# Chitrali dragon
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{{Short description|Mythical water dragon in Pakistani folklore}}
[[File:邓县南朝画像砖青龙.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Brick [relief](/source/relief) of a winged water [dragon](/source/dragon).]]
'''Nihang''' are [mythical](/source/mythical) [water](/source/water) [dragons](/source/Dragon) from the [Chitrali](/source/Chitral_District) [mythology](/source/mythology) in northwestern [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan). The name ''"Nihang"'' comes from the [Persian](/source/Persian_language) word "nahang" for [crocodiles](/source/Crocodile) but is also used for other [sea](/source/sea) [creatures](/source/Animal). Nihangs looked like [winged](/source/Wing) [snakes](/source/Snakes_in_mythology), also found in [myths](/source/myths) in many parts of mainland [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) and [East Asia](/source/East_Asia). They were huge, [scaly](/source/Scale_(zoology)) [creatures](/source/Animal) and were famous for their [golden](/source/Gold) manes. The most famous one lived in a [lake](/source/lake) in Mastuj area of [Chitral](/source/Chitral_District) and frightened the local people. However, its reign of terror ended when an ancient [warrior](/source/warrior) fought against it using a double-hilted [sword](/source/sword) and killed it.[{{Cite web|last=Nizam|first=Muhammad Huzaifa|title=Chitrali Mythology|url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Chitrali_Mythology/|access-date=2024-02-12|website=World History Encyclopedia|language=en}}][{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAgfDAAAQBAJ&q=An+Instinct+for+dragons|title=An Instinct for Dragons|last=Jones|first=David E.|date=2016-05-06|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-95132-1|language=en}}]
The [Chitrali](/source/Chitral_District) [dragon](/source/dragon) has similarities to both Eastern and Western [dragons](/source/Dragon). It looks like an [East Asian](/source/East_Asia) [dragon](/source/dragon) with its thick furlike mane, lives in [water](/source/water), and has a long, slender, [serpent](/source/Snake)-like body. But unlike [Eastern](/source/East_Asia) dragons, the [Chitrali](/source/Chitral_District) dragon is seen as a mean creature that spreads fear in its area. People living near [lakes](/source/Lake) have long believed in [creatures](/source/Monster) like this in the [Hindu Kush mountains](/source/Hindu_Kush). Even a [Chinese](/source/China) traveler from the 7th century, [Xuanzang](/source/Xuanzang), mentioned a [dragon](/source/dragon) living in a [lake](/source/lake) in the region. While the exact [lake](/source/lake) he talked about isn't known, some believe it could be Lake Dufferin on the border of [Chitral](/source/Chitral).[{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2019-10-18|title=Monsters and spirits of Khowar folklore|url=https://chitraltoday.net/2019/10/18/monsters-and-spirits-of-khowar-folklore/|access-date=2024-02-12|website=Chitral Today|language=en-US}}][{{Cite book|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48782|title=Lion and Dragon in Northern China|last=Johnston|first=Reginald Fleming|date=2015-04-24|publisher=Creative Media Partners, LLC |isbn=978-0-526-41263-1|language=English}}]
== Nihang of Matuj ==
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The small town of Mastuj in [Chitral](/source/Chitral_District) was once an important place, serving as the [capital](/source/Capital_city) of a small hilly [kingdom](/source/Monarchy). There used to be a big [lake](/source/lake) below the town where a huge [dragon](/source/dragon) (Nihang) lived. This [dragon](/source/dragon) would eat anything that moved, including [fish](/source/fish) and [animals](/source/Animal). Over time, it even started attacking [people](/source/people) passing by. The locals, worried about their safety, asked their [king](/source/king) for help.[{{Cite web|title=DRAGON LAKE SAGA- A CHITRALI MYTH|url=https://www.mahraka.com/dragon.html|access-date=2024-02-12|website=www.mahraka.com}}]
The [king](/source/king), after talking with his advisers, announced a reward for anyone brave enough to kill the [dragon](/source/dragon). A courageous [man](/source/man) stepped forward and said he would do it. He got a special [sword](/source/sword) made, [poisoned](/source/Poison) its edge, and set out on his dangerous journey.[{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-BBiEAAAQBAJ&dq=Mastuj+dragon+chitral&pg=PT14519|title=The Complete Works: The Dragon and The Raven, For the Temple, Under Drake's Flag, Facing Death, Redskin and Cowboy…|last=Henty|first=G. A.|date=2020-12-17|publisher=e-artnow|language=en}}]
The brave [man](/source/man) took one of the dragon's [golden](/source/Gold) manes (long hair on the neck like a [lion](/source/lion)) and went back to the [king's](/source/King) palace. He was happily welcomed, given a big feast, and praised by everyone. The [king](/source/king) rewarded him with [money](/source/money) and [land](/source/land). The people of Mastuj loved and admired him. His story spread far and wide, and even today, people remember him. Though the [lake](/source/lake) is gone, the place is still called ''Nahangu Chhat'', which means "The Dragon’s Lake" in the [Khowar language](/source/Khowar_language).