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CAMAT [Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism] celebrated International Climatic Day of Action, Oct 24, 2009 in the Kalash valley of Rumbor, district Chitral with a philosophy of ‘think globally, act locally’ in mind. The theme of the day was “The Impacts of Global Warming on the Kalash Communities”. Kalash ECOCLUB, school students, local leadership and woman representatives participated. The day was observed in about 170 countries around the world aimed at awareness raising regarding the impacts of global warming on the natural environment and ecology that is likely to cast negative impacts on all organisms living on the planet earth. The participants felt proud in being part of the noble cause being celebrated around the world on Oct 24, 2009.In the meantime, they recorded their apprehension that the natural environment of the Kalash valleys—Rumbor, Burmborate and Birir—is certainly threatened due to climatic changes leading to longer summers, short autumns and short winters characterized by comparatively less snowfall and its early melting.Mr Saifullah, the Kalash community leader and social activist, discussed the significance of natural environment, forest belt and alpine meadow for the traditional culture of the communities in the valleys. It was pointed out that the population of goat—the religious...

It is a bright morning on July 9, 2007 at the end of the Shandur polo festival that with a group of 6 people we start from Shandur over Chamarkand Pass to participate in the Broghil festival and to continue our trek over Darkhot pass further on to the Yasin valley. After night stay at the Chamarkand pass (4328m), we manage to get to the village Chapali (2500m), 8 kilometer north to Mastuj. This village is acknowledged for its traditional folksingers, folkdancers, solo sitar players and vocalists. We stay with Mr Akhtar Murad Khan, whose house perches atop the mountain overlooking the village.The next morning we have a thorough visit to have glimpses of the women activities in handicraft, cooking and the rest of the household chore. We observe several women harvesting wheat crops. Many more are occupied with weaving traditional woolen carpet, goat-hair carpet and embroidered women cap. Every house we visit, we are warmly welcomed and presented with cherry and mulberry besides tea. Some of the group members buy the local woolen carpets and embroidered women caps. In the late afternoon we arrange a big cultural event in the wide orchard under the cool shadow of the fruit-bearing trees,,...

Hi everybody, please visit the following website link to know about ecotourism in Chitral, northern Pakistan:http://www.yourtravelchoice.org/2009/08/co...atives-chitral/http://www.whl.travel/blog/?p=1751#more-1751You can please arrange your lifetime trip to have the glimpses of the prestine natural environment and traditional culture in the Hindu Kush region.Thanks for your time!

The Kalash of the forlorn Kafiristan valleys in Chitral district are celebrating the summer harvest festival which they call 'Uchal' culminating on 22 August. The festival started early August with sporadic dancing and merry making and thanking nature for granting them the wheat harvest season. Hectic shopping activity by the Kalash was monitored in Chitral town in the last couple of days in preparation of the climaxing day of the festival on Saturday.Coutesy: Chitral News

Dear All,Please visit the following website link to watch an interview of the Kalash cultural group in one of Pakistan's famous TV channels:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4GPNISsuXMThe member of the groups are:1) Fatima2) Mir Azam3) Balawoosht4) Faizi Khan5) Kirn6) Tufan Gul7) Shams Uddin Those shown in the interview are:1) Fatima2) Shams Uddin3) Mir AzamMr Mir Azam, the known pature flutists in the Kalash valleys, is playing flute, the melody of which directly links one's soul to nature!The objective of these activities is:1) To highlight the colouful but threatened culture of the Kalash communities2) To make the culture a source of income for the Kalash communities so that they will feel the importance of the culture, which in turn, bolster our determination to protect it.Hope you will enjoy it.Thanks!

Lonely Planet terms it ‘Chaghbibi—Gokhshal—Chimirsan—Rumbor Trek’. I would rather describe it ‘Trekking through the Nomads’ Land’ given the frequency with which one comes across the nomads in the course of his/her trek illustrated by scenic beauties—dense forests of pine, cedar and oak, milky streams, pure icy springs, colorful flowers and most noticeably an aura of pastoral life. Day 1:We start trekking from the Chitral town with quite heavy supplies—food items, utensils, clothes and sleeping bags—up to the Chaghbini Hut (2925m) of the Chitral Gol Natural Park and get here in about 7 hours. The watchers on duty here are hospitable, friendly and easy going people, who welcome us into the compound of the hut with low boundary walls located in the forest overlooking the Terich Mir and Booni Zom to the North and Broz village of Chitral to the south. Near the sunset as the golden rays hit the landscape here it is transformed into a picturesque scene that prompts us to do some nice photography. We also scan the forest with binoculars to find markhor and see many of them whilst grazing far bellow the ravine. Take dinner early and go to sleep in anticipation of an arduous trek the...

