only a week or so, yet longing already for Badakhshan and Tajikistan in general. One of the warmest and heart touching memories is what I brought from there.
Extremely well researched video. I've been to the Pamirs region three times.
great documentary i subscribed 💯
Wow, now that is a wonderful video! It feels like a rare thing to get such a nice mix of information and atmosphere! And if this wasn't enough it felt like I went with you. Thanks heaps for that vid!
Really really fascinating.
I just binge watched all of your Tajikistan videos mate... Fantastic, I really hope to explore central asia one day soon. Thanks for teaching me so much with these videos.
Just wanted to write to say this is a great video. I loved the historical and political context you provided, and you also covered the more intimate moments with care and respect such as the episode with the cow. Nice work.
Amazing videography. Loving it.
Thanks a lot for watching!
Loved the sceneries in your video and learned a lot about this country! Keep it up! Looking forward to seeing more videos :)
Thanks for watching!
I've always wanted to travel on these kind of places 😊
Great job!!
Alex narration is superb as it sufficiently detailed and clear-cut for the audience's easy understanding and benefit, EXCELLENT>
Well, I have to admit I very much like your understated & broadly focussed approach to film making. An excellent contrast to unnecessarily over the top work like that of Bald & Bankrupt (though I happily admit to enjoying his work, depending on my mood, sometimes), I believe you uncover much more subtle, but extremely relevant/important, nuance & detail on the geography & people of the areas you visit. This reveals the results of the interplay of these factors in your subject countries etc. As such, I am happy to subscribe to your channel, my cousin from over the Tasman Sea! I look forward to going through your past work & watching your future endeavours.
Wow, not words to describe, the landscape gave me flashback of my trip to Olgii near Altai range in Mongolia.
nice video and informative
I find your videos very informative, and your matter-of-fact presentation of history, politics, people and life is enormously interesting. Do keep up the good work. You are fit for an award.
That's very kind of you to say! I'm definitely still working on my style but trying to put out as many videos as I can
This was an excellent video. Extraordinary scenery and superb storytelling.
Many thanks!
Merci Alex pour cette série de vidéos qui rend bien compte de la réalité de la vie au Tadjikistan et dans le Haut Badakhchan. Vous avez fait connaissance avec les habitants du Pamir et ... des taons piqueurs qui surgissent d'un coup en juillet le long des rivières... J'y ai retrouvé exactement ce que j'y avait vécu lors de mon passage en 2017, sauf que la sortie vers le Kirghizistan, avec une contextualisation qui permet bien aux spectateurs d'en apprendre pas mal sur ce somptueux territoire. Merci encore.
Awesome Video Rothman. Such an interesting insight into the people, place and history of an area I knew nothing about. It's so beautiful there and I'm definitely feeling inspired to put it on the travel list. Also love how your characteristic humor comes through as well. What an interesting time to travel there as well.
Thanks DawnShifter, hope it's all going well for yoi in Aus!
Fascinating, week ago I went to Tashkent, first time in the region, since then I am fascinated with the history of the region. Thank you, this is hard work
This documentary has been masterfully done!
Thank you for your kind comments!
Added to bucket list
Dear friend Alex you have come up with a fantastic and beautiful video. We are envious of you. Thanks.
Thanks a lot for watching and commenting!
I love these videos on Tajikistan. Keep it up!!!!
Glad you like them, hope to put out more soon!
I like your video s very good. Specially the history associated with the places you show. Thank you
Thank you too!
Excellent video, great research and very educational. In my opinion, this was was very naturality analyzed. Good Job and Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
an amazing video
I really enjoyed this. As others have suggested, a documentary of each of the Central Asian countries would be appreciated.
Wonderful!! The past is revealed 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Just finished this series. Absolutely loved it. Hope you can do more on Central Asia. It's such a fascinated and under-covered region.
This is indeed a video with amazing scenery and detailed narratives. I am impressed.
Tek kelimeyle muhteşem. Bu güzel video için çok teşekkürler.Saygılarımla
Wow the stunning scenery combined with your excellent editing and commentary really is very impressive, quality over quantity.👍👍
That's very kind, thank you very much for watching!
@@AlexRothman it's a real shame your content isn't reaching more people, it's always the cookie cutter travel channels that "blow up" on KZhead.
