Shatial Petroglyphs

The Shatial Petroglyphs, situated along the Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, represent one of the largest and most significant collections of ancient rock art in the region.
Extending approximately 100 kilometers between Shatial and Raikot Bridge, this open-air gallery contains over 50,000 rock carvings and around 5,000 inscriptions, offering a rich record of human activity, belief systems, and cultural exchange over millennia.
The petroglyphs feature a wide range of subjects, including animals, hunting scenes, religious symbols, and inscriptions in various scripts, reflecting the diverse communities that passed through this strategic corridor connecting Central and South Asia.
As both an artistic and historical treasure, the Shatial Petroglyphs provide invaluable insight into the lives, travels, and spiritual expressions of ancient peoples in the high mountains of the Karakoram.