Location Afghanistan Range Hindu Kush | Elevation 3,475 m | |
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Hajigak pass top 8 facts
Hajigak Pass (Persian: کوتل حاجيگک Kōtal-e Hājīgak or Persian: کوتل حاجيگگ Kōtal-e Hājīgag or Persian: کوتل آجه گگ Kōtal Ājah gag) is a pass in Bamiyan Province in central Afghanistan. It is situated in the Koh-i Baba range and is one of the two main routes from Kabul to central Afghanistan and to the sites of the Buddhist monasteries and statues in Bamiyan, part of the ancient Silk Road.
Contents
- Hajigak pass top 8 facts
- Map of Hajigak Pass Afghanistan
- RoutesEdit
- Etymology and a small excursionEdit
- Railway projectsEdit
- BooksEdit
- References
Map of Hajigak Pass, Afghanistan
RoutesEdit
The two main routes from Kabul to Bamiyan are from the south via the Hajigak Pass and from the north via the Shibar Pass. The journey via the Shibar Pass is 237 km (147 mi) long and takes about 6.5 hours. The Shibar Pass is preferred over the Hajigak Pass on safety grounds, because in the harsh climate of the area the Hajigak remains covered with snow for much of the year.
The Hajigak route leaves Kabul from Kote Sangi, about 1 km west of Kabul University, and follows the paved highway to Ghazni west and then south into Maidan Wardak province. There the route leaves the Ghazni highway, turning right to head west through Maidan Shar, the capital of Maidan Wardak province. It continues through Jalrez, Sarchashman, Sia Sang, and Duz Qol, before crossing the Unai Pass to Gardan Diwal, where the route again turns to the right to head north, and finally start the climb to the Hajigak Pass proper.
There are numerous villages in this sparsely populated, rugged area. The greenness of the trees and the clearness of the air in the valleys greet tourists who travel to Bamiyan. In the fall and spring large camel caravans add their particular color and excitement to the scene.
The major wildlife is lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) which are often seen squatting in large groups beside the road. These very large birds are also known as Bearded Vultures for they have very noticeable, rather comical goatees. Having a passion for bone marrow, they have been seen to carry animal bones to a height and carefully drop them onto rocks to crack them so that they can feast upon the marrow with greedy delight.
Etymology and a small excursionEdit
The new Persian is written since the Middle Ages in the Arabic alphabet. [G] (Persian: گ) has been changed by letter [J] (Persian: ج) or [Gh] (Persian: غ)and [P](Persian: پ) by [F] (Persian: ف) or [B] (Persian: ب). [Papa](Persian: پاپا) to [Baba] (Persian: بابا) and [Parsi](Persian: پارسى) to [Farsi] (Persian: فارسى)and Apagan(Persian: اپگان) to Afghan (Persian: افغان).
Haj (Persian: حاج) is a Persian word Homophone, although it was Arabized and comes from the middle Persian word Hag (Persian: هاگ), but Hajj a Semitic word which also comes in Hebrew and mean Intention or attempt a journey for example to a pilgrimage. Hag or Haj has different meanings in Persian even contradictory Hajji (pilgrim) and a Haji like Hajji Firuz a Satitiker or a Comedian. There are typically two basic notation or word basic form, which has been mixed in time. Haj as word basic form (non-human) and Haji (human, pilgrims) from Hajj or Hagg.
Haj mean also the name of a thorny plant. This is nothing other than Alhagi. Haji Koshtah (Haj i kushtah) (now as Ahag i Shugofteh or Ahak i Shugofteh) or same words Haj and not Haji (Name of a thorny plant) Haji Tarkhan (Astrakhan), Haji lak Lak (Haj i lak lak a stork), or Haj i Badam (bitter almond) (Kurdish:Hacıbadem), (Turkish: acibadem) or Hajj (traditionally called slaked lime) means Calcium hydroxide or Iron or gold ore.
Railway projectsEdit
In May 2016, India, Iran and Afghanistan signed an agreement to develop two births at Port of Chabahar, build the new Chabahar-Zahedan railway as part of North–South Transport Corridor by linking it with Trans-Iranian Railway, invest up to INR 1 lakh crore (US$14 billion) in the Chabahar Special Economic zone by building gas and urea plant as well as other industries, this will also be linked with Chabahar-Zaranj-Delaram-Hajigak railway: 900 km long Indian-Iranian project, would link future US$10 billion Indian iron-ore mining operations at Hajigak mining concession to Chabahar, Iran, Published: Feb 2015.