@@The_Reality_Filter I'm definitely trying to improve though. I'm happy enough with the response I've gotten so far and hoping with these next projects I can really jump up the quality. Hoping to release the next big series at the end of the year. Again, thanks for watching and commenting!
AH DEAR SIR, THIS WAS BOTH FASCINATING & HEARTBREAKING. FASCINATING HOW THE RESILIENCY OF HUMANITY IS BEAUTIFUL, HEARTBREAKING DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF ITS LOCATION FOR THE REGION TO EASILY GET REACHED BY THE PROVISIONS OF PROGRESS. YET THAT LOVELY RIVER! THANK YOU.
nice video and great info , thanks :)
Glad you liked it!
i wud rekon it the best vlog on pamir .. chao👍
Glad to hear it!
Excellent video Roth, better than a documentary. I am from a mountanous region in the north of Argentina, and I am also very interested to do the Pamir and Karakorum highways. All this data is very valuable to know anticipatedly those beautiful but remote places. Greetings from Jujuy, north of Argentina. ✋️
Thanks a lot for watching and for the comment! I hope you have a great trip
Tajikistan🇹🇯🇹🇯🇹🇯🇹🇯🇹🇯
The level of effort done behind the scenes is outstanding. I hope to see you in Iran.
Glad you enjoyed!
All of Your videos that I have watched are very well-researched in terms of geography, history of place, and ethnic origin and migration & interaction , different Islam beliefs and politics, and education. Exceptionally thorough, refreshing, and interesting.The best of the travelogues that I have come across. Thank you very much.
Thank you, that's very kind!
We need more of your videos!
Thanks for watching! Hopefully get some out soon
История Памира!!! Одно из самых ранних описаний Памира можно найти в дневниках китайца Сюань-Цаня, который проходил его в качестве буддийского паломника летом 642 года. Но Европа узнала о существовании Памира гораздо позже - в XIII веке, после издания дневников венецианца Марко Поло, который посетил его в 1270 году, пройдя вместе с другими купцами по Шелковому пути. Его воспоминания казались настолько невероятными, что долгое время ставились под сомнение. И только сейчас можно удивляться, с какой поразительной точностью он описал все то, что видел. Само толкование слова «Памир» до сих пор вызывает многочисленные споры: одни считают, что оно произошло от сокращения слов «упа-Меру», то есть «страна над Меру», божественной горой индийцев, местом обитания бога Шивы, обозначающей центр Вселенной (она упоминается в индийской поэме «Махабхарата», VI век до н. э.); другие - от «Пои Мехр», что означает «подножие солнца»; третьи - от китайского «По-ми-ло», то есть «страна восходящего солнца». Но последние историко-лингвистические исследования склоняются к тому, что слово «Памир» нужно переводить как «Страна ариев» (также как Иран и Кашмир). В преданиях иранцев это - легендарная страна Арьяна-Вайджа, у истоков Окса (Аму-Дарьи), откуда пришел Заратустра и откуда они в глубокой древности начали свое расселение по Передней Азии. В индийской традиции это мистический центр вселенной, где земля соединяется с небом, источник знания и миропорядка. По преданию человек, отягощенный грехами, не смеет к нему подходить, а праведник, ступивший на эту землю, уже никогда не возвращается назад. Издавна Памир привлекал к себе внимание ученых, но многие тайны его истории так до конца остались не раскрыты. Несмотря на то, что в течение длительного времени на Памир проникали небольшие группы родственных племен с соседних территорий, за прошедшие века мало что изменилось в материальной культуре, социальной структуре и народных верованиях местных жителей. Благодаря своей труднодоступности, Памир сохранил не только древнеарийские верования и уклад жизни, но и десяток реликтовых восточно-иранских языков, происходящих от древнеарийских диалектов (они были метко определены в начале XX века крупнейшим ученым из Петербурга, лингвистом и филологом профессором И.И. Зарубиным как «клубок языков»).К памирским языкам относятся: 1) шугнано-рушанская языковая группа, включающая: шугнанский с баджувским поддиалектом, рушанский с хуфским поддиалектом, бартангский и рошорвский, 2) язгулямский язык, 3) ваханский язык, 4) ишкашимский язык, 5) мунджанский язык, 6) сангличский язык, а также недавно вымершие языки: 7) саргулямский и 8) старо-ванджский. Наряду с указанными языками на Памире распространен и так называемый межпамирский фарси (этот термин введен в научный оборот И.И.Зарубиным и его ученицей А.