Shandur Top

Map of mountain passes in Pakistan and Afghanistan

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The Shandur Pass ( also Shandur Top) located in Hinduraj Mountains in the Chitral district in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The pass reaches an altitude of 3738 m and connects Chitral district with the Gilgit District in the Pakistani part of the Karakoram.

On a 3728 m high plateau near the summit is the highest polo field in the world, on the since 1936 takes place every year a tournament. Meanwhile, a three-day festival has grown up around the polo tournament, which is held in July each year.

The venue can be reached only on the unpaved runway of the Shandur Pass with four wheel drive vehicles; from November to May, the pass is impassable due to snow and ice. The plateau is 168 km from Chitral and 211 kilometers from Gilgit.

Chitral District

The Chitral district in which the Shandur Pass is situated, is one of the most remote areas of the world, because it is accessible year-round only intermittently over four mountain passes, or by Kunartal from Afghanistan to Jalalabad. All passports to Chitral are over 3,000 meters above sea level and are not passable in winter months. The four passes are the Dorah Pass and the Broghol Pass, leading to the Wakhan corridor to Afghanistan, while only the Lovari Pass to Peshawar and the Shandur Pass to Gilgit connect in Pakistan. In the spring of 2010, the 8.6 km long Lovari tunnel to be completed, which then provides a weather connection.

Shandur plateau

The Hinduraj Mountains in northern Pakistan is divided with lakes, rivers and glaciers and the Shandur plateau with the Shandur Lake is fed by the glaciers of the surrounding mountains with waters. The excess water of the Shandur Lake drains through the Gilgit River, swim in the trout. In the folklore of Chitral is the evening of the mythical spirit Shhawanan down from the mountains to bathe there. In the spring, when the snow has melted, the grass grows on the plateau and forms the best basis for the galloping horses.

The plateau is divided into two different scenic Create sections. One part consists of the lake, the polo field and huts of the tribe of the people of Chitral Laspur. The other part is from south to north propagation and is called " Langar " or " Kukush ". This area had a forest in the past and is used by the Ghizer and Laspur.

Historical Polo

Since 1936, teams from Chitral and Gilgit annually carry out a traditional polo tournament, also known as polo at the Roof of the World ( German: polo tournament on top of the world ) is called. The tournament is played in an original and not in the modern form of Polo. The patronage shaft for this tournament took over formerly a prince (Raja ), Prince ( I ) or King ( Mehtar ) of the region. Now come to this polo tournament and festival about 20,000 people over the three days.

Polo is played in many parts of the world and has as a sport for the Pakistanis a great importance. Many Pakistanis play from childhood Polo and is available in almost all places in northern Pakistan a playing field. The tournament goes back to the British Maj Evelyn Cobb, who discovered the high-altitude game and the tournament initiated. When the game starts a band playing local music. Will a goal, the scorer must bring the ball with his right hand to the central line, because then the band plays for the scorers and he must then throw the ball into the air. This is called Thompq.

Modern and international polo is played by two teams of four players each who try with a long wooden racket to hit the ball into the opponent's goal. International Polo is played six times 7 ½ minutes. In the north of Pakistan is twice 25 minutes played with a break of 10 minutes, the horse must not be changed unless it is seriously injured. There is no referee, just a timekeeper. The teams consist of six players in the traditional polo.

Historical Roots Polo in ancient Persia has around 600 BC From there it spread to the Islamic expansion into Arabia and India. From India, the game managed to Britain and in 1900 Olympic sport.

Shandur Festival

On the plateau place during the festival, which takes place from 7 recently every year until July 9, evening dance and music performances. For the accommodation of the many festival-goers a campground is built. Originally it was only a polo tournament, today it is complemented by an open-air cultural festival, on the performances also are listed.