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CHITRALVALLEY
& KAFIRISTAN (Kalash Valley) |
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The Chitral Valley at an elevation
of 1,128 metres, is favourite with mountaineers, anglers, hunters,
hikers, naturalists and anthropologists. The 7,705 metres Trichmir,
the highest peak of the Hindukush range, dominates this 322
kms long exotic valley.
Location
Chitral district has Afghanistan on its north, south and
west. A narrow strip of Afghan territory, Wakhan, separates
it from Tajikistan. The tourist season in Chitral is from
June
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to September. The maximum temperature
in June is 35 C and the minimum 19 C. In September the maximum
is 24 C and minimum 8C.
Kalash Valleys
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. |
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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 fun loving 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 Chomas (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
Top
places in Northern Areas
Swat Valley | Gilgit
and Hunza Valleys | Chitral (Kalash
valleys) | Kaghan and Naran |
Skardu and Deosai Plains (Baltistan)
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