Swat Valley & Kalash Valley (Chilam Joshi festival) trip - May 2014

[Xoofi]

Very well going brother - like your lowary pass adventure and thinking ke mein apni cultus ko even with family wahan aram sey niqal laita

waiting for further details my next plan with family could be this route - from lahore is it the only route to go chitral side ?

Thanks bro. Cultus might be impossible to cross. A better option will be told as the thread progresses because we used a different tactic while returning and it was much easier so stay tuned

There are two passed to reach Chitral. One is this Lowari Pass and the other is Shandur Pass which connects Chitral with Ghizer and Gilgit.

[Xoofi]

Soon the paved road started and then we gained some speed and reached Darosh at 12:30

It was a beautiful city as we saw from distance. All the mobile phone signals were working and as soon as the service came, all the businessmen got busy in phone calls while I just sent a single message to my mother that I'm ok

The local language was still Pashto although it was in Chitral district. The branch road to Kalash valley was still 20 minutes ahead.

[Mohd.Waqas]

Thanks bro. Cultus might be impossible to cross. A better option will be told as the thread progresses because we used a different tactic while returning and it was much easier so stay tuned

There are two passed to reach Chitral. One is this Lowari Pass and the other is Shandur Pass which connects Chitral with Ghizer and Gilgit.

Ok waiting for your secret sorry for asking question really don't want to disturb your thread (will ask details about other gilgit rout too for using own car)

[shegg4]

Jo kasak si dil main reh gayee hai, uska koi ilaaj nahi.. us ke liye mujhay idhar wapas jana hee hoga..

@Xoofi yar mera b dil kr raha hay ye jaga explore krne ka such trees and greenry over mountains always drag me

[Xoofi]

Ok waiting for your secret sorry for asking question really don't want to disturb your thread (will ask details about other gilgit rout too for using own car)

Na ji.. no need to be sorry.. Questions are welcome warna itni tafseel ka faida kia It would be a great sense of happiness if someone benefits from my experience.

I have not been to Shandur Pass myself. But what I heard that it is much more higher than Lowari (2000 feet higher than Lowari) and only accessible via 4x4 vehicles.

[shegg4]

I am not a pro photographer, just trying to learn and have a very limited knowledge of DSLR tricks. It was my first trip to North with DSLR and that too with basic kit lens. I tried to take a few long exposure shots which came just ok. Another minus point was that I had no tripod which is a basic in such photography. Also the lens was creating problems with Auto focus

alaw hay bhai buhhht zberdast

[Mohd.Waqas]

Na ji.. no need to be sorry.. Questions are welcome warna itni tafseel ka faida kia It would be a great sense of happiness if someone benefits from my experience.

I have not been to Shandur Pass myself. But what I heard that it is much more higher than Lowari (2000 feet higher than Lowari) and only accessible via 4x4 vehicles.

Thank you brother - its mean if i want to go chitral with family then i should follow this route I am watching you bro very beneficial thread

[Xoofi]

At Darosh, we got time to get fixed the punctured tyre. It took about 20-25 minutes for the puncture to rectify. It was too hot in Darosh. Many kids were returning from school. Education is not that easy in these areas but kudos to those kids and their parents.

After the tyre was fixed we left Darosh and headed towards the branch road to Kalash valley. It was marked on Google maps and we were told that it will take about 20 minutes to reach there from Darosh.

[shegg4]

When we were back to hotel after spending about half hour on glacier, the halwa was ready. It was a big karhai full of halwa. I don't like sweet dishes by nature so I didn't have much attraction in halwa but on the other hand, I am a big fan of dry fruits especially cashews. My friend had put lots of cashews in halwa. So I just took a couple of halwa handfuls and then only picked cashews and ate them Quite selfish

sufi self made halwa on the hill side is way more pleasure to eat

[Xoofi]

After 20 minutes of drive, we reached the point from where a road branch to your left and leads to Ayun and then Kalash valley. Chitral city is further 30 km ahead.

There was police post there and many taxis were waiting for tourists. We asked the police guys if our car could make it to Kalash and they said.. "aaram se jaye gi".. Once again we took our car instead of hiring the taxi

Soon we reached Ayun town after crossing the Ayun bridge where our entry was done. It was all downward journey so far. After Ayun another branch road leads to the villages of Bamburet and Rambur. We got onto that road.

[shegg4]

As we were having a conversation, I saw this remarkably cute and beautiful baby (MashaALLAH) playing in the farm. She was apparently the daughter of the owner or someone who worked in the farm. I couldn't resist taking several pictures of her. She was indeed the highlight of this whole trip..

little girl is so attractive and innocent

[shegg4]

The trek was a easy one. Not very steep, just the mud created by rain was creating some slippery problems. The ice crystals on ground were giving a really beautiful look. Here are some shots of the ice of ground.

I got really behind from other guys because I was taking photos every now and then.

The picture is so tempting <3

[shegg4]

Soon the trek opened up to a beautiful meadow. It reminded me of Fairy Meadows. Although it was not very big area but still it was beautiful. Sonay pe suhaga.. the weather was beautiful which made the greenery more greener. It was literally "Rooh main utarnay wala nazara"..

all the views from this point are breath taking

[engineermali]

Thanks a lot Ali bhai for stopping by again

Welcome Brother

[shegg4]

The swirling road was creating many problems as our car was fully loaded with luggage and that too with 5 passengers, it was getting hard time to climb the steepness. Sometimes we had to leave the car to reduce the weight. The swirling road soon brought up active glaciers which were cut through to make the path.. Although it was bright sunny, but still it was getting so cold.

That machine is looking soo small among glacier

[travelinghell]

a very nice detailed thread.. travel story is well told by Sufian bhai .. i had been there three four times but still watching your thread is a joy.

[COOLTAHIR]

Its ur personal car or a rented car

Sent from my SHV-E160S using PW Forums mobile app

[shegg4]

sufian bhai thread buhhht zberdast jaraha hay loved to read your detailed narrations with astonishing pics as well

[usmanshafqat]

boht khatay ho yaar
har thori dair baad roti ki tasveer aa jati hai, bhook lag gayi mujhay tou

P.S. aala pictures, good going

[Wanderlust]

Ordered some fish, but when he was cooking it, I happened to see his "Karhai and Oil". The oil was blacker than burnt automobile oil which reminded me a bad experience I had last year at Head Panjanad (near Uch Sharif, South Punjab) where I got sick after eating similar fish. Everyone ate the fish while I just limited myself to Red Grape Juice.

That is why I now prefer packed food when on a trip. My experience at Head Panjanad was also similar. Not so delicious fish coupled with tens of uninvited guests .... crows and dogs around chaarpai.