Chitral

Chitral located in the North west of Pakistan is a beautiful valley in the Hindukush range of Mountains. It has always been a very important route for many invaders to south east Asia, Including Alexander the great Scythians, Mangol Changez Khan and numerous others. Chitral is a small town with a one single street bazaar and a few tourist class hotels. At the end of Bazaar on the right (River side) there is the Chitral fort and Palace of Mehtar (Mir Or King) In front of the Fort is the Jami Mosque of Chitral an impressive architecture with beautiful inlays and decorations. You can get to Chitral from Swat via Dir drive to Dir on your Car where there are Jeeps available at Al Manzar Hotel which will take you via Lowari pass to the town of Chitral. There are also Hiaces (Vans) leaving from Swat but Jeeps are much safer. From Gilgit you can get a Jeep to take you to Phander (Below Shandur Pass ) You must overnight at a camp site and later continue to Chitral next day.

Hotels:

PTDC Chitral is the best choice has a beautiful garden and very good service Single
Mountain View Hotel is located in Shahi Bazaar second best good clean rooms with hot shower. There are few other smaller hotels along the bazaar and in front of PTDC Motel.

Festivals in Chitral

Qaqlash Festival

Celebrated in Chitral during mid April every year. The festival is called Jashn-E-Qaqlasht dates back to the time immemorial. However some local historians believe that the festival is almost three thousand years old. This event used to be organized by the Rais rulers of Chitral and was continued by the succeeding Katoor family. After Chitral's merger in the federation of Pakistan, holding of the festival as a calendar event came to an end. The main objective of the event was to protect and preserve Chitral's unique cultural heritage and to give currency to the culture of tolerance, cooperation and coordination through cultural

Transfers

Chitral - Dir:Drive by jeep to Dir via Lowari pass only possible in July August & September. The road is very rough but very scenic. Mountains are rugged and turn green with pines and Junipers as you come closer to the pass and later at Dir or Pannakot.

Dir/ Pannakot to Swat :At Dir there is one Small Hotel. called Almanzar hotel and there is a small PTDC Motel at Pannakot so it is best to continue to Swat which is only 3 Hours. You will drive through a green region with scenes of villages and nomads on the way.

Chitral to MastujThis is same as the excursion to Shandur. You can stop on your way to Gilgit on a Jeep Safari and camp at a famous camp site known as the Subedars village/ Camp site. There is plenty of water and a good shaded grass to put your camps on.

Mastuj to Phandar

From Mastuj pass the Shandur pass and descend to the Phandar Lake and camp any where on the river / Lake side the whole area is meadows and safe to camp.

Phandar to Gilgit.

Drive to Gilgit via Gakuch & Gupis and overnight at Gilgit.

Tours :

Half day walking in the town. Visit the Mosque, The Bazaar and polo Ground at Chitral.

Full Day Kafir Kalash Valleys:

One needs a permit from the political agents office in the town to Go to Kafir Kalash valleys. Obtain your permit from the office and drive By Jeep to Banburat valley one of the most interesting of the Kalash valleys. Kalash is a mountain tribe of the Hindukush Living isolated from the rest of the world since ages. Though very few of them remain so still area can be called one of the remotest of the land in Pakistan. Kalash or Kafirs are very colorful people with their own traditions and a polytheist religion. As you reach the valley you get a very unique feeling of being in a very different culture. The women of the valley wear a black gown with beautiful embroidery and a Cap which hangs till the Back, embrioded with shells. You may witness a Kalash dance which made some people relate them to the armies of the Alexander the great.

There are few restaurants, and camp sites in the valley. you can spend an Afternoon or even a few leisure days in this valley.

Half Day Garam Chashma

A village about 30 KMs from Chitral. The drive is very scenic and breathtaking at the village there is a hot spring pool and a few houses.

Full day Shandur Pass

Drive by Jeep through some of the remotest mountain villages to Shandur pass 12000 feet. Spend some time at the pass and stop bye at some villages later drive back to Chitral.