Hajigak Pass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hijigak Pass | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Elevation | 3700 m. |
| Location |  Afghanistan |
| Range | Hindu Kush |
Hajigak Pass is situated at a height of 3700 above sea-level and is one of the two main routes from Kabul to Bamiyan in central Afghanistan.
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 Shibar Pass is approximately 6 and half hours long covering around 237 km long.
The Shibar pass is more preferred over Hajigak on safety grounds because in the harsh climate of the area the Hajigak remain covered with snow during most of the year.
The Hajigak route leaves Kabul from Kote Sangi, follows the paved road to Ghazni, gets to Maidan Wardak province, Jalrez, Sarchashman, Kotal Unai (Unai Pass), Sia Sang, Duz Qol and then the Hajigak Pass. There are numerous villages in this scarcely 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 Lämmergeyer or Lamb Eagle (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.
The Hajigak Pass is situated close to Koh e Baba.
The Koh-i-Baba is the veritable spine of the Hindu Kush and all three of Afghanistan’s major river systems, the Kabul, the Hilmand-Arghandab, and the Hari Rud, originate in this range which is crowned by the Shah Foladi peak rising 4951 m; 16,244 ft. above sea level, just south of Bamiyan.
The high jagged peaks above the Hajigak (Little Haji, pilgrim), blue-black and shining, shimmer in the sunlight for they contain an estimated reserve of 2 billion tons of iron ore; Asia’s richest deposit. The very steep descent from the Hajigak Pass (3700 m; 140 ft.) with its numerous hairpin bends leads to the sparkling Kalu River, known locally as the Sauzao or Green Waters. It is bordered by poplars and several charming villages.
There is a mining camp high above the road at the bottom of the pass and almost any black stone picked from the side of the road in its vicinity will impress you with its weight. Piles of neatly stacked rock cleared from the fields impress one with the industry of these Hazara farmers. In the fall you may also see the ladies weaving in open fields beside their houses.
The Hajigak Pass with its natural beauty remains rugged and unpaved despite being the transit way into almost the whole central Afghanistan. The pass and its surrounding territories remain snow-covered through most part of the year, during which the traffic shifts to Shibar pass.
The area is home to the Hazara ethnic group, who are one of the most neglected in Afghanistan and have a ver low literacy rate. Much of the population heavily depends on agriculture as their prime source of income and potato the prime crop.
