5 Places to Visit Kalash Valley - Tanveer Rajput TV

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Kalash Valley, also known as the Valley of God and home to the Kalasha people, is an isolated valley in the Hindu Kush mountains of Chitral District in Pakistan’s far northwest. Despite its geographic isolation, Kalash Valley has become famous throughout Pakistan and the world as the last refuge of a pre-Islamic indigenous people called the Kalasha or Kalash, who still adhere to their ancient animist religion which has many elements similar to classical Greek and Roman mythology. This article gives five reasons why visitors should add this little-known area to their list of travel destinations.

Places worth visiting in Kalash

Kalash is a valley located in Chitral. The people here are called Kalasha and they have their own culture, language and traditions. Here are some places worth visiting in Kalash.

 The Kalasha people are commonly referred to as black Kafirs which means unbeliever. There is no consensus on who these people are and where they came from. They have been living here for centuries and their ancestors were likely migrants from Central Asia who settled in North West Pakistan. These days, most Kalasha live in a remote corner of Chitral at an elevation of around 4500 feet above sea level on a high plateau above Hunza.

From Chitral by Road

Chitral is best approached from Peshawar by road. Travel by first-class bus or four-wheel drive across Malakand Pass and through Chitral Town for about an hour. From Chitral, it’s a two-hour trip on foot and horseback up through lush forests of deodar, pine, and juniper trees (or eight hours in a jeep) to reach Rakaposhi Base Camp.

Drosh Fort

Standing tall on a small hilltop is Drosh Fort, which offers awe-inspiring views of village fields and distant mountain peaks. A good place for photography, it’s one of Baltistan’s most famous attractions. The fort can be reached in less than an hour by car from Gilgit City, or 45 minutes by foot.

Rumbur valley

Rumbur is a valley, located in the Chitral District of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The valley is also known as Palosai. Rumbur had an estimated population of 16,000 in 2006. The region consists largely of ethnic Kalasha people who lead a distinct cultural and linguistic lifestyle and are Shia Muslims.

Bumburate valley

Bumburate is an ancient village located in North-West Pakistan. It lies near Chitral and Gilgit, a few kilometres from Ramburkh pass. The valley is inaccessible by land during winter, so it’s better to visit it during summer. There is no road access but one can get there by foot through a long trek. In order to see everything, you should spend at least three days there. It takes approximately 7 hours of walking just to get out of Bumburate village.

Chitral Gol National Park

A reserve on Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier, Chitral Gol National Park is a rich habitat for local wildlife including ibex and leopards. The park features more than 200 bird species and is known for its extensive natural beauty as well as historical significance—it was once a hunting ground for Alexander The Great! It also houses relics from Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic civilizations. What’s not to love?

Kalasha Dur Museum

The Kalasha Dur Museum is a small but beautiful museum that you can visit for a small fee and learn about some of its art and culture. Some say it’s one of the most intriguing museums in Pakistan because it’s actually inside someone’s home! It has one exhibition hall that showcases different objects relating to their way of life. Most are paintings, but they also have jewellery, clothing, and many other interesting things.

Festival in Kalash Valley

1.    Chilam Joshi Festival Kalash

The Chilam Joshi festival takes place in September in honour of Saint Joshua. The people of Lower Dir wear black masks and gather outside their houses at sunset, where they dance and sing hymns until sunrise. At night, women beat drums as men dance in a circle.

2. Uchal Festival Kalash

This is a great time to visit if you can, as it represents one of the few times when visitors are allowed into villages. The festival will be held in late January or early February; look for additional details on our upcoming events page. Historically, it commemorates an epic victory by the ancient Greek warrior-king Alexander over India’s Emperor Porus.

3. Choimus Festival Kalash

The Choimus festival is a lively and colorful religious ceremony that has been performed since ancient times by Buddhists and Hindus. The legend says that Buddha himself stopped in Oojal village, where he fell asleep on one of his journeys. While he was resting under a tree, his horse broke loose and ran wild in fear of an approaching storm. In order not to lose his horse, Buddha transformed himself into a beautiful girl named Choimi (meaning wild mare), who caught hold of it by its tail.