"THE KING OF GAMES AND THE GAME OF KING.
The Shandur Polo Festival is an extraordinary celebration that takes place for three days in a remote part of the world. The Shandur Festival brings together the Gilgit and Chitral tribes living in the northern regions of Pakistan. The two tribes hail from the Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral regions and meet every summer at the Shandur Pass for the polo festival.
Where is the Shandur Pass?
The Shandur Pass is located in a remote area of Pakistan between the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This area is 7 its height. The altitude of the pass and the Shandur Polo Ground make the tournament the highest polo in the world.
The pass lies between mountains with rugged, towering peaks. Located in Pakistan's North-Western Frontier Province, the Shandur Pass is populated by herdsmen and their grazing herds of yaks. The area is very remote and cannot be reached at times due to weather conditions. Shandur Pass is located in Upper Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has a flat plateau and a gradual slope in the Hindu Kush mountains.
The Shandur Polo Festival takes place in July for three days. The local government confirms the date for the Shandur Festival every year, but the games are held in the second week of July. It is one of the biggest festivals held across Pakistan every year. Besides the unique style of polo that takes place during the festival, other activities also take place. Folk music and dance performances are held to entertain those in attendance.
Fishing in the nearby streams and Shandur Lake are also popular events. Participants stay in a large camp set up each year for the festival. It resembles a small village where visitors spend much of their time watching polo, exploring the exhibitions and learning about local cultures.
Camping village in Shandur.
The tournament consists of teams of six members. In the event of an injury, up to four substitute players are available per team. The games last about an hour and are divided into two periods. There is also halftime. The games are known as uncompromising polo matches where players get injured. There is always a grudge between the two rival provinces. During polo matches, locals entertain fans with dances, songs, and other cultural performances.
The tournament features rival teams from the Gilgit and Chitral tribes. They are traditional rivals which makes the intensity of the Shandur Polo Festival even more thrilling to watch. The polo matches take place for three days in July and draw large crowds from the two provinces. According to traditions, the polo game played by the teams at Shandur is considered the purest of all polo games in the world.
The Shandur Polo Festival is one of the world's unique sports and cultural events. It brings together people from across the northern region of Pakistan for a three-day event that is second to none. Travelers will not regret experiencing the Festival for its polo games and cultural activities.
"THE KING OF GAMES AND THE GAME OF KING.
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