Booni, a beautiful town 85 kilometer to the north-east of Chitral Town, is the headquarters of the newly established district Chitral Upper in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The residents of Booni are Khos, and they speak 'Khowar' which is spoken and understood throughout Chitral valley. Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, along with English is...
Karambar Lake, also known as Qurumbar Lake, is a high-altitude lake located towards the end of Broghil, district Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is the 33rd highest in the world and one of the biologically active lakes on earth. The maximum length of the lake 3.9 km (2.4 mi) maximum width of 2 km (1.2 mi) with a total surface area of...
These pictures are from a 10-day trek from Sor Laspur (Upper Chitral) to Kumrat (Upper Dir), one of the most exotic and challenging treks in Pakistan. It passes through glaciers, glacial lakes, mountain passes, pastures, and forests. The total length of the trek is 140 kilometers with 4400m maximum altitude. You will come across five...
Snowflakes are nature’s spectacular manifestation that symbolize exemplary climate conditions in the mountains of Chitral, Pakistan. It is a critical source to replenish underground water reservoirs that feed fresh springs and streams vital to sustain subsistent agriculture locally. When snowflakes whirl along the wind and its white sheet drapes over trees, land, v-shaped valleys, ledges and icy lakes, it offers real excitement for adventurists, trekkers, and nature lovers. In winter, snowdrift is also a sensational phenomenon and it would be an outwardly experience on snowy day to stand atop a windy crest with fog engulfing all around and feeling the caress of snowflakes on one’s face. At this point pleasant melancholy overcomes and creative artistic vision is refreshed when thick snow layer mutes the gurgling streams and morning fog rolls into the village. With thigh-deep snow, steep landscape and mountain gorges, district Chitral is dubbed as ‘the land of avalanches’. In February and March, the cloud of avalanches is seen in the mountain at a stone’s throw from the villages. A heavenly feeling is experienced when waterfowls fly past the screen of snowflakes beating it down. To sum it, snowflake is life. It is a pivot around which the entire life...
Booni—A Must Visit Destination Hemmed in by gigantic Booni Zom (6,542 m) to the East and Hindukush Mountain Range to the West, Booni Town is located 85 kilometers to the north-east of district Chitral (Lower). Spread around 8 square kilometers, it is the headquarter of the newly established district Chitral Upper. Traditional hospitality mark...
Annual Kalash Chilimjusht festival falls victim to COVID-19 - Chitral News
Sultan Ghani, 63, is Chitral’s celebrated sitar player. He was the founding member and an indispensable figure of Al-Fatah Music Group, named after Fatahuddin, a reputed Khowar singer, who fanned alive the dying ambers of Khowar folk music back in 1980s. Here goes the story of Mr. Ghani in his own narration. I started strumming fifty years back when I was only thirteen year old. In pursuing the passion, I was virtually impressed by my father Abdul Ghani and uncle Purdom, both fine-tuned instrumentalists of the time. They used to play sitting around the central hearth of traditional Chitrali house (baipash) and basking the warmth of oak fire during the long cold winter nights, and I intently listened and observed them. Gradually I felt the urge to touch sitar, caressed its strings and made up mind to play it secretly since children were then discouraged to look at musical instrument, let alone playing it. Initially, I practiced with great devotion and hardly slept at night. In the course of time, my skills improved and expanded. Intuitively, it dawned on me how to set up proper coordination of fingers and gain natural rhythm to produce better music. When my father knew about...
Snow ebbed with snow glory abloom Mirth returned, withdrawn the gloom From wintry anchor breaking free Children on colleting spree, Of the gift so coveted to bring To herald and welcome spring Thru chimney they hand the ‘glory’ A tradition telling wonderful story Receiving walnut gift, dry fruits and sweet With occasional reward of homespun tweet Elders enjoy peacefully sitting To herald and welcome spring ‘Happy spring’ the hamlet’s abuzz A ripple of jubilation that it cause Children with snow playing foul Nature prevails stirring the soul Elders drum, kids doing swing To herald and welcome spring Wears the earth green garments Refreshing aura, the soil ferments Thick is the air with butterfly And a group of dove overfly Juniper scent lightly wafting To herald and welcome spring Sloughed into flute a branch of willow Rocking atop the rock looking below Engrossed as if in the midst of pray Melodious notes a lonely flutist play With peaceful herd nearby grazing To herald and welcome spring
Dear All, Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT) welcomes its guest to participate in Broghil festival 2014. The event, which will continue from Agust 22-24, comprises of traditional cultural music, folkdances, folksongs apart from traditional sporting event such as buzkashi, yak polo and free style polo. Your participation is welcomed. Please view CAMAT's banner, which has been uploaded to this website. Thanks!
