Culture & Heritage

House of Baba Sufi Sost & Avgarch

Sost, which is at a distance of one hour drive from Gulmit, and is hub among Pakistan, China and Central Asia. and that is why the Cheek Post of the Customs and Immigration of Pakistan lies here. Its intra-strategic significance is also obvious. From its south, Sost rendezvous the Avgarch Valley, Shimshal Valley and Lower Gojal; while from the north, it connects the Chipursan valley, Misgar Valley and Khunzhrav Valley. From the historical perspective, Sost is rich in one of its most crucial cultural heritages that possesses centuries old house of Bobo Sufi, the apical ancestor of the Avgarch People who had come from Afghanistan on the Amu Daryo. It is commonly believed that the first settler in this area was the legendary Baba Sufi who came from Afghanistan traveling along the Amu Daria (or Oxus) River. He is said to first have settled in Sost, but soon moved to the more secluded and secure Boiber Valley where he made Avgarch his permanent home. In the Avgarch Valley, especially in Avgarch Proper, there is the Old House of Bobo Sufi. This is of great interest when one is in the valley. Bobo Sufi, the apical ancestor of Avgarchiks, the Avgarch People, is said to have arrived firstly in Sost, but later on, due to the defence purpose, as Sost was not more secure due to its strategic position. has searched ahead to access a defensive place, and who finally had got Avgarch Proper as secure and facilitating due to its pastures, flatland for irrigation, and spring and glacial water. That is why he made Avgarch as his permanent habitat and the history's old house still stands in Avgarch, which today presents a unique opportunity to learn from this house and environment in such an arduous terrain.

Today, the old houses of Baba Sufi can be visited in Sost as well as in Avgarch. Especially the Avgarch house of Baba Sufi gives good examples of the traditional architecture of the time and old wood carvings can be studied. One beam in the house shows the carved outline of a hand – supposedly done by Baba Sufi himself.

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