Langar Petroglyphs

Above the village of Langar, where the Wakhan and Pamir rivers meet at the head of the valley, the slopes carry thousands of petroglyphs pecked into the dark rock over a very long period: ibex above all, in great numbers, along with horsemen, hunting scenes, hand prints and later inscriptions. They are spread over a wide area of hillside and a local guide is effectively necessary to find the denser groups.

The main sights

• The ibex figures - the dominant motif, carved in very large numbers.
• The horsemen and hunts - later scenes among the earlier animal figures.
• The inscriptions - script added to the rocks in later periods.
• The confluence - the meeting of the Wakhan and Pamir rivers below.

When to go

May to October is the season. Raking light in the morning or evening shows the carvings best. A GBAO permit is required.

Practical notes

The carvings are spread over a wide hillside and a guide is needed to find them. The climb is steep and at altitude. There is no signage or protection of any kind.

Nearby

Vrang is west, and the Pamir Highway climbs east.