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
Peshawar or Swat via Dir thru the Lowari tunnel. From Gilgit you can get a Jeep to take you to
Phander (Below Shandur Pass ) You must overnight at pHANDAR ptdc Motel and
Phandar guest house and later continue to Chitral next day.
Hotels:
Hindukush Heights
Hindukush Trails Hotel Chitral
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.
Chitral Hotels List
Pamir Riverside Inn hotel (2 Star), Noghor Chitral, Chitral, Pakistan
Hotel Chitral Continental (1 Star), New Bazaar Chitral, Pakistan
Chinar Inn (1 Star), Shahi Bazaar, Chitral, Pakistan
Cheo Bridge Hotel (1 Star), Danin Road, Chitral Pakistan
Hotel Green Hills (2 Star), Chitral Road, Upper Dir, Chitral, Pakistan
Hotel Dream Land (1 Star), Airport Road, Chitral, Pakistan
Foreigner Tourist Inn (2 Star), Kalash Valley, Chitral, Bamborait, Pakistan
Chitral Mountain Inn (2 Star), P.O box 7, Chitral, Pakistan
Hotel Al Farooq (2 Star), New Bazaar Chitral, Pakistan
Hotel tourist Inn & Restaurant (2 Star), Shahi Masjid Road, Chitral, Pakistan
Taj Mahal Hotel (1 Star), Danin Chitral, Chitral, Pakistan
Alamgir Hotel (1 Star), Daleem Bazaar, Chitral, Pakistan
Kailash Continental Hotel (2 Star), Battrek Bamburait, Chitral, Pakistan
Tourist Lodge (2 Star), Shahi Masjid Road, Chitral, Pakistan
Festivals in Chitral
Chilam JoShi Festival Kalash Valley
Held in Mid May Chilam Joshi is a popular festival as during May
the roads from rest of Pakistan to Chitral and Kalash are open. The festival is
held from 14th to 17th May and is visited by many people from within Pakistan
and abroad. The festival represents the arrival of summer and and of winter and
harvesting season.
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 to Bamburet (Kalash) / Chitral to Birir
It is 2 to 2 & half hour drive from Kalash to the largest village of Kalash
the most colorful tribe of hindukush. We drive along the Chitral Dir road and
than turn right to Ayon and continue to jeep road to kalash.
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 Mastuj
This 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.
Travel & Culture can organise different tours to Chitral Kalash
and other areas of Northern and southern Pakistan. Please
contact us to plan your tour
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