People of the Hunza River Valley. The Hunza people are long-livers

The tribe settled on the banks of the river of the same name. The conditions in which these people live are quite harsh. The nearest settlement is located one hundred kilometers from them.

Longevity is the main phenomenon of the Hunza tribe. The average life expectancy exceeds one hundred and ten years. Some residents even manage to live to be one hundred and sixty, which is surprising.

At the age of forty, many in the tribe look like boys or girls. Some women manage to give birth to children at the age of sixty and still have a slim and attractive figure.

general information

The Himalayas on the map represent a system of mountains where the Hunza tribe was located. These people represent Indo-Europeans. The population is about twenty thousand. The exact place of residence is considered to be the highlands of Kashmir, which is controlled by Pakistan. The Hunza River, namely its banks, play the role of home for this people. There is a huge valley around, which is different. Because of its appearance, it was called Happy.

The main activity that the Hunza people engage in is working on the land. In addition, residents make long climbs into the mountains. By the way, the Hunzakuts (as they call themselves) consider vegetarianism, constant physical activity and a rich diet to be the basis for their longevity.

The Hunza people are endowed with an attractive and friendly appearance. Residents always welcome new guests and demonstrate their cordiality in every possible way, despite the fact that living conditions are cruel. They live in small houses that only have a hole for the smoke to escape. Together with people, there are also pets in the dwellings, which are separated by a partition. Perhaps, thanks to such cramped conditions, they are warmer, since the houses are practically not heated due to the small amount of firewood. And the cold period is generally about two to four months. The rest of the time the Hunza people spend in nature, working and relaxing in the fresh air. Residents wash in cold water, which is very clean in those areas.

People's life

Councils of elders are the basis of the nation. Residents practically do not commit crimes, so there is no need to create prisons. Hunzakuts get sick extremely rarely, so there are no hospitals either. The Hunza people are the only ones who are not susceptible to cancer. The strongest epidemics also did not harm the population, while many other nations simply died out.

It is curious that the tribes living next door in almost the same conditions cannot boast of the same health. Toothache, which is common for many civilized people, is something unusual for the Hunzakuts. Loss of vision is also unknown to this people. They don’t even suffer from sagging skin, bone pain and other inconveniences that are common for many old people.

In addition to resistance to disease, the long-lived people are very hardy. It is common for a man to go, for example, to a market a hundred kilometers away along difficult paths and return a day later. Residents often act as guides for tourists. The Himalayas on the map occupy a huge area and are visited by many climbers, who also often resort to the help of local residents.

The reason for longevity and health

The first mentions of the people appeared in the stories of a doctor from Scotland, who worked among these people for about fourteen years. The world's longest-livers made a strong impression on the doctor with their features. Many scientists and travelers subsequently began to study the tribe. The result of the research was the conclusion that what is in the special diet.

Of course, many immediately objected that no matter what diet you resort to in a metropolis, you still won’t achieve such results. Most people believe that in order to have such health, it is necessary to live in this valley. However, other nationalities that live nearby cannot boast of such a strong body, and their average life expectancy is several times less. For a long time, a variety of specialists could not explain this phenomenon.

The Hunza tribe had only one difference from their neighbors - the absence of proteins in their diet. This is explained by the fact that the Hunzakuts are vegetarians. No matter what conditions a person lives in, the correct diet is considered. Therefore, it is not surprising that the life expectancy of these tribes differs.

Mac Carrison, a doctor studying this people, returned to the UK and decided to conduct several experiments on animals. He divided them into two groups. The first part of the animals ate food that is familiar to most human families. The second received food from the Hunza people. The result of the study was the appearance in the first group of diseases to which people are susceptible. The second part of the animals, which ate the same way as the Hunza tribe, remained completely healthy. And it was a miracle.

The Hunza people often faced a lack of food, so they always tried to save money. Mostly vegetables and fruits grow in the valley, which are the basis of the diet. Livestock is represented only in the form of those animals that bring one benefit or another. They kill him only in case of old age, that is, when the cattle no longer belongs to the owner. It is in such rare cases that residents can consume meat. However, this product is extremely low in fat.

Flatbreads and various soups are the daily food of the people. They are made using grains. Also added to this is a fairly large amount of vegetables and fruits. The people also have milk, but they consume it rarely and in small quantities, since in this area there are practically no meadows where animals can be grazed.

Salt in food is used in small quantities, sugar is not produced at all. Nevertheless, even such meager food is quite enough for a full life for the people.

Basic foodstuffs

Moderation is the basis of health

Due to periods of hunger, Hunzakuts have to distribute food so that it lasts for a long time. The people have very little land that can be successfully cultivated, so the diet largely depends on natural conditions. If in summer people rarely face problems of lack of food, then in cold weather they often have to save.

The months closer to spring are especially hungry. During this time, residents are forced to fast. This continues for about two months. This period is marked by an almost complete absence of food. The basis of the diet is a drink made from dried apricots. Over time, such a fast grew into a cult, which is very strictly observed.

