Restoration of old mosque in Gulabpur, Shigar Valley, Baltistan
In 2008 and 2009, the German Federal Foreign Office funded the conservation of the Khanqah of Gulabpur in Baltistan's Shigar Valley with an allocation of EUR 16,000, in the framework of the German Cultural Preservation Programme.
A "khanqah" is a mosque with meditation chambers. As for the village of Gulabpur, its "khanqah" dates back to the late 17th century and displays typical architectural features of Baltistan, among which the double roof with the classical Tibetan tower on top is most salient. The building is characterized by cribbage walls, as well as impressive wooden pillars and a painted wooden ceiling inside the prayer hall.
The conservation and rehabilitation of the Gulabpur Khanqah was carried out in partnership with the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCSP) as well as with the help of the local community, who contributed around 40% of the total costs in cash and kind. Thus, the project ranks among the biggest community-supported projects in the region.
With this project, AKCSP won the Award of Distinction of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award 2010 !
