Chitral: The Gateway to the Hindukush

The district of Chitral is situated in the north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Chitral was a princely state with its own sovereign rule until it decided to merge with West Pakistan in 1969.

According to local historians, there are many theories about the coining of the name ‘Chitral’, out of which the most famous is the meaning attached to the word Chitrar. In Khowar, it translates to 'persons of great resilience, strength and patience'.

The Shahi Qila is speculated to have been built during the rule of Mohtaram Shah Katur II in 1774 and later refurbished by the famous Mughal leader Shuja-ul-Mulk in the early 1900s. It is said to be more than three centuries old, with the exception of some of the newer areas.

Much of the fort still has been beautifully preserved, such as this 'central hall'. Chitral has four to five forts in total and the Shahi Qila functions as headquarters for them. It was mainly built to house the Mehtar (royal ruler) of the time alongside his soldiers in winters.

The Fort houses historical cannons, given by the British to ward off attacks from neighboring places. These days they serve as decorative and eye-catching pieces for visitors.

Sheesh Mehal, nestled in Chitral, is a gem of architectural marvel, adorned with intricate mirror work and vibrant embellishments, reflecting the region's rich cultural heritage. The palace also contains letters preserved from the 1930s.

This room includes rare correspondence from the pre-independence era, and includes letters sent during the partition of the subcontinent in 1947.

Correspondence between the British viceroy and the Mehtar (ruler) of Chitral from the 1940s.

Inside the glass room we have perhaps the most important letter addressed by the ruler of Chitral, His Royal Highness Muzaffar-ul- Mulk, to the Founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, signifying the accession of Chitral to Pakistan.

During the construction of the Shahi Mosque, Chitral was a topographically secluded area with very little communication with the outside world. The Royal family were the only ones who owned any means of transport to lead them in and out of Chitral at the time.

When Shuja-ul-Mulk’s mother first visited the newly rebuilt Shahi Fort, she requested him to construct a Royal Mosque along the lines of other historical mosques. Upon hearing that the ruler did not have the funds for such a project, she allegedly sold her royal jewels to inaugurate the construction and brought in architects from Delhi and Peshawar to work on the mosque.

Both the Fort and the Mosque did not use cement to hold the bricks together due to its unavailability at the time. Instead, they used a paste made from construction sand, crushed limestone, finely cut pieces of jute, and surprisingly, eggs to create a robust binding agent. For ages, there wasn’t a construction that came close to that of the Shahi Qila and Shahi Mosque, which were deemed fit for use by royalty.

Polo played in Chitral is mostly freestyle, with minimal rules in place, making for an exciting but dangerous game.

Prince Sameer Ul Mulk of the Drosh Fort is one of the players who organizes polo matches in the Drosh Polo ground, where players from all over Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan attend.  

The horses are kept in pristine condition and receive attentive care.

Every morning, handlers take the horses on rounds to keep them fit for upcoming matches.

As local residents rightfully claim, Chitral has immense tourism prospects that can help bring prosperity and give them the ability to sustain their lifestyle. It is no secret that the land is incredibly tempting for travel and retreats as it has so much to offer to people.