Oshikandass | village

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INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION:
Oshikhandass is a village in Gilgit. It is in the east of Gilgit city. Oshikhandass consists of about 3000 houses with about 18,820 residents. Approximately 80% of the population belongs to the Ismaili sect of Islam that follows the Aga Khan; the remaining population is Shia Muslim. The local means of economy is agriculture. There are three government schools out of which two for girls and one for boys besides there are five private schools.The average altitude of 1,500 metres(4,900 ft).

This village links Bagrot Valley and Jalalabad village to the city Gilgit. The metaled road crosses the KKH in the way towards city. The languages spoken in oshikhandass are Shina and Burushiski. In early decades after 1940 people from hunza and Bagrot valley were living here. With the passage of time some other people also became residents of this vallage as it was near Gilgit City. Those people include people from Astore, Yasin and Haramosh. Nanga Parbat lies in the east of this village and it could be seen from there.

History:
The name of this village oshikhandass is evolved from two languages. "Oshi" means wind in shina language, "Khan" means colony in Burushaski language and "Dass" means 'uncultivated land' in both languages.This land was under custody of Bagrote valley.It was cultivated by the people came from Hunza in July 1937. Those people were sent by the Mir of Hunza as he made a verbal agreement with the people of Bagrot valley. Those people made the water channel which supply water to this village even today.The water channel is liked to the river which comes from Glaciers of Karakoram through Bagrot valley.