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Chitral


Location: North Eastern district of Pakistan near Afghanistan Border Elevation: 1127.76 meters. Weather: In summer weather is moderate but in winter snowfalls and it becomes very cold. Tourist Season: June to September. Activities/Interest: Trekking, Hiking, Mountaineering, Fishing, Camping, Wild Life, Photography, Youth Adventure Accessibility: By Air operates between Peshawar and Chitral, The flying time is 50 minutes. By Road Chitral is accessible by jeep in 12 hours from Peshawar by the 365 long partly metalled and partly gravel-top jeepable road, which goes via Malakand, Dir and 3118 meters high Lowari pass which is open during the summer months only. Chitral is also accessible by jeep in 27 hours from Gilgit by 406km-jeep track via 3810 meters high Shandur pass and 200km from Swat.14504 sq. meters. 365 km from Peshawar. Places of Interest: Shandur Top: is a high mountain pass that connects Chitral to Gilgit in Pakistan. The top is flat, a plateau and can be crossed between late april and early november. The grade is very gradual, and the area is extremely beautiful, crossed by small streams full of trout. KafirKalashTribe: One of the major attractions of Chitral are the Kalash valleys - the home of the Kafir-Kalash or 'Wearers of the Black Robe', a primitive pagan tribe. Their ancestry is shrouded in mystery. A legend has it that some soldiers of the legions of Alexander of Macedonia settled down in Chitral and the preset Kafir-Kalash are their offspring's. The 3,000 strong Kafir-Kalash live in the valleys of Birir, Bumburet and Rambur in the south. Bumburet, the largest and the most picturesque valley of the Kafir-Kalash, is 40 kms (25 miles) from Chitral and is connected by a jeepable road. Birir, 34 kms (21 miles) away, is accessible by a jeepable road. Rambur is 32 kms (20 miles) from Chitral. The road is jeepable upto Ayun and the remaining 16 kms (10 miles) have to be traveled on foot. The Kalash women wear black gowns of coarse cloth in summer and hand-spun wool dyed in black in winter. Their picturesque headgear is made of woolen black material studded with cowry shells, buttons and crowned with a large colored feather. The Kalash are gay people and love music and dancing particularly on occasions of their religious festivals like Joshi Chilimjusht (14th & 15th May - spring),Phool (20th-25th September) and Chowas (18th to 21st December). Foreign tourists require special permits to visit the Kalash valleys. The Deputy Commissioner, Chitral, issues permits free of cost. Garam Chashma (Hot Springs)Elevation: 1859 meters (6,100 feet). Distance: 45-km (28 miles) northwest of Chitral. By jeep 3 hours. This unspoiled enchanting valley of orchards, verdant fields and snow clad peaks is renowned for its boiling sulphur springs which are famous for healing effect on skin diseases, gout, rheumatism and chronic headaches. For the convenience of tourists, "humans" (baths) have been constructed near the springs. Foreign tourists are requested to pay a toll tax of Rs. 5.00 per person. Polo is an equestrian sport with its origin embedded in Central Asia dating as far back as sixth century BC. At first it was training game for Cavalry Units for the King's guards or other elite troops. To the warlike tribesmen who played polo with as many as 100 players to a side it was a miniature battle. Birmoghalasht Elevation 2743 meters (9,900 feet). Distance: 15 km (9 miles). Worth visiting is the fairy-tale summer palace of the ex-ruler perched at a height of 2743 metros (9,000 feet). It offers awe-inspiring views of Trichmir and panoramic vistas of valleys below. The fort is approachable on foot only. Mastuj is located in the northern part of Chitral, about 115km from Chitral town. It lies at the left bank of Mastuj river and an old fort is located amid a broad valley. Mastuj is the center of the northern Chitral and from here via Shandur pass the road leads to Gilgit. Mastuj became a part of Chitral formally in 1895 but before that it had rather a strong relation with Yasin and Ghizr and often was at war with Chitral. Here, you can see the fort in the center. Mastuj Fort: The Mastuj fort lies in the open valley where Yarhun river joins in Mastuj river. It is said that Kushwaqt, the brother of Shah Katur of Chitral, established himself in Mastuj in the 16th century and founded the Kushwaqt dynasty. Kushwaqt had a strong relation with Yasin and Ghizr territory then and often confronted with Chitral.