Hazro's Group in Shandur Polo Festival (Chitral)

01) YASIR Amin, 02) Israr Ahmad, 03) Mohabbat Khan 04) Niaz Ali 05) Mudassar Ahmad

Shandur Top (el. 12,200 ft.) is a high mountain pass that connects Chitral to the Gilgit in Pakistan.

Polo is known as the King of the games. Gilgit is the home of this spirited game where the British rediscovered and promoted it. Today polo is played in Gilgit and Chitral enthusiastically in its original trilling form. For the last few years, a polo tournament is organized between the traditional rival polo teams of Gilgit Region and Chitral at the high plateau of Shandur Pass (3734 m) every year in summer. This week long festival coupled with folk music and dance at the height of 3700 meters in the back drop of Hindukush mountains, is an event not to be missed.

The top is flat, a plateau and can be crossed between late April and early November. The grade is very gradual, and the area is crossed by small streams of trout. Grazing in summer is plentiful.

Every year there is a polo match played on Shandur Top between a team from Chitral and a team from Gilgit.

Shandur Top is one of the four major mountain passes to enter Chitral. The others are Dorah Pass from Badakshan in Afghanistan, Lowari Pass from Dir, and Broghol from the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan.

The people who live on both sides of Shandur Top speak the Khowar language.

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 Jamia Mosque of Chitral an impressive architecture with beautiful inlays and decorations. You can get to Chitral from Swat via Dir drive to Dir on your Car where there are Jeeps available at Al Manzar Hotel which will take you via Lowari pass to the town of Chitral. There are also Hiace (Vans) leaving from Swat but Jeeps are much safer. From Gilgit you can get a Jeep to take you to Phander (Below Shandur Pass ) You must overnight at a camp site and later continue to Chitral next day.

Our Trip's Highlights:-

Monday 07July,2008 (9:00am)

Hazro to Mardan NWFP (9:00am)* Toyota Hiace >

Mardan to Timar Gara (11:30am)* Toyota Hiace > Stayed in Chakdara in a Restaurent.

Timar Gara to Chitral via Lowari Top (2:30pm)* Toyota Cab 4x4 Drive> (Local Called Ghowagai)

Stayed on Lowari Top Tunnel, Aabshar, Restaurent, Glassier, Ashrait, Daroosh etc. Stayed in YZ Restaurent a night in Chitral City.

Tuesday 08July,2008

Chitral City to Mastuj (6:00am)* Toyota Cab 4x4 Drive> (Local Called Ghowagai)

Mastuj to Shandur Pass {Polo Festival} (11:00am)* Stayed in a Restaurent for Lunch.

Drives to Shandur pass. The pass, 3734M is blocked by snow for most of the year, but tin summer its flat top is pastureland and two small lake make beautiful spot Shandur is famous for its polo match between Gilgit and Chital. overnight camping at Shandur.

Shandur Polo Ground Festival (Final Destination)

Got hard fever & headache at night. The famous singer Zeek Afridi from Peshawar sings his favorite songs in live concert. Took medicine from Mobile Clinic in Polo Festival & Slept well all night to recover health.

Wednesday 09July,2008

Woke up early morning, took snaps, move around the Military & Police temporary residential area. Took Breakfast & went to Shandur Polo Ground. High security was alert there. Polo match was started at 11:00pm between Chitral & Gilgit. Chitral's team won by 9-7 goals.

Shandur Polo Ground to Gilgit (2:00pm)* Toyota Hiace> Stayed in Phander, Gupis, Ghaguch, Singul, Gulapure etc for Prayers & capturing. Drive through Pandur valley to Gilgit. Gilgit is the largest marketplace for hundreds of kilometers in any direction, home of the polo game, there are usually at least a practice match, mostly afternoon. Reached to Gilgit City at 11:30pm & stayed in Al-Flah Motel.

Thursday 10July,2008

Gilgit City to Hunza (9:00am)* Toyota Cab 4x4 Drive> (Local Called Ghowagai)

Stayed on the world's highest top ten ranking peaks (Rakaposhi 5th heights in the world) for capturing & fast food. Reached to Hunza at 03:00pm & took food.

Hunza to Gilgit City back to Gilgit City (03:30pm)* Toyota Hiace>

Back quickly to Gilgit City for getting the Coaster to way back Home Town Hazro. Got tickets & went to Gilgit City-Center for shopping of Dry Fruits.

Gilgit City to Hasan Abdal back to Hazro City (8:00pm)* Toyota Coaster>

After Maghrib Prayer (8:15pm) start our long range journey for back to Hasan Abdal. (Gilgit> Nanga Purbat> Chasam Nala>

Friday 11July,2008

Kohistan> Pattan> Bisham> Shinkiari> Mansehra> Abbott Abad> Hari Pur> Hasan Abdal> (02:30pm)

Hasan Abdal to Hazro City (02:30pm)* Bus>

Back to Hazro City on 6th day at 30:30pm.

Malakand Peak Road from Mardan side, N.W.F.P. Going to Chitral.	Kids of Chitral selling the local fruits in very cheap price.	Chitral Valley.	Water Fall on Lowari Top Chitral.
4 by 4 Drive on Lowari Top mountain.	Under constructed the Lowari Top Tunnel from Dir Bala Side. Will be completed in Dec2008.	Ice Glassier on the top of Lowari Top mountain.	A Driver Hotel on the end of Lowari Top mountain from Chitral side.
Our 2nd day & going to Shandur Festival from Chitral city. 8hrs 4by4 Drive.	Darya E Chitral's bank on the way of Mastuj.	Me with Giant peak on the way to Shandur from Chitral side..	Stayed on a turn for capturing the pictures of mountains.
Mountains on the way of Shandur from Chitral.	Iron Bridge on the way to Shandur from Chitral City.	The triangle place. Shows the distance to the Mastuj & Shandur	Welcome Sign Boards for the tourist of Shandur Festival.
A mountain having same angles from both sides. Never scene before.	Khoush Amdeed (Welcome) Door by Telenor Cellular Service, for visitors.	A Para glider person flying on the Sky Roof Ground of Polo in Shandur Valley.	Main view of Shandur Polo Stadium on the height of 11,780 feet from sea level.
Parade of Pakistan Police Dept, before the starting of Polo Match..	The peak points of Shandur valley are covered by clouds.	A S.S.G's person landing by Parachute in Shandur Polo Ground.	Another S.S.G's person back to earth after flown from mountain.
The local players are waiting for call in Ground for playing Polo.	Two S.S.G's cadets making landing by Parachutes to the Shandur Polo Ground.	My Casio Digital Watch shows the height from sea level in feet's.	Local Chitrali people doing dance before starting the Polo Match between Chitral & Gilgit's teams.
The crowd are looking on a boy, which is doing Chitrali Dance. A foreigner female also interesting in his dance.	Red Shirts players are belong to Chitral & Blue are from Gilgit districts.	On the time of Foul a goal by Gilgit team.	Chacha E Polo with Pakistan's flag in the High Roof Ground of the world.
Me & Chacha E Polo in Shandur Polo Ground.	WooW, have U scene like this before?	A British tourist making snap of local guys of Chitral Valley.	Me in the 1st half of final Polo Match in Shandur with Polo's Stick & Ball.
Chitral's team player in 1st half of the Polo Game.	Chitrali Dance in the 1st half of Polo Match.	Specific Dance of a Chitrali person in the mid of the Game.	Dance under the flag of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Dance...	Photographers from alot of countries making his photo after Dance.	Surprising ceremony after winning the match by Chitral team.	A Prado is crossing Shandur Dessert, very nice style & dust.
Bridge boundary says WELCOME TO SHANDUR.	Going to Phander (Gilgit) from Shandur.	Very nice scenes on the way of Gilgit from Shandur Ground.	Visitors/Tourist from Karachi city going back to their destination after Polo Match.
Local kids of Gilgit Valley in a smiling style.	Light Bridge on the way to Gilgit.	Our Toyota Hiace from Shandur to Gilgit, 9hrs drive.	Bikers from Punjab going back to their province from Shandur.
Rainbow on the mountains of Gilgit Valley.	Rainbow & 3D type Scene.	Sign Board showing the distance from Gopis Town.	Gardens of fruit & Corn's fields.
Picture of Tabligi Jumaat during Ghasht at evening time in Gopis Town.	Local fruit, bringing to home to dry them.	The person invite us to take as much as U want to eat, an example of hospitality of F.A.T.A. area of Pakistan.	Local boys of GahGuch town on the way of Gilgit from Shandur Polo ground.
Runway strip of Gilgit Airport. Only PIA operate the flights from Capital city daily.	View of distance sign board on the way to Hunza Valley (A paradise on earth).	Me on the stay of Jaglot.	Suddenly we saw a Truck on the way to Hunza of my cuisine.
Three Trucks from Wah Cantt (RWP) going to Hunza City to bring Potatoes.	I'm on Driving seat of Hino Corporation Ltd..	Mountains cut for the Shahra E Rashim Road.	1st scene of Raka Poshi, the peak having number.
Totally free the fruits of Hunza Valley for tourist.	China's Boarder only 201 Kms away from here but it took 24hours more from here.	Raka Poshi Peak Point.	Me with Raka Poshi's peak.
I'm on a picnic point in the mid of Gilgit & Hunza.	A tourist attraction point.	A large size's sign board show whole Nagar valley with names.	New Zealand's group stayed in Raka Poshi view point.
American tourist group going to take rest in Raka Poshi point.	View of Raka Poshi from right side angle.	Nanga Parbat peak view.	Main entrance of Gilgit City from Rawalpindi / Islamabad's side, a group of Bikers going back to Punjab after tour.
Polo's statue in Gilgit City.	Indian Army's Helicopter in Gilgit Cantt area.	Helicopter of Indian Army revamped on 30th of Oct,1997.	How I look with Indian Army's Helicopter.
Trout fish stall on the way back to ISB from Gilgit in Samar Nala stay point.	View of early morning in the district of Kohistan. 10hrs away from Gilgit City to RWP.	Stayed for Brake Fast in Bisham City (After 13hrs).	Another Coaster from ISB/RWP to Gilgit City of P.T.V. Channel.
Islamabad is away only 262kms more :( So long drive.	Shangla's Bridge in Hazara Division.	Shangla Bridge from left side view.	View from inside of the Bridge of Shangla (Bisham).
View of recovering Land Sliding problem.	The Traffic was stopped from 10hrs, because of heavy rock come to the road of Silk Route. British group is also sad :(.	Our Coaster of Saeed Travels from Gilgit to Rawalpindi.	Lahori guys trying to throw the stone piece down.
Silk Route Express delayed 15hrs because of Land Sliding.	Finally travelers get rid of land sliding problem, after Dynamite Exposing.	View of Batagram City on Silk Route (Shahrah E Rashim).	View of Road between Manshera & Abbott Abad (Shahrah E Rashim).