Basic nutrition rules

So, having considered what products the world's centenarians consume, we can highlight the basic principles that the Hunzakuts adhere to. They can even be called a certain set of rules. Why do these people live so long? Raw foodists, according to statistics, have better health. This is the main reason for longevity.

Eating meat is only allowed on religious or very important occasions. A particularly important detail is that it must be prepared immediately after killing the animal. Meat does not last long.
The diet is based on fruits and vegetables. They are consumed raw. Vegetables can occasionally be stewed.
Consumption of salt, sugar and other seasonings should be limited.
Only black bread is used in food. Flour, like meat, is not stored for a long time; it is used for baking immediately after receipt. It is recommended to add sprouted grains to the diet.
Milk and any dairy products should not be consumed in large quantities.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is especially prohibited. The population only drinks wine on special occasions, which is made from grapes grown in the valley.

How do Hunza centenarians live?

The Hunza Valley does not have any wealth, so the people live very poorly. No one will want to voluntarily exchange their usual life and go there. Hunzakuts live in rocky areas where there are neither fertile soils nor forests. In addition, there is often a lack of moisture. It rains mainly in cold weather and in small quantities. In general, water is very valuable there, and they treat it very carefully.

Due to the lack of pasture, animals do not grow very large. Cows produce little milk, which contains almost no fat. Goats and sheep generally do not please their owners with milk. The meat of this animal contains a lot of sinew and little fat.

Therefore, people often have to simply survive, especially in winter. At this time, the population is mainly in their small homes, which are even deprived of windows, since it is very important to retain heat. It is quite difficult to stock up on firewood - there are no trees nearby. The Hunza tribes heat their stoves mainly with small branches and leaves. They also cook food on them. You won’t find the usual furniture in such houses. Almost all family members sleep and eat together. Livestock are also forced to live in adjacent rooms, which are separated by thin partitions.

This alone will scare off many people. Even ensuring hygiene in such conditions is quite problematic. Due to the lack of fuel, we have to wash and wash in cold water. Anyone who wants to live in the valley will have to forget about soap. Due to the lack of fat, there is simply nothing to make it from.

Well, to all that has been said, it is worth noting that these people lack education. Most residents cannot read or write. Only children of high-ranking families can receive a diploma. The people do not have their own distinct culture, poetry, or painting, which even neighboring tribes are endowed with. These people are quite uneducated. The Hunza people boast only a few musicians who come from other tribes.

It is not customary in the tribe for marriages between members of the same family. In general, in accordance with the history of the people, no other people’s blood flows in their veins.

Health concept

Above are the conditions and foods that the Hunza people believe are important for long life. But now it is necessary to determine what health means for this tribe.

High level of work. They demonstrate it not only in work, but also in entertainment. Hunzakuts are very hardy, they show themselves in every possible way during labor. The people of this tribe can easily cover vast distances. It’s not a problem for him to climb up the rocks into the mountains.
Love of life. Despite the difficult living conditions and hard work, the Hunzakuts do not lose heart. Even after a difficult climb up the mountains, they laugh and tell jokes.
Residents never get angry or quarrel among themselves. It is very rare to see someone nervous or impatient with their family. Local people endure pain very steadfastly.

Tourism

The first people to come to the valley were mainly doctors and researchers who wanted to understand the secret of longevity. It is believed that the place was opened to ordinary people thanks to hippies, who in the 70s of the last century began to actively visit Asian countries in search of something new. It became especially popular in Western countries. For example, Americans today call apricot Hunza Apricot. However, hippies, first of all, came here not for exotic fruits, but rather for Indian hemp.

The grass is grown here not for smoking, but for adding to various dishes. Most travelers come here to taste juicy apricots, which cannot be found in other countries. The place is also popular for many climbers and history buffs.

One of the legends is the story that this tribe was founded during the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great. The commander's fighters formed a small state here. They lived according to strict rules. Residents always carried weapons with them and did not part with them even during meals and entertainment.

In our country little is known about this people. The Hunza Valley has been the subject of dispute between Pakistan and India for over sixty years.

The Soviet Union tried not to get involved in the dispute and kept its distance. For example, in dictionaries the name of the area is there, but where it is located is not indicated. On many world maps you can easily find location designations, but not on maps issued in the USSR. Accordingly, mentions of the nationality were avoided in the media. Nevertheless, almost everyone in Hunza knows about Russia.

It is quite difficult to prove whether he really had a hand in the emergence of this nationality. According to other sources, the foundation occurred thanks to the once united Russian people. Nevertheless, there is still some mystery in the appearance of this tribe.

The language that is considered national is Burushashi. Until now, scientists who study the Hunza people have not been able to find similarities with any language. In addition, many residents speak English.

The religion practiced by over ninety percent of the valley's population is Islam, but with a twist that includes many mystical and mysterious aspects. While in Hunza, tourists will not hear the call to prayer. This is a voluntary matter, and everyone chooses their own time for worship.

The Hunza River in the old days represented the dividing line between the princely states of Nagar and Hunza. There was often enmity between them. It was especially manifested by the theft of children and women with their subsequent sale into slavery.

In 1963 of the last century, an expedition of doctors from France visited the valley, which was amazed by the health and life expectancy of the population. Soon a conference on cancer was held in Paris, at which it was stated that these people were not susceptible to cancer. This was discovered by a special organization that conducts research in all regions of the world.

In 1984, an amazing incident occurred. One of the residents of the Hunza Valley arrived at the UK airport. When he presented his passport to the emigration service, he led everyone to confusion. The document indicated the year of birth in 1823, respectively, the old man was one hundred and sixty years old. The accompanying person said that the elder was considered holy by the Hunza people. At the same time, he had no memory lapses, and he remembered his entire life perfectly.

On the border of India and Pakistan, in the valley of the Hunza River, there is the so-called “Oasis of Youth” - local residents live a very long time and get sick very rarely. Scientists have no idea how the Hunzakuts receive the gift of eternal youth, although research into the phenomenon has been ongoing for more than half a century.

Descendants of Alexander the Great

The tribe's neighbors are typical eastern peoples, but the Hunzakuts themselves look almost European. According to surviving legends, the small state was founded by the soldiers of Alexander the Great during the Indian campaign.

Foothill People

The Hunza tribe lives at the junction of the three highest mountain systems on the planet - the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakoram form the so-called “mountain meeting place”. Formally, the people are subordinate to Pakistan, but in reality, officials are very rarely elected to a remote village.

Language and culture

The people speak their own Burushaski language and profess Ismailism, the most mystical form of Islam. It is interesting that the religious doctrine of the Ismailis is characterized by the concept of unlimited free will: such a religion is indeed suitable for a people who have decided to live separately from the whole world.

Bogatyrsky health

The glacier descends from the mountains directly to the valley and the Hunzakuts happily swim in the icy water at 10 degrees below zero. Women over 50 look like young girls - the English doctor Robert McCarrison wrote that giving birth to a 60-year-old woman is in the order of the day.

Seasonal diet

In the valley the choice of food is limited. In the summer, the Hunzakut diet consists of fruits and vegetables; for the winter, dried apricots, sprouted grains and sheep cheese are stored here. During the period of spring famine (two to three months before fresh fruits ripen), members of the tribe maintain their strength exclusively with grains and a special drink made from dried apricots.

People without diseases

Another Englishman, Robert Bircher, studied the Hunzas for almost ten years, and upon returning to his homeland he wrote the book “The Hunzas are a people who know no disease.” Bircher deduced the basic rules for the longevity of the Hunzakuts, which actually work in our civilized world.

Longevity model

So, what should be the diet of a person who decides to live to be a hundred years old? First, you will have to give up animal food: the Hunzakuts can be called forced vegetarians, because there is simply no game in the valley. It is better to eat foods raw, and make up your daily diet based on vegetables and fruits. The Hunza do not drink alcohol or sweets, which has a positive effect on the health of the tribe members. Add to the list minimal salt intake and regular fasting - this is perhaps a ready-made recipe for a long and healthy life.

There is an amazing tribe on our Earth; they do not get cancer, live longer than a hundred years and eat almost no meat. They are unfamiliar with stress, bad habits and poor health. No, these are not TV series characters. These are ordinary inhabitants of our planet who have long unraveled the secret of longevity and a happy life. They call themselves Hunzakuts...

There is a certain way of life that approaches the ideal, when people feel healthy, happy, and do not age, as in other countries, by the age of 40-50. It is curious that the inhabitants of the Hunza Valley, unlike neighboring peoples, are very similar in appearance to Europeans (as are the Kalash, who live very close by).

According to legend, the dwarf mountain state located here was founded by a group of soldiers from the army of Alexander the Great during his Indian campaign. Naturally, they established strict combat discipline here - such that residents with swords and shields had to sleep, eat, and even dance...

At the same time, the Hunzakuts treat with slight irony the fact that someone else in the world is called highlanders. Well, in fact, isn’t it obvious that with full right this name should be borne only by those who live near the famous “mountain meeting place” - the point where the three highest systems of the world converge: the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram.

Of the 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks on Earth, five are located nearby, including the second after Everest K2 (8611 meters), the ascent of which in the mountaineering community is valued even more than the conquest of Chomolungma. And what can we say about the no less famous local “killer peak” Nanga Parbat (8126 meters), which buried a record number of climbers? And about the dozens of seven- and six-thousanders literally “crowding” around Hunza?

It will be impossible to pass through these rock masses if you are not a world-class athlete. You can only “seep” through narrow passes, gorges, and trails. Since ancient times, these rare arteries were controlled by principalities, which imposed significant taxes on all passing caravans. Hunza was considered one of the most influential among them.