Reputed British paper Guardian, has written a detailed account of Shandur Polo, played at the world’s highest ground, and appreciated people’s resolve to hold the festival despite militancy threat. “Despite fears of a Taliban attack, high in Pakistan’s Hindu Kush, a historic sporting tournament carried on regardless,” Guardian’s noted writer Declan Walsh wrote.But this epic spectacle, which unfolded in Pakistan’s North West Frontier province this week, was a matter of sport, not war. And despite threats of dire violence, there wasn’t a Taliban fighter in sight, he wrote in his dispatch from Shandur.Every summer polo teams from the mountain districts of Chitral and Gilgit converge on the Shandur Pass, a spectacular natural stadium surrounded by snow-sprinkled peaks which, at an altitude of over 12,000 ft, is the world’s highest polo ground.He wrote that this year the tournament was nearly cancelled as the district mayor called on the government to scrap the festival, arguing it was disrespectful to the soldiers who lost their lives at the hands of Taliban.Walsh goes on to add that at a public rally days later, district mayor’s supporters issued a more sinister warning: that there could be a Taliban suicide attack.“After intense backroom talks, and the deployment...

PESHAWAR, 18 June 09: : "Shandur Polo Festival 2009 will be held this year according to plans and this year’s event would be dedicated to the martyred soldiers of the ongoing operation in Malakand Divison, particularly those belonging to Chitral and Gilgit areas. The event would honour the families of those courageous soldiers who sacrificed their lives so there can be peace and stability in the rest of the country” This was stated by Minister for Sports, Tourism, Culture Syed Aqil Shah while chairing a preliminary meeting to discuss arrangements for the upcoming event.“Shandur Polo is a traditional festive game which is played annually between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit since many years. It is played on the roof of the world and the game tests the bravery and courage of the players to the limit. We need to raise the morale of the public. Let us as a nation, draw inspiration from the spirit of this sport and remain undeterred and face the current challenges faced by our country with determination” he added.The meeting was also attended by Minister of Population Welfare Saleem Khan, Secretary Sports and Culture Sahibzada Fazle Amin, MD STC Muhammad Azam Khan, Col Kiyani of...

District Polo Cup Tournament starts in Chitral town today e.g. on June 14 in the afternoon. as many as 40 polo teams from the remote valleys of the Chitral district have come to participate in the mega event of the free style polo. The event is intended to build the capacity and ensure the fitness of the players of Chitral polo team before the Shandur polo event commencing from July 7 to 9.

CAMAT [Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism] celebrated Worldwide Day for Responsible Tourism, June 2nd, 2009, in Mountain Inn, Chitral town with a goal to create awareness about “Tourism and Water Resources: Impacts, Responsibilities and Solutions with a Future”. Scholars, religious leadership, NGO representatives, members of Kalash and Khow communities presented papers on the following themes: • The impacts of tourism development on water resources•Without water no tourism is possible•How to preserve and enhance water resources e.g. lake, ocean, river, waterfalls etc. by responsible tourism development?•Can responsible tourism development help improving accessibility for people with drinking water?•Tourism in the light of Islamic teachingsProblems of water pollution highlighted and concerns about receding glaciers in the Hindukush region were recorded. It was stressed that lakes, springs, streams, rivers and glaciers must be protected in order to showcase northern Pakistan as an attractive tourist destination in the future. If water resources are degraded, then the very basis of tourism will be undermined and serious healthcare issues involving jaundice, typhoid and diarrhea etc will surface in the host communities. Thus major responsibilities, as the forum pointed out, lie with tourism institutions, hotel owners, transporters, guides and other primary tourism stakeholders, who must fall in love...