З. Розенфельд), служащий для общения между всеми народностями. На нём исполняются религиозные ритуалы и фольклорные произведения, пишутся стихи, создаются наскальные надписи и эпитафии. На основании историко-лингвистических исследований многие крупнейшие индологи и иранисты прошлого были склонны рассматривать Памир как колыбель всех индоевропейских народов. Начиная с глубокой древности арийские племена, осваивая новые территории, расселялись несколькими миграционными волнами и еще долгое время находились в плотном контакте друг с другом, окончательно разделившись лишь к концу III тыс. до н. э. на индоиранцев и древнеевропейцев. Естественно, что контакты между ними происходили и позже, в виде постоянных миграций отдельных племен. К середине II тысячелетия до н. э. арии уже вторгаются в большую часть Греции, Ирана и Индии. Продвигаясь через горные территории Памира и Гиндукуша, многие кочевники переходят к оседлости, перенимая родственную культуру местного населения, которое проживало здесь со времен неолита и чьи ранние миграции, возможно, образовали первые очаги индоевропейской цивилизации. Их первобытная - естественная и суровая, но вместе с тем справедливая жизнь, олицетворяла для проходящих народов собственное прошлое.
I am in Tajikistan now I would like to visit paamir
An amazing work of political economics social and diverse light thrown on Pamir region Tnx alot keep it up Stay safe
That's very kind, thank you!
@@AlexRothman believe me I have watched many travel velog & documentaries about Tajikistan but your work is beyond off all
"He is the one in back." Yes, I see what you did there and it is glorious. 20:58
Very beautiful place
Thanks.
Your video based on reality loved it
Thank you very much for such a wonderful video "from New York city USA 🇺🇸🇵🇰❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow! Awesome video. Also would you be able share few details about planning of this trip. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! I was there for six weeks and went from Colombo down to Galle, along the coast, up to Nurawa Eliya then down to Arugam Bay. Up that coast to Jaffna, through the Cultural Triangle to Jaffna then back. Six weeks is not a lot of time for that so I would recommend at least two months!
@@AlexRothman I was asking about the Pamir highway video actually 😅
@@harithyapa217 Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't check which video this was on. Two friends and I got a tour with a driver and a guide for 11 days I think. It's quite expensive but I definitely think it is worth it to get the local insight (the first organised tour I've ever done.
Very nice and informatieve doc. Great shots too. Good that it is not yet another travelogue/selfie video. The end seems bit abrupt though
Thanks for watching and commenting! I think the end is a bit abrupt because it was difficult to make it interesting as we were covering the same ground and it was a bit repetitive, plus I didn’t want for it to be too long
@@AlexRothman i understand but to keep the form it would be nice to put few closing shots with a commentary. You have knowledge of the subject and presenting it in elegant clear way. It’s doable. Your film is definitely worth watching
You are one of the greatest story teller on youtube! Not a far fetch from casey neistat indeed
This is an amazing travel and educational video on a region that few have known about. The scenery you show is breathtaking, and the historical/contextual presentations are interesting and balanced. The video, and the travel that underlies it, is truly a remarkable undertaking. I want to suggest that a bit more focus on individual locals, either by interviews or narrated scenes, would be interesting and compete the picture you are painting of the region. Many thanks for a wonderful video.
Thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching! I'll take that on board and I hope to do more of that in the future, I've just got to do it in a way that doesn't implicate those people in the critical things I say of the government in other parts of the video
Great video, super informative! Can I ask what tour guide/group you went with to do the trip? thanks
Thanks for watching! Their name was Roof of the World travel and the coordinator is Khudoguy, our guide was Alisher and was very good
Incredible video. I hope my videos can become as good as yours! I was just in Central Asia for a month visiting all the 5 Stans but could not do the Pamir as it was closed.
im like legit angry that this man spent this much time making nearly 2 hours of insanely well researched and edited content, off in this remote part of the world, put it out and a year later only has less than 8k subs. YT algorithm is so dumb