History of Gurez:

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Gurez / Gurais also pronounced Gorai (?????) in local Shina Language is a valley located deep in the high Himalayas , about 86 km from Bandipore and 123 km of Srinagar in northern Jammu and Kashmir, India. Situated at an altitude of about 8,000 ft above sea level, the valley is surrounded by snow capped mountains. It has diverse fauna and wildlife including the Himalayan Brown Bear and the Snow Leopard. The Neelum River flows through the valley. The road to Gilgit and Kashmir's border with Gilgit runs through Gurez and is also known as the Gurez-Gilgit transport road.

Gurez is divided into three regions: from Baghtor to Sharda Peeth, this part is administered by Pakistan as Neelum District. The area between Kamri and Minimarg is part of the Astore District, Northern Areas, Pakistan and the district from Baghtor to Abdullae Tulail, known as Tehsil Gurez and is part of district Bandipore, Jammu and Kashmir. Being situated very close to the Burzil pass which leads into Astore District of the Northern Areas, the people of the area, in excess of 25,000, like the people of Northern Areas, are ethnic Dards/Shins. They speak the Shina language and share dress and culture in common with their kinsmen in Pakistan's Northern areas.

Dawar enjoys the status of Central Township in the area. The local language of the region is Shina. However, in Dawar and Bagtore people speak Kashmiri as well. On revenue records, the human settlement is scattered into 15 villages. The population of the area roughly estimates to 30,000.Due to heavy snowfall in winter, the valley remains cut-off for the six months of the year. The essential commodities are stocked during the summer season for the consumption during the winter.
istorically, Gurez was part of ancient Dardistan, stretching from Sharada Peeth in the west, Minimarg in the north, Drass the east, and Baghtor in the south. The Gurez Valley falls along the section of the ancient Silk Route, which connected the Kashmir Valley with Gilgit continuing further to Kashgar. Archaeological surveys in valleys north of the Gurez Valley along the Silk Route, particularly in Chilas, have uncovered hundreds of inscriptions recorded in stone. Inscriptions in Kharoshthi, Brahmi and Tibetan have all been discovered. In particular, the findings reveal insights into the origins of the Kashmiri people and the early history of Buddhism which took a different shape in Kashmir, over a series of Buddhist Councils held between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD; in the 6th century Buddhism spread across the borders to Tibet by missionaries. Also, the ancient capital of the Dards, Dawar, is located in the Gurez Valley and is an important archaeological site. Other archaeological sites of importance in the Gurez Valley include Kanzilwan where the last council of Buddhism is believed to have been held and, further down stream, the ruins of the ancient Sharada University are preserved along the Kishenganga/Neelum River. Further archeological research is ongoing.

erhaps Pahlgam, the village of the shepherds which stands at the head of the Liddar valley with its healthy forest of pines & gurais which lies at a distance of thirty-five miles from Bandipora, the port of the Wular Lake, will before long rival in popularity the other margs. Gurais is a lovely valley five miles in length lying at an elevation of about 8000 feet above the sea. The Kishenganga river flows through it & on either side tower mountain scraps of indescribable grandeur. Perhaps one of the most beautiful scenes in the whole of the Kashmir is the grove of huge poplars through which the traveler enters the Gurais valley. The climate is dry & mild, excellent English vegetables can be grown & the wild raspberries & currants are delicious.”(P:16)

“ …. The valley is extremely picturesque, as the river comes dashing along through a rich meadow, partly covered with lindens, walnut and willow trees, while the mountains on either side present nothing but a succession of most abrupt precipices, and Alpine lodges, covered with fir trees….”
 

Gureze Valley Villages: