Haldi, Baltistan

Haldi also Halde or Huldi is a village in Ghanche District of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Haldi is historic village of Baltistan, which is located at the meeting place of Saltoro river and Hushe River 28 km from district centre Khaplu.HistoryAccording to Molvi Hashmatullah lakhnavi, Haldi was ancient administrative capital of ancient Khaplu valley. Around 850 A.D. Baig Manthal came to Haldi from central Asia via Kondus valley. He constructed "Stranpo khar" or kharmang khar in a rock. He founded Independent state of Haldi. Later he invaded Pharawa which was Raja Gori tham capital. After controlling whole Saltoro and Hushe valley He invaded whole Khaplu valley. He became only ruler of this region and he established his capital in Haldi. Then he constructed fort in Saling. According to Molvi Hashmatullah Lakhnavi in Tarikh e Jammu and Yousuf Huasain Abadi in Tarikh e Baltistan, Baig Manthal was founder of Yabgo Dynasty. Now the ruins of fort remained on the rock known as Kharmang khar where it was built by Baig Manthal founder of Yabgo dynasty. This fort was present up to 1750 A.D as this fort is mentioned in Shigar Nama (an old history book of baltistan Shigar), where Hatam khan of Yabgo had ruled. According to Greg Mortenson, American author of the book Three Cups of Tea, Haldi village was as perfect a place as Mortenson had seen in Pakistan.