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Kafir Kalash Tribe |
One of the major attractions
of Chitral are the Kalash valleys- the home of the Kafir-Kalash or "Wearers
of the Black Robes", a primitive pagan tribe. Their ancestry is enveloped
in mystery and is the subject of controversy. A legend says that five soldiers
of the legions of Alexander of Macedonia settled in Chitral and are the
progenitors of the Kafir-Kalash.
Over 3,000-strong
Kafir-Kalash live in the valley of Birir, Bumburet and Rambur, south of Chitral.
Bumburet, the largest and the most picturesque valley of the Kafir-Kalash , is
40 kms. from Chitral and is connected by a jeep-able road. Birir, 34 kms. away
is accessible by a jeep-able road. Rambur is 32 kms from Chitral.
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 decked out with
cowry shells, buttons and crowned with a large coloured feather.
The Kalash are a gay people
who love music and dancing particularly on occasion of their religious festival
like Joshi Chilinjusht (14th & 15th May-spring), Phool
(20th – 25th September) and Chowas (18th to
21st December for a week).
Polo in Chitral is as
popular as in Gilgit. Polo matches are great attractions at festive occasions. A
regular Polo tournament is held every year (First week of July) at Shandur Pass.
Permits
Foreign tourists require
permits for visiting the Kalash valleys, which are issued @ Rs. 50/- per person
at check post outside Kalash valley. (Rs. 20/- for Pakistanis).
Mountaineering
Apart from Trichmir (7705
metres) reigning over Chitral valley, other exciting peaks are Istornal, Bunizem,
Saraghrar, Noushaq, Ghocharsor, Phal, Daser and Don, rising from 6,096 to 7,315
metres. Permission for mountaineering is issued by the Tourism Division,
Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.
Trekking
and Hiking
Trekking and hiking in the
enchanting valleys of Chitral is a dream come-true. Some of the trekking courses
are: Drosh-Madaklasht- Golden – Kuguzi-Chitral 48 kms. and
Chitral-Shighore-Sassum-Ovir-Mroi, through areas of magnificent scenic beauty in
the shadow of the Trichmir. There are no regular camping sites but you are
always welcome by the friendly and hospitable locals to camp on their lands or
lawns: provided, of course, you obtain the owner’s permission.
Fishing
The angling season is from
April to September. The rivers in Chitral, specially the Lutkuh River, is famous
for its brown trout. Golenbol and Shishi Kuh Nallahs are also famous for trout.
The Fisheries Department at Chitral issues fishing permits.
How
to Get There
By Air
: PIA operates three daily flights between Peshawar and Chitral, subject
to good weather.
By Road : Chitral is accessible from Peshawar by the 363 Kms. Road which goes via Malakand, Dir and the 3,118 metres high Lowari Pass. The Pass is open during the summer months only i.e. from June to mid-November. It may even close earlier due to snowfall. Transport can be hired at Peshawar through PTDC Information Centre at Dean’s Hotel, Peshawar. Tel: (92-91) 279781-4, and Jeeps at Dir from the main bazaar. Chitral can also be reached from Gilgit via the 3,734 metres high Shandur Pass. (distance 406 kms.)
Where
To Stay :
There are reasonably priced hotels, a PTDC motel and several
rest-houses.
