Tradition / Region: Pakistani Mythology
Alternate Names: Barmanu; Baddmanus
Category: Mountain dweller
The Myth
High in the mountains between the Pamirs and the Himalayas, in the lonely valleys of Chitral and the Karakoram, shepherds tell of a being called the Barmanou. It walks upright like a man, yet it is covered in hair like a beast. It moves silently among cliffs and forests where few dare to wander.
The Barmanou is said to dwell far from villages, appearing mostly at dusk or in the deep hours of night. Those who claim to have seen it describe a large, powerful figure with both human and apelike features. Some say it wears animal skins draped across its shoulders and head, as though imitating mankind. Others insist it is entirely wild, a creature of the mountains with no need for tools or clothing.
It is known in local lore as a dangerous being. Stories tell that it sometimes descends from the heights to approach isolated camps or grazing grounds. It has a fearsome reputation for abducting women and attempting to carry them back into the mountains. In some versions of the tale, it behaves like a beast; in others, it is more like a primitive man, capable of cunning and intent.
Shepherds speak of hearing strange guttural cries echoing through valleys at night—deep, throaty sounds unlike those of any known animal. These cries are said to roll across the mountainsides, warning intruders that the Barmanou is near.
In the folklore of northern Pakistan, the Barmanou stands between worlds—neither fully animal nor fully human. Some call it an ape. Others call it a wild man. But all agree that in the high, wind-swept ranges where glaciers cut the earth and the air grows thin, something ancient still roams beyond the reach of ordinary sight.
Gallery
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Barmanou. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmanou
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Barmanou