Lowari pass 3100 m, to Chitral is open

[imranthetrekker]

Bonjour mes amis,

After remaining closed for almost 5 months, it's been officially announced by the national highway authority here today in Pakistan, that Lowari pass's been cleared for light traffic from today.

A good news for the travellers and tourists towards Chitral, that Chitral's accessible now by road.

Chitral's connected to rest of Pakistan by flight, 40 minutes, PIA ATR flights, and by road, 12 to 14 hrs, 360 km, via Dir and Lowari pass 3100 m.

Let me tell you that the famous Kalash spring festival Joshi's going to start from the 11th till 15th in the valleys of (Romboor, Bamborate and Birir), Kalash valleys in Hindukush, Chitral.

ATM service's offered