Chitral Valley
Former Princely State Of The Mehtars Of Chitral, Under Tirich Mir, The Highest Peak Of The Hindu Kush · Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Chitral is a long mountain valley in the far northwest, under Tirich Mir, at over 7,700 metres the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, which fills the view from the town on a clear day. For centuries it was the princely state of the Mehtars of Chitral, and their fort still stands on the riverbank beside the white Shahi Mosque of 1924. In 1895 a small British garrison was besieged in the fort for some seven weeks, an episode famous in its time. The valley was cut off by snow for months each winter until the Lowari Tunnel opened, and it still feels far from the rest of Pakistan. Chitral is the base for the Kalash valleys, the hot springs at Garam Chashma, Chitral Gol National Park with its markhor, and the Shandur Pass, where the famous polo festival is played in July on one of the highest polo grounds in the world. Chitralis are known for their woollen pakol caps and their hospitality. It is quiet, conservative and beautiful, and the road north to Mastuj and Booni is spectacular.
Chitral town and the Chitral River valley, Chitral District, Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
The valley is open year round now that the Lowari Tunnel keeps the road from Dir open in winter, though snow can still close it. Flights from Islamabad are short and often cancelled in bad weather. The fort is owned by the former ruling family; access inside may be limited. Foreigners register with police on arrival. The Shandur polo festival is held in July; the pass is open only in summer.