Instruments
Lutes are an extremely important part of Pamiri music, especially the three-stringed
shortneck lute played with a wooden plectrum; this is called the rubab-i pamiri.
Other varieties of lute in Badakhshan include the komus, a three-stringed but unfretted
lute played by the Kyrgyz of eastern Badakhshan, the tanbur, a seven-stringed lute
with sympathetic strings, the setor, with three melody strings and a number of sympathetic
strings; the imported Afghan rubab and Azerbaijani tar are also a major part of
Badakhshan’s lute heritage. Other instruments include the nay, a kind of flute,
and the ghijak-i pamiri, a spiked fiddle; the circular frame drum daf is also common,
brought by Russians. Qapooz is also a very rare slim wooden instrument played by
women with the help of vibration of mouth.
Vocal music
Pamiri music has a characteristic throaty, nasal sound which is a distinguishing
characteristic of the area's vocal style. The madoh is a kind of sung religious
poetry, accompanied by rubabs and/or tanbur with at least one daf.
Tourist Attractions
Gojal valley has great attraction for tourists and mountaineers because of its lofty
mountains known all over the world, landscape, picturesque valleys, breathtaking
scenic beauty, wildlife, longest glaciers, lush green breathtaking scenic beauty
and valleys, meadows and pastures.
Gojal is home to the world’s largest concentration of snow-clad mountains of over
7800 meter high including Dustughel Sar, Kunyang Chish, Batura, Kanjut Sar, Shispar
Sar, Yukshin Gardan, Passu Peak, Momhel Sar, Mulongudi Sar, Pomir Sar, Yazghil,
Lupgar Sar, Qaroon Koh, Kumpir Dior. A great mass of glaciers -- Batura and Passu
glaciers; Momhel, Mulongudi, Khurdhopin, Yazghel, Verzherav, Lupghar Odfer glaciers;
Mintika, Kilik, Dilisung, Quz Jurjur, Shepk Shepk, Zhrav, Shutubar, Baltbar, Ghulkin-Hussani;
Destgoz, Chuck Hel, Sarnichin, Paryar, Boybar, Qorunkuh, and Sukhtarabad glaciers.
There are many unexplored peaks in different areas. There are many strategic passes
connecting the region with China, Afghanistan and other Central Asian republics,
including Khunjerab, Mintika, Kilik, Wakhjir, Shimshal, and Chafchingol. These passes
have served as entry point for caravans and traders coming from China and Afghanistan
via the ancient Silk Rout.