Hajigak Pass

Hajigak Pass
Kotal e Hajigak
Persian: کوتل حاجيگک‎‎
Elevation 3,475 m (11,401 ft)
Location Afghanistan
Coordinates 34°39′32″N 68°5′14.1″E / 34.65889°N 68.087250°E / 34.65889; 68.087250Coordinates: 34°39′32″N 68°5′14.1″E / 34.65889°N 68.087250°E / 34.65889; 68.087250

Hajigak Pass (Persian: کوتل حاجيگک‎‎ Kōtal-e Hājīgak or Persian: کوتل حاجيگگ‎‎ Kōtal-e Hājīgag [1] or Persian: کوتل آجه گگ‎‎ Kōtal Ājah gag[2]) 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,[3][4] part of the ancient Silk Road.

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 excursion

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.[5][6] This is nothing other than Alhagi.[7][8][9][10][11] 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[12] (traditionally called slaked lime) means Calcium hydroxide or Iron or gold ore.

See also

References

  1. ↑ حاجیگگ
  2. ↑ کوتل آجه گگ
  3. ↑ Charles Edward Yate:Northern Afghanistan. William Blackwood, Edingburgh/ London 1888, p.p.197-198, 244
  4. ↑ Thomas Hyde: Veterum Persarum et Parthorum et Medorum Religionis Historia. Editio Secunda, London, MDCCLX., p.p 107
  5. ↑ London, 1892, p. 407
  6. ↑ Word number (716) and (732)
  7. ↑ Alhagi
  8. ↑ Oscar Nelson Allen:The Leguminosae, a Source Book of Characteristics, Uses, and Nodulation Univ of Wisconsin Press, 1981 p.34
  9. ↑ camel thorn adans alhagi
  10. ↑ see also Fehrest e Makhzan al Advieh (Persian: فهرست مخزن الادویة‎‎, Index magazine for the drugs, based on list of medicinal herbs and Their uses of the two universal genius Al Biruni and Avicenna.)traditional medicine Makhzan al Advieh
  11. ↑ Assal e Alhaj (Persian: عسل الحاج‎‎) (Honey Alhaj) is juice of Alhagi:عسل الحاج
  12. ↑ Francis Joseph Steingass:A Comprehensive Persian English Dictionary, Published by Gautam Jetley, 3rd ed. New Delhi, 2005 p. 124, P. 407, P. 1490

Books

External links

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