In distant Russia, little is known about this “lost world”, and for reasons not only geographical, but also political: Hunza, along with some other valleys of the Himalayas, ended up on the territory over which India and Pakistan have been fiercely arguing for almost 60 years (mainly the subject remains the much larger Kashmir).

The USSR, to be safe, always tried to distance itself from the conflict. For example, in most Soviet dictionaries and encyclopedias the same K2 (another name is Chogori) is mentioned, but without indicating the area in which it is located. The local, quite traditional names were erased from Soviet maps and, accordingly, from the Soviet news lexicon. But here’s what’s surprising: everyone in Hunza knows about Russia.

Two captains

Many locals respectfully call the Baltit fort, which hangs from a cliff above Karimabad, “the castle”. It is already about 700 years old, and at one time it served the local independent ruler as both a palace of peace and a fortress. While not devoid of impressiveness on the outside, Baltit seems gloomy and damp from the inside. Dimmed rooms and poor furnishings - ordinary pots, spoons, a giant stove...

In one of the rooms there was a hatch in the floor - under it the world (prince) of Hunza kept his personal prisoners. There are few bright and large rooms, perhaps only the “balcony room” makes a pleasant impression - it offers a majestic view of the valley. On one of the walls of this room there is a collection of ancient musical instruments, on the other there are weapons: sabers, swords. And a saber donated by the Russians.

In one of the rooms hang two portraits: the British captain Younghusband and the Russian captain Grombchevsky, who decided the fate of the principality. In 1888, at the junction of the Karakorum and the Himalayas, a Russian village almost appeared: when a Russian officer Bronislav Grombchevsky arrived on a mission to the then world of Hunza Safdar Ali. At that time, on the border of Hindustan and Central Asia, the Great Game was going on, an active confrontation between the two superpowers of the 19th century - Russia and Great Britain.

Not only a military man, but also a scientist, and later even an honorary member of the Imperial Geographical Society, this man had no intention of conquering lands for his king. And there were only six Cossacks with him then. But still, the talk was about the speedy establishment of a trading post and a political union. Russia, which by that time had influence throughout the Pamirs, now turned its gaze to Indian goods. So the captain entered the Game.

Bronislaw Grombczewski

Safdar received him very warmly and willingly concluded the proposed agreement - he was afraid of the British pressing from the south. And, as it turned out, not without reason. Grombchevsky's mission seriously alarmed Calcutta, where at that time the court of the Viceroy of British India was located. And although special commissioners and spies reassured the authorities: there was hardly any need to fear the appearance of Russian troops on the “top of India” - the passes leading from the north to Hunza were too difficult, and, moreover, covered with snow for most of the year - it was decided to urgently send a detachment under the command of Francis here Younghusband.

Both captains were colleagues - “geographers in uniform”; they met more than once on Pamir expeditions. Now they had to determine the future of the ownerless “Khunzakut bandits,” as they were called in Calcutta.

Meanwhile, Russian goods and weapons slowly appeared in Hunza, and even a ceremonial portrait of Alexander III appeared in the Baltit Palace. The distant mountain government began diplomatic correspondence with St. Petersburg and offered to host a Cossack garrison.

And in 1891, a message came from Hunza: Safdar Ali officially asked to be accepted into Russian citizenship with all his people. This news soon reached Calcutta; as a result, on December 1, 1891, the Younghusband mountain riflemen captured the principality, Safdar Ali fled to Xinjiang. “The door to India is slammed shut on the Tsar,” the British occupier wrote to the Viceroy.

View from the terrace of the royal palace - Baltit Fort

So Hunza considered itself Russian territory for only four days. The ruler of the Hunzakuts wished to see himself as Russian, but never received an official answer. And the British gained a foothold and stayed here until 1947, when, during the collapse of the newly independent British India, the principality suddenly found itself in territory controlled by Muslims.

Today Hunza is governed by the Pakistani Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Territories Affairs, but fond memories of the failed outcome of the Great Game remain. Moreover, local residents ask Russian tourists why there are so few tourists from Russia. At the same time, although the British left almost 60 years ago, their hippies still flood the territory.

Apricot hippies

It is believed that Hunza was rediscovered for the West by the hippies who wandered around Asia in the 1970s in search of truth and exoticism. Moreover, they popularized this place so much that even ordinary apricots are now called Hunza Apricot by Americans. However, the “flower children” were attracted here not only by these two categories, but also by Indian hemp.

One of the main attractions of Hunza is the glacier, which descends into the valley like a wide, cold river. However, on numerous terraced fields they grow potatoes, vegetables and hemp, which is smoked here and added as a seasoning to meat dishes and soups.

As for the young long-haired guys with the words “Hippie way” on their T-shirts - either real hippies or retro lovers - they are in Karimabad and mostly gobble up apricots. This is undoubtedly the main value of the Khunzakut gardens. All of Pakistan knows that only here do the “Khan’s fruits” grow, which ooze aromatic juice while still on the trees.

Hunza is attractive not only for radical youth - mountain travel enthusiasts, history buffs, and simply those who simply want to get away from their homeland come here. The picture is complemented, of course, by numerous rock climbers...

View of the oldest part of Hunza - Altit Fort and the houses around it.

Since the valley is located halfway from the Khunjerab Pass to the beginning of the Hindustan plains, the Khunzakuts are confident that they control the route to the “upper world.” To the mountains as such. It is difficult to say whether this principality was really once founded by the soldiers of Alexander the Great, or whether it was the Bactrians - the Aryan descendants of the once united great Russian people, but there is certainly some mystery in the appearance of this small and distinctive people in their surroundings.

He speaks his own Burushaski language (Burushaski, whose relationship has not yet been established with any of the languages of the world, although everyone here knows Urdu, and many speak English), professes, of course, like most Pakistanis, Islam, but a special one. sense, namely Ismaili, one of the most mystical and mysterious in religion, which is professed by up to 95% of the population. Therefore, in Hunza you will not hear the usual calls to prayer blaring from the speakers of the minarets. Everything is quiet, prayer is a personal matter and time for everyone.

Health

The Hunza bathe in icy water even at 15 degrees below zero, play outdoor games until they are a hundred years old, their 40-year-old women look like girls, at 60 they maintain a slim and graceful figure, and at 65 they still give birth to children. In summer they eat raw fruits and vegetables, in winter - sun-dried apricots and sprouted grains, sheep cheese.

The Hunza River was a natural barrier for the two medieval principalities of Hunza and Nagar. Since the 17th century, these principalities were constantly at odds, stealing each other’s women and children and selling them into slavery. Both lived in fortified villages. One more thing is interesting: the residents have a period when the fruits have not yet ripened - it is called the “hungry spring” and lasts from two to four months. During these months they eat almost nothing and only drink a drink made from dried apricots once a day. Such a fast has been elevated to a cult and is strictly observed.

The Scottish doctor McCarrison, who first described the Happy Valley, emphasized that protein consumption there is at the lowest level of the norm, if it can be called normal at all. The daily calorie content of Hunza averages 1933 kcal and includes 50 g of protein, 36 g of fat and 365 g of carbohydrates.

The Scotsman lived in close proximity to the Hunza Valley for 14 years. He came to the conclusion that diet is the main factor in the longevity of this people. If a person eats incorrectly, then the mountain climate will not save him from illness. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Hunza neighbors, living in the same climatic conditions, suffer from a wide variety of diseases. Their lifespan is half as long.

McCarrison, returning to England, carried out interesting experiments on a large number of animals. Some of them ate the usual food of a London working-class family (white bread, herring, refined sugar, canned and boiled vegetables). As a result, a wide variety of “human diseases” began to appear in this group. Other animals were on a Hunza diet and remained absolutely healthy throughout the experiment.

In the book “The Hunza - a People Who Know No Diseases,” R. Bircher emphasizes the following very significant advantages of the nutrition model in this country:
- first of all, it is vegetarian;
- a large amount of raw foods;
- vegetables and fruits predominate in the daily diet;
- natural products, without any chemicals and prepared preserving all biologically valuable substances;
- alcohol and treats are consumed extremely rarely;
- very moderate salt intake;
- products grown only on domestic soil;
- regular periods of fasting.

To this must be added other factors that contribute to healthy longevity. But the method of nutrition is undoubtedly very significant and decisive here.

In 1963, a French medical expedition visited Hunza. As a result of the population census she conducted, it was found that the average life expectancy of the Hunzakuts is 120 years, which is twice as high as that of Europeans.

In August 1977, at the International Cancer Congress in Paris, a statement was made: “In accordance with the data of geocancerology (the science of studying cancer in different regions of the world), the complete absence of cancer occurs only among the Hunza people.”

In April 1984, one of the Hong Kong newspapers reported the following amazing case. One of the Hunzakuts, whose name was Said Abdul Mobut, who arrived at London Heathrow Airport, bewildered the emigration service workers when he presented his passport. According to the document, Hunzakut was born in 1823 and turned 160 years old.

The mullah who accompanied Mobud noted that his ward is considered a saint in the country of Hunza, famous for its long-livers. Mobud has excellent health and sound mind. He remembers events well since 1850.

The locals speak simply about their secret to longevity: be a vegetarian, always work physically, constantly move and do not change the rhythm of life, then you will live up to 120-150 years. Distinctive features of the Hunzas as a people with “full health”:

1) High ability to work in the broad sense of the word. Among the Hunzi, this ability to work is manifested both during work and during dancing and games. For them, walking 100–200 kilometers is the same as for us taking a short walk near the house. They climb steep mountains with extraordinary ease to convey some news, and return home fresh and cheerful.

2) Cheerfulness. The Hunzas laugh constantly, they are always in a good mood, even if they are hungry and suffering from the cold.

3) Exceptional durability. “The Hunzas have nerves as strong as ropes, and thin and tender as strings,” McCarison wrote. “They never get angry or complain, don’t get nervous or show impatience, don’t quarrel among themselves and endure physical pain, trouble, noise, etc. with complete peace of mind.”

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The Hunza River Valley (the border of India and Pakistan) is called the “oasis of youth.” The life expectancy of the inhabitants of this valley is 110-120 years. They almost never get sick and look young.
This means that there is a certain way of life that approaches the ideal, when people feel healthy, happy, and do not age, as in other countries, by the age of 40-50. It is curious that the inhabitants of the Hunza Valley, unlike neighboring peoples, are very similar in appearance to Europeans (as are the Kalash, who live very close by). According to legend, the dwarf mountain state located here was founded by a group of soldiers from the army of Alexander the Great during his Indian campaign. Naturally, they established strict combat discipline here - such that residents with swords and shields had to sleep, eat, and even dance...
At the same time, the Hunzakuts treat with slight irony the fact that someone else in the world is called highlanders. Well, in fact, isn’t it obvious that with full right this name should be borne only by those who live near the famous “mountain meeting place” - the point where the three highest systems of the world converge: the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram. Of the 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks on Earth, five are located nearby, including the second after Everest K2 (8611 meters), the ascent of which in the mountaineering community is valued even more than the conquest of Chomolungma. And what can we say about the no less famous local “killer peak” Nanga Parbat (8126 meters), which buried a record number of climbers? And about the dozens of seven- and six-thousanders literally “crowding” around Hunza? It will be impossible to pass through these rock masses if you are not a world-class athlete. You can only “seep” through narrow passes, gorges, and trails. Since ancient times, these rare arteries were controlled by principalities, which imposed significant taxes on all passing caravans. Hunza was considered one of the most influential among them.
In distant Russia, little is known about this “lost world”, and for reasons not only geographical, but also political: Hunza, along with some other valleys of the Himalayas, ended up on the territory over which India and Pakistan have been fiercely arguing for almost 60 years (mainly the subject remains the much larger Kashmir). The USSR, to be safe, always tried to distance itself from the conflict. For example, in most Soviet dictionaries and encyclopedias the same K2 (another name is Chogori) is mentioned, but without indicating the area in which it is located. The local, quite traditional names were erased from Soviet maps and, accordingly, from the Soviet news lexicon. But here’s what’s surprising: everyone in Hunza knows about Russia. Two Captains “The Castle” is what many locals respectfully call the Baltit Fort, hanging from a cliff above Karimabad. It is already about 700 years old, and at one time it served the local independent ruler as both a palace of peace and a fortress. While not devoid of impressiveness on the outside, Baltit seems gloomy and damp from the inside. Dimmed rooms and poor furnishings - ordinary pots, spoons, a giant stove... In one of the rooms there was a hatch in the floor - under it the world (prince) of Hunza kept his personal prisoners. There are few bright and large rooms, perhaps only the “balcony room” makes a pleasant impression - it offers a majestic view of the valley. On one of the walls of this room there is a collection of ancient musical instruments, on the other there are weapons: sabers, swords. And a saber donated by the Russians. In one of the rooms hang two portraits: the British captain Younghusband and the Russian captain Grombchevsky, who decided the fate of the principality. In 1888, at the junction of the Karakorum and the Himalayas, a Russian village almost appeared: when a Russian officer Bronislav Grombchevsky arrived on a mission to the then world of Hunza Safdar Ali. At that time, on the border of Hindustan and Central Asia, the Great Game was going on, an active confrontation between the two superpowers of the 19th century - Russia and Great Britain. Not only a military man, but also a scientist, and later even an honorary member of the Imperial Geographical Society, this man had no intention of conquering lands for his king. And there were only six Cossacks with him then. But still, the talk was about the speedy establishment of a trading post and a political union. Russia, which by that time had influence throughout the Pamirs, now turned its gaze to Indian goods. So the captain entered the Game. Safdar received him very warmly and willingly concluded the proposed agreement - he was afraid of the British pressing from the south. And, as it turned out, not without reason. Grombchevsky's mission seriously alarmed Calcutta, where at that time the court of the Viceroy of British India was located. And although special commissioners and spies reassured the authorities: there was hardly any need to fear the appearance of Russian troops on the “top of India” - the passes leading from the north to Hunza were too difficult, and, moreover, covered with snow for most of the year - it was decided to urgently send a detachment under the command of Francis here Younghusband.
Both captains were colleagues - “geographers in uniform”; they met more than once on Pamir expeditions. Now they had to determine the future of the ownerless “Khunzakut bandits,” as they were called in Calcutta. Meanwhile, Russian goods and weapons slowly appeared in Hunza, and even a ceremonial portrait of Alexander III appeared in the Baltit Palace. The distant mountain government began diplomatic correspondence with St. Petersburg and offered to host a Cossack garrison. And in 1891, a message came from Hunza: the world of Safdar Ali officially asks to accept him and all the people into Russian citizenship. This news soon reached Calcutta; as a result, on December 1, 1891, the Younghusband mountain riflemen captured the principality, Safdar Ali fled to Xinjiang. “The door to India is slammed shut on the Tsar,” the British occupier wrote to the Viceroy. So Hunza considered itself Russian territory for only four days. The ruler of the Hunzakuts wished to see himself as Russian, but never received an official answer. And the British gained a foothold and stayed here until 1947, when, during the collapse of the newly independent British India, the principality suddenly found itself in territory controlled by Muslims. Today Hunza is governed by the Pakistani Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Territories Affairs, but fond memories of the failed outcome of the Great Game remain. Moreover, local residents ask Russian tourists why there are so few tourists from Russia. At the same time, although the British left almost 60 years ago, their hippies still flood the territory. Apricot hippies
It is believed that Hunza was rediscovered for the West by the hippies who wandered around Asia in the 1970s in search of truth and exoticism. Moreover, they popularized this place so much that even ordinary apricots are now called Hunza Apricot by Americans. However, the “flower children” were attracted here not only by these two categories, but also by Indian hemp. One of the main attractions of Hunza is the glacier, which descends into the valley like a wide, cold river. However, on numerous terraced fields they grow potatoes, vegetables and hemp, which is smoked here and added as a seasoning to meat dishes and soups. As for the young long-haired guys with the words “Hippie way” on their T-shirts - either real hippies or retro lovers - they mostly gobble up apricots in Karimabad. This is undoubtedly the main value of the Khunzakut gardens. All of Pakistan knows that only here do the “Khan’s fruits” grow, which ooze aromatic juice while still on the trees. Hunza is attractive not only for radical youth - mountain travel enthusiasts, history buffs, and simply those who simply want to get away from their homeland come here. The picture is complemented, of course, by numerous rock climbers...
Since the valley is located halfway from the Khunjerab Pass to the beginning of the Hindustan plains, the Khunzakuts are confident that they control the route to the “upper world.” To the mountains as such. It is difficult to say whether this principality was really once founded by the soldiers of Alexander the Great or whether it was the Bactrians - the Aryan descendants of the once united great Russian people, but there is certainly some mystery in the appearance of this small and distinctive people in their surroundings. He speaks his own Burushaski language (Burushaski, whose relationship has not yet been established with any of the languages of the world, although everyone here knows Urdu, and many speak English), professes, of course, like most Pakistanis, Islam, but a special one. sense, namely Ismaili, one of the most mystical and mysterious in religion, which is professed by up to 95% of the population. Therefore, in Hunza you will not hear the usual calls to prayer blaring from the speakers of the minarets. Everything is quiet, prayer is a personal matter and time for everyone. Health The Hunza bathe in ice-cold water even at 15 degrees below zero, play outdoor games until they are a hundred years old, their 40-year-old women look like girls, at 60 they maintain a slim and graceful figure, and at 65 they still give birth to children. In summer they eat raw fruits and vegetables, in winter - sun-dried apricots and sprouted grains, sheep cheese. The Hunza River was a natural barrier for the two medieval principalities of Hunza and Nagar. Since the 17th century, these principalities were constantly at odds, stealing each other’s women and children and selling them into slavery. Both lived in fortified villages. One more thing is interesting: the residents have a period when the fruits have not yet ripened - it is called the “hungry spring” and lasts from two to four months. During these months they eat almost nothing and only drink a drink made from dried apricots once a day. Such a fast has been elevated to a cult and is strictly observed. The Scottish doctor McCarrison, who first described the Happy Valley, emphasized that protein consumption there is at the lowest level of the norm, if it can be called normal at all. The daily calorie content of Hunza averages 1933 kcal and includes 50 g of protein, 36 g of fat and 365 g of carbohydrates. The Scotsman lived in close proximity to the Hunza Valley for 14 years. He came to the conclusion that diet is the main factor in the longevity of this people. If a person eats incorrectly, then the mountain climate will not save him from illness. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Hunza neighbors, living in the same climatic conditions, suffer from a wide variety of diseases. Their lifespan is half as long.
McCarrison, returning to England, carried out interesting experiments on a large number of animals. Some of them ate the usual food of a London working-class family (white bread, herring, refined sugar, canned and boiled vegetables). As a result, a wide variety of “human diseases” began to appear in this group. Other animals were on a Hunza diet and remained absolutely healthy throughout the experiment. In the book “The Hunza - a people who do not know disease,” R. Bircher emphasizes the following very significant advantages of the nutrition model in this country: - first of all, it is vegetarian; - a large amount of raw foods; - vegetables and fruits predominate in the daily diet; - natural products, without any chemicals, and prepared preserving all biologically valuable substances; - alcohol and treats are consumed extremely rarely; - very moderate salt intake; - products grown only on domestic soil; - regular periods of fasting. To this must be added other factors that contribute to healthy longevity. But the method of nutrition is undoubtedly very significant and decisive here.
In 1963, a French medical expedition visited Hunza. As a result of the population census she conducted, it was found that the average life expectancy of the Hunzakuts is 120 years, which is twice as high as that of Europeans. In August 1977, at the International Cancer Congress in Paris, a statement was made: “In accordance with the data of geocancerology (the science of studying cancer in different regions of the world), the complete absence of cancer occurs only among the Hunza people.”
In April 1984, one of the Hong Kong newspapers reported the following amazing case. One of the Hunzakuts, whose name was Said Abdul Mobud, who arrived at London Heathrow Airport, bewildered the emigration service workers when he presented his passport. According to the document, Hunzakut was born in 1823 and turned 160 years old. The mullah who accompanied Mobud noted that his ward is considered a saint in the country of Hunza, famous for its long-livers. Mobud has excellent health and sound mind. He remembers events well since 1850. The locals speak simply about their secret to longevity: be a vegetarian, always work physically, constantly move and do not change the rhythm of life, then you will live up to 120-150 years. Distinctive features of the Hunzas as a people with “full health”: 1) High ability to work in the broad sense of the word. Among the Hunzi, this ability to work is manifested both during work and during dancing and games. For them, walking 100–200 kilometers is the same as for us taking a short walk near the house. They climb steep mountains with extraordinary ease to convey some news, and return home fresh and cheerful. 2) Cheerfulness. The Hunzas laugh constantly, they are always in a good mood, even if they are hungry and suffering from the cold. 3) Exceptional durability. “The Hunzas have nerves as strong as ropes, and thin and tender as strings,” McCarison wrote. “They never get angry or complain, don’t get nervous or show impatience, don’t quarrel among themselves and endure physical pain, trouble, noise, etc. with complete peace of mind.”

The Hunza River Valley is located on the border of India and Pakistan, it is also called the “oasis of youth”. Why? The life expectancy of local residents is 110-120 years.

They almost never get sick and look young. Their longevity still baffles researchers. We will tell you more about the life of the mountain people.

The inhabitants of the Hunza Valley, unlike neighboring peoples, are very similar in appearance to Europeans.

According to legend, the dwarf mountain state was founded by soldiers of the army of Alexander the Great during his Indian campaign.

The Khunzakuts are amused by the fact that anyone else is called a mountain people. After all, they settled near the famous “mountain meeting place” - the point where the three highest systems of the world converge: the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram. Today, Hunza is administered by the Pakistani Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Territories Affairs. One of the main attractions of Hunza is the glacier, which descends into the valley like a wide, cold river.

They have their own language - Burushaski (Burushaski, whose relationship has not yet been established with any of the languages of the world, although everyone here knows Urdu, and many speak English). They profess Islam, but not the one to which we are accustomed, but Ismaili is one of the most mystical and mysterious in religion.

Therefore, in Hunza you will not hear the usual calls to prayer. Turning to God is a personal matter and time for everyone.

Something else is interesting: during the “hungry spring” (the period when the fruits have not yet ripened; lasts 2-4 months), they eat almost nothing and only drink a drink made from dried apricots once a day. Such a fast has been elevated to a cult and is strictly observed.

In the book “The Hunza - a People Who Know No Diseases,” R. Bircher emphasizes the following very significant advantages of the nutrition model in this country:
— first of all, it is vegetarian;
- a large amount of raw foods;
— Vegetables and fruits predominate in the daily diet;
— products are natural, without any chemicals, and prepared preserving all biologically valuable substances;
- alcohol and treats are consumed extremely rarely;

- very moderate salt intake;
— products grown only on native soil;
- regular periods of fasting.

To this must be added other factors that contribute to healthy longevity. But the method of nutrition is undoubtedly very significant and decisive here.

In 1984, one of the Hunzakuts, whose name was Said Abdul Mobud, arrived at London Heathrow Airport. He bewildered the emigration service workers when he presented his passport. According to the document, Hunzakut was born in 1823 and turned 160 years old. The mullah who accompanied Mobud noted that his ward is considered a saint in the country of Hunza, famous for its long-livers. Mobud has excellent health and sound mind. He remembers events well since 1850.

1) High ability to work in the broad sense of the word. Among the Hunzi, this ability to work is manifested both during work and during dancing and games. For them, walking 100-200 kilometers is the same as for us taking a short walk near the house. They climb steep mountains with extraordinary ease to convey some news, and return home fresh and cheerful.

2) Cheerfulness. The Hunzas laugh constantly, they are always in a good mood, even if they are hungry and suffering from the cold.