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 marked by indigenous cultural values, peace, friendliness and care on the part of local communities and tourism service providers reinforced by its new status as headquarter of the freshly established district Chitral Upper, the town has grown in importance and reputation as an attractive tourists destination.

The organic kitchen gardens and cool orchards laden with a variety of fresh, delicious and juicy fruits i.e. apple, apricot, mulberry, strawberries (both wild and gardened), peaches, pears and grapes, Booni has a long-standing tradition of receiving and hosting tourists, particularly foreign tourists, who have had visited this remote mountain settlement for teaching in schools and carrying out cultural studies.

Given its suitable launching points from Zani Pass, Shipishoon and Booni Zom and unobstructed landing spots coupled with the buoyancy of the ever-persisting thermals, the Town is dubbed as 'Heaven for Paragliders' and attracts reputed national and international paragliders every year. The world record of longest paragliding (non-stop 10 hours) from Birmoghlasht (district Lower Chitral) to Hunza valley (Gilgit Baltistan) was established in 2010 here in Chitral by Brad Sander, a reputed paraglider from the US.

There are short and long duration natural treks here catering to the stamina and taste of different age groups. It is both refreshing and rewarding to climb up the Dono peak—a nose-touching steep rock right in front of the Town—that takes a full day for climbing and trekking.

Atop the peak, one can have a panoramic view of the towering snow-capped mountains including the fabulous Terichmir Peak (7,708m) and Booni Zom in the surrounding. Shagram and Khot villages of Torkhow valley and Mastuj in the Byar region are clearly visible to the naked eyes from this point. With cameras mounted with powerful lances, one can take best pictures of the beautiful surrounding from this point on a cloudless day.

There are clean and affordable village guesthouses besides the Motel of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC). Located in a vast and picturesque landscape with clean and airy rooms and gardens showcasing a variety of flowers, fruit bearing trees and well-maintained lawns carpeted with soft grasses, accommodation in PTDC offers true comfort for guests willing to take rest after long and exhausting trekking, paragliding or cycling from Gilgit to Chitral and vice versa.

Booni has a vast polo pitch where Free Style Polo is played by every weekend from early spring to late autumn. Young generation is passionate about keeping horses and adopting Free Style Polo as a hobby. This also offers thrilling opportunity for horseback riders. The reputed three-day Qaqlasht festival featuring free style polo organized here in the second week of April every year. It attracts large number of tourists—both local, national, and international.