Pearl
of the North
Chitral Valley is one of Pakistan’s most
beautiful places to visit. From icy mountain peaks to rivers to forests, we can
find all in Chitral. Located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the capital of District
Chitral, Chitral is also one of Pakistan’s most historical cities and a tourist
hub. The valley is famous for mountaineering, trekking, fishing and hiking in
addition to a number of beautiful tourist spots. The best time to visit is from
July to September, because it can get slightly hot during May and June. Known
for hospitality, it is a common practice for tourists to stay with a
traditional Chitrali family during their visit where they can experience
everything from the culture to the food to the dressing.
Kalash Valley
The
Kalash Valleys are located in Chitral District and are inhabited by the Kalash
people, who have customs and language which are quite different from their
neighbors, and historically have had a different religion. They claim legendary
ancestry as descendants of Alexander the Great’s armies who were left behind
after his campaigns in the area. The Kalash have a unique culture that has
attracted everyone from missionaries to anthropologists to tourists.
Chitral Museum
Chitral, famous for its
history, has created a Museum where tourists can visit to enhance their
knowledge about the historical valley. The museum contains antiques, weapons
and other stuff from the old times of monarchies provides great knowledge about
history and culture of Chitral and Kalash people.
Chitral Polo Ground
The natural and most played
sport in Chitral is Polo. There are many Polo grounds in Chitral, but the most
famous one is located in Chitral town. It hosts the Shundur Polo Tournament,
said to be the played at the highest altitude in the world of polo tournaments.
If you wish to learn more about this game, you must visit the ground where you
will receive interesting information about it. If you are lucky then there
might be match going on that you can enjoy.
 |
| Shundur Polo Tournament |
Restaurant
Chitrali food has a
regional variance in contrast to many other cuisines of Pakistan. The food of
Chitral is very similar to the cuisine in neighboring Gilgit-Baltistan. Mantus,
a Central Asian dish of steamed beef dumplings popular in Chitral due to influences
from Badakhshan. Pilaf usually of beef which is pre-boiled until it is
extremely tender is an essential dish at large gatherings and the meat is
served lying on top of the rice. Salty buttered tea, green tea and very bitter
black tea, called Troq Chai, are all very popular as well. Honey, cheese and
fresh fruits also make up a staple part of the Chitrali diet as these products
are part of the local mountain agricultural tradition.
Shopping
In Chitral, there is a main
bazaar where a number of items can be found. “Patti” is a coarse cloth which
can be found in the market with embroidery done on it. Chitrali men are famous
for their woolen caps, which has become a hit in the fashion world, and can
easily be found on the main streets of Chitral. In addition to these one can
find small rugs and carpets, lots of dry fruits and gem stones, which is a real
tourist pull.
Hotels - Chitral has a lot of hotels
and guest houses to choose from. You can find the range of places to stay
at on www.jovago.com with real pictures.
Safety - Chitral is very safe and
the people are very friendly. However, out of respect for Pakistan it would be
advisable for women to cover their legs, but there is no particular dress code
in Chitral.
Main Airport: Chitral Airport
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