Discover Chitral

Get to know Chitral through a wide range of experiences: historical connections, polo matches and places to visit in the town and its surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can consider whether culture, sport or destinations outside the town should take priority. These preferences can also help you tailor your search for a holiday rental in Chitral to your interests.

History and access in Chitral

The road over Lowari Pass was once the main link between Chitral and the rest of the country. It was passable only during the summer months and remained closed in winter because of heavy snowfall. The former winter closure shaped the history of the route to Chitral. If you are interested in the history of the connection, it offers a distinct perspective for planning your trip, separate from the sights and events in the town.

Chitral Royal Fort dates back to the 18th century. It is not open to the general public; some parts can be visited with special permission. If you are considering such a visit, check in advance whether it is possible and whether permission can be obtained. This way, you can account for the access restrictions in your plans rather than treating the fort as a freely accessible attraction.

Polo and trout farming

Polo matches are held at Chitral Polo Ground from May to July as preparation for the Shandur Polo Festival. At this festival, the best polo teams from Chitral and the Gilgit-Baltistan region compete against each other. If polo is a reason for your trip, check the dates in advance. This lets you plan around a specific time period without conflating the matches with the festival itself.

A different kind of visit takes you to Jughoor, where visitors can tour a trout farm. This is a different focus from the historical and sporting events in the town and can add another option to your selection of experiences. If the visit is important to your plans, check in advance whether it is currently possible. This way, you can consider the trout farm as a possible stop without making a visit a fixed part of your stay.

Destinations in the surrounding area

Near Chitral lies Birmoghlasht, the ruins of the former summer palace of the royal family of Chitral. The site is about 9,000 feet above sea level within Chitral Gol National Park. The ruins, their former purpose and the approximate elevation give this destination a different focus from the fort in town.

The Tushi Gol Wildlife Reserve is also in the vicinity of Chitral, on the road to Gram Chashma. This gives you a choice of places with different connections to the area: sights in Chitral itself and destinations in the surrounding area. You can use these options to decide which themes matter to your trip and whether you want to focus your search on Chitral or a wider area.

When choosing a holiday rental, this distinction is primarily a matter of the kind of trip you want: would you like to plan around the sightseeing and event-related experiences in Chitral, or should the nearby destinations mentioned also play a part? These different interests cannot be reduced to a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Mingora, Khanspur, Abbottabad, Koka, Ayubia, Saidu Sharif, Malam Jabba

Return to the regional travel overview: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.