Heritage trails of Chitral
April 12, 2021
Prof. Rahmat Karim Baig
Geographically, Chitral has been hemmed in by lofty mountains. Its northern border is completely blocked by over 6,000m high peaks with hanging glaciers. These make any kind of traffic impossible between Chitral and Wakhan panhandle of Afghanistan starting from Terichmir group of peaks to Broghil except a few very high passes like Kan Khun Pass or Ochili Pass.
Inside Chitral, in old days, there were a few seasonal bridges but in summers no bridge was available as these were washed away by flooding rivers. So there were trails on all hillsides that were used by locals frequently and many of these trails carry interesting stories.
Some have got good popularity for their easiness to escape from the wrath of the cruel rulers. The trail from Golen to Laspur, from Oveer to Karimabad, from Uthool to Terich, from Khot to Dizg in Yarkhun from Istaru to Parwak, from Kushum/Madak to Terich or vice versa, from Chuinj to Barsat via Chumarkan, from Sorlaspur to Swat via Kachi Khani Pass, from Rech to Yarkhun etc. have been of great importance.
All told these are over 200 trails and each trail has its own history and interesting stories – some are also romantic. As part of our culture and for the attracting of tourists, tehse require to be documented.
The Tourism Department of KP is hereby requested to include this part of culture in the list of tourist destinations.
