Khaplu Group of Rock Inscriptions

The beautiful valley of the Shayok River is 103 km east of Skardu. Khaplu palace, Chaqchan and other grand wooden mosques are the interesting places to visit. Thorsey Khar is the interesting historical place built on the hill or rocky spurs, overlooking the Khaplu Valley. Today the renovated mosque is existed. The remains of the fortress and quarters are still visible. Three similar rock inscriptions in Tibetan script, read as Om Mani Padma Ohm at Ghanomur along the old path, Thorse Khar near the grave yard and south west of Chaqchan Mohallah were found. Another rock inscription with three letters was discovered by Dr. Arif at Gamba-Bathong, but it no longer exists. At Yul-i-boe Laqrzes on way to Khaplu-Hanjor rock carvings of hand print and a conical structure locally called tselbo (Cage) were noted during 1998, the Cage drawing is now spoiled by pecking stone. It is informed that some stupa carvings are available about one km far from the village Muldomar at the place Rana, where we can see the vertical rock spurs on our right side along the Khaplu-Surmo road, overlooking the river Shayok. The stupa carvings are engraved in traditional Tibetan style. At Marporza near Hachhi village on right bank of Ganchhe Nala animal images on a flat boulder are discovered which seem to be late Buddhist period.