Country Dardistan Website dardistantimes.com Population 658,164 (2009) | Established 3rd century bc Time zone UTC (UTC+5:30) Area 87,821 km² Founder Herodotus | |
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Similar Chitral District, Gilgit, Baltistan | ||
Gilgit chitral kohistan dardistan
Dardistan is a term coined by Gottlieb William Leitner for the northern Pakistan, Kashmir and parts of north-eastern Afghanistan. It is inhabited by Dards speaking Dardic languages. Dardistan, region inhabited by the so-called Dard peoples in the north of Pakistan and northern Kashmir. It includes Chitral, the upper reaches of the Panjkora River, the Kohistan (highland) of Swat, and the upper portions of the Gilgit Agency. Mentioned by the classical historians Pliny the Elder, Ptolemy, and Herodotus, the Dards (Daradae, Daradrae, or Derdae) are said to be people of Aryan origin who ascended the Indus Valley from the Punjab plains, reaching as far north as Chitral. They were converted to Islam in the 14th century and speak three distinct dialects of Gilgit, Khowari, Burushask©, and Shina, employing the Persian script in writing.
Contents
- Gilgit chitral kohistan dardistan
- Driving Beside Mahodand Lake River Suwwat Valley Swat KPKKohistanDardistanKashmir
- Historical origin
- Geography
- Dardic languages
- References
Driving Beside Mahodand Lake & River, Suwwat Valley (Swat) | KPK/Kohistan/Dardistan/Kashmir
Historical origin
Herodotus (III. 102-105) is the first author who refers to the country of Dards, placing it between Kashmir and Afghanistan. It also has reference in Mahabharata where it mentions the tribute of the ant-gold pipilika brought by the nations of the north to one of the Pandu sons, king Yudhishthira.
The Dards are also the Darada of the Sanskrit writers. The Darada and Himavanta were the regions to which Buddha sent his missionaries.
Geography
About morethan 75% area is located in Mountain area.
Dardic languages
