Gorakh Hill
Encyclopedia
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan. It is situated at an elevation of 5688 ft (1,733.7 m). in the Kirthar Mountains
Kirthar Mountains
Kirthar Mountains are a Mountain Range located in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan. The Range extends southward for about 190 miles from the Mula River in east-central Balochistan to Cape Monze west of Karachi on the Arabian Sea.Kirthar National Park is one of the largest wildlife...
Range's Sindh Segment, 93 km north west of Dadu city. Gorakh Hill Station is situated on one of the highest plateaus of Sindh, spread over 2500 acres (10.1 km²), and due its surroundings, a unique adventure point for nature lovers.
Gorakh Plateau also serves as gateway for the villagers of Khuzdar District
Khuzdar District
Khuzdar district is located in the centre of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Khuzdar is the capital of Khuzdar district. Khuzdar was created as a separate district on 1 March 1974. Previously, it was part of Kalat District....
, Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
, who come over to the village, Wahi Pandi, in Sindh's segment of Kirthar, about a third way downhill from Gorakh Hill Station... for purchasing food and other Utilities.
The Gorakh Hills summit can only be reached with 4x4 vehicles, which are available from Dadu and Johi towns. The hilltop is 93 km from Dadu. The last small town before the Gorakh Hill is Wahi Pandi, settled in the lap of the Kirthar range. The road thereafter is towered slowly at the milestone of 53 km when one enters the Yaroo Pass (Yaroo Sain Jo Luck).
After crossing this pass 2500 ft (762 m) above sea level, the journey continues in the mountains and at the milestone 76 km one reaches the base camp of another highest pass of the Kirthar range. It is known as Khanwal Pass (KP) on the elevation of 3000 ft (914.4 m) and at the top of the KP the elevation is 5000 ft (1,524 m) above sea level. The distance between the KP base camp and the KP top is four kilometres. The four-kilometre journey is too zigzag. After reaching the top of KP, drive continues to the Gorakh Hill top, which is the 13 km ahead. At the top of the hill there is a small rest-house, the only facility so far made available.
The Sindh Segment of Kirthar Mountains, has a large number of Mountain Peaks over 5500 feet (1,676.4 m) high, and before Shaddan Shah's Discovering the highest peak in Kirthar, at an elevation of 7056 feet (2,150.7 m) [plus/minus a few feet, via Google Earth Telemetry, at the Exact Coordinates of: 27 12.35 10 North, 67 09.33 88 East], another Peak, in Sindh's Northern segment of Kirthar; known as Kuttay ji Qabr, at 6850, [plus/minus a few feet] was considered the Highest Peak. It is now the second highest peak of Sindh.
Shaddan Shah, as the discoverer of the exact location and height of the highest mountain peak in Sindh, over 7056 feet (2,150.7 m) high, has, in paying his tribute, named it Koh-i-Benazir, honoring Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
.
Origin of name
Some local folklore says that a Hindu Saint of medieval periods; Sri Gorakhnath ji extensively wandered in these hills and region, he had great yogic powers, and people followed him, while other lores define him as a Buddhist Yogi, having a following in all the local, muslim and non-muslim tribes. These lores are the reason why many places are named after him.Nandu, an authority on Sanskrit, says about the meanings of the Word Gorakh that it is the etymology of the Sanskrit Word, Gorakh which means Shepherding (Gorakh/sha)of sheep, cow and goat etc. This relates to herding in particularly difficult terrain and intricate pastures which makes practical sense, because, local tribesmen do take their flocks to Gorakh Hill for summer grazing. In Specific Context of the Gorakh, as being a derivate of the Persian word Gurg, or Gurkh of Baluchi, in that these have nothing to do with the Sanskritik meanings.
Further discussion:-There are confusions about the name and historical background of Gorakh. It needs discussion in the light of different traditions and opinions. Locally it is stated that Gorakh is derived from Balochi word "Gurkh" but the Balochi word "Gurkh" is perversion of Persian word "Gurg" which means wolf.
Regarding this, it is said that Gorakh hill and its surroundings were abode of wolves. So, first it was called Gurkh and afterwards its pronunciation was changed as Gorakh. This supports the Shepherd Terminology origins. When we consider this opinion, we can understand that, in the past wolves were not only in the area of Gorakh hill but those were also in the whole Kheerthar range and its neighboring deserted area of Kachho and a danger to Sheep and cows.
Therefore, Sanskritik Gorakh/sha is not considerable and justified, as an opinion about the name of Gorakh hill. Taj Sahrae, a renowned researcher and historian writes in his book "Lake Manchhar" that "Gorakh peak derives its name from one of the twenty four Tirathkarans of Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, Sri or Guru Gorakh Nath.
According to Taj Sehrai's understanding of Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
Gorakhnath is popularly believed "Being an incarnation of Shiva and that historically he was a yogi, who founded shiviate cult in 11th century A.D". Taj further writes, that "before partition Hindu yogis generally used to visit this peak on their way to yet another place of worship called tirath kumb.
There 'was' a small temple on top of a hill standing over Kumb (spring). Hindus generally visited the temple and Kumb, and performed their religious rituals". (Page no: 149-50). Taj Sahrae has stated without any reference or quotation of any certified book.
Anyway, there are no remains or signs of any temple except the destroyed tomb of Miandad Fakir. Neither there was a temple nor history tells about the visit of yogis in this area. Kumb, is certainly named after Kumb Yatra, in Banaras.
On other hand, Tirath Kumb is too far away from Gorakh hill on the bank of river Gaj... instead of the Confluence at Banaras. It is thus possible, that before partition, local Hindus might have visited and performed rituals just like Kunb Mela yatra at Benaras on a small scale, but there is no historical evidence of such Yatra being performed at Gaj.
Since most of our historians have followed the opinion of Taj Sahrae who, linked the name of Gorakh, with Sri or Guru, Gorakh, by adding 'Nath' to it, as to give it Credibility in a Yogi's name. Therefore, we should think over, the origin and the actual meanings of a... Sindhi language word, "Gorakh".
In Jam-e-Sindhi lughaat, volume five by Dr: NA Baloch, published by Sindhi Adabi Board Jamshoro, the given meanings of the word Gorakh, are: a difficult, a labyrinth, a tangled, unsolvable problem, highest, biggest etc. (page no: 2356). Apparently, Dr. N.A. Baluch has relied on the Sanskritik roots, in his Definition of Gorakh/sha. In, Go/w=Cow and Raksha=Service, hence, Gorakh's logical meaning.
And the English Sindhi dictionary, by Permanand Mevaram, published by Institute of Sindhology
Institute of Sindhology
Institute of Sindhology is one of the major resource on history of Sindh. It was the first research institution of its discipline that brought Sindhology to the forefront of international research. Sindhology is referred to as the knowledge about Sindh...
, Jamshoro
Jamshoro
Jamshoro is a city in Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan. It is located on the right bank of Indus River, approximately 18 kilometres north-west of the city of Hyderabad and 150 kilometres north-east from the provincial capital Karachi....
has used English words: "intricate and difficult" for the meaning of the word Gorakh. (Page no: 473). Obviously, Premanand, relied on the Sanskritik Meanings... and instead of Gorakh... "Sha" added "Nath,' meaning Master, in accommodating the Hindu belief... in the naming of Gorakh Hill, after Kirshen, the cow-herd.
In light of the above, meaning, in the context of a Sindhi word, Gorakh; can be hypothesized as being the true origin of the name of Gorakh hill, and that it is essentially derived from Sindhi... Since Gorakh is a Pasturing Area, with difficult tracks, curvy and dangerous ways, labyrinthine ascents or inclines and intricate passes like Khawal, and too difficult to reach or cross casually.
The Hill Station receives winter snowfall and is among one of the only places in Sindh to have snowfall in winters. The mountains were completely covered with a blanket of snow in 2008 winters. That is why Government has decided to upgrade this place into a hill station so that people from Karachi and Hyderabad could see snowfall without going far flung areas of the country.
The local shepherds, fearing wolves, therefore, would have named it, Gorakh, within the background, and meaning, of the Shepherds used Sindhi term of expression. Thus, we are correct, in our thinking, that Gorakh hill was indeed named within the background and meaning, of a Definitive Term of Sindhi, Defining a ...Sindhi word... Gorakh, as explained.