Kalash

The Chitral Valley is the historic home to two main ethnic groups, Ancient Chitralis, and the Kalasha. The early history of Chitral is shrouded in mystery. The 350km-long Chitral Valley sits up in Pakistan’s northwest corner, hemmed in by the […]

The Chitral Valley is the historic home to two main ethnic groups, Ancient Chitralis, and the Kalasha. The early history of Chitral is shrouded in mystery. The 350km-long Chitral Valley sits up in Pakistan’s northwest corner, hemmed in by the Hindukush mountains and sharing a long border with Afghanistan. Chitral is gifted with extremely mysterious and steep harsh mountains, lush green valleys, beautiful meadows and huge glaciers. Chitral is divided into small valleys numbering about 35. The most important and worth seeing of these sub-valleys are the Kalash valleys, Garam Chashma, Shishi Koh, Mastuj, Laspur, Yarkhun, Tor Khow and Mor Khow. The highest peak in this range of the Hindukush is Terichmir, which lies at a height of 25,263 feet, just 36 miles away in the north-east of Chitral town.

Kalash tribe is a touristic asset of Chitral, without whom Chitral would have been little known on the tourist map. The Kalash people, the tribe that inspired Kipling to live their daily lives deep in the valleys of the Hindu Kush, the unforgiving mountain range at the border of Pakistan with Afghanistan.

Chilam Joshi Festival will kick off on Saturday, 12th May 2018 in Kalash Valley, some 27 kilometers from Chitral. The festival commemorates the arrival of summer and celebrates the abundance of dairy products during the season. This festival gives an excellent opportunity for faraway people to celebrate which gives a message of peace to the world. Kalash is famous for the music and dance festivals, and the people are known for their relaxed and loving life approach; in fact, Kakashi’s is doing not even mourn deaths. They are very connected to nature, and every year they host different festivals to thank their Gods.

A picture was taken at Chilam Joshi Festival

Photo Credits: Kashifjaved

Chilam Joshi Festival 2018 will kick off Saturday, 12th May 2018. If you are interested in joining our tour, you can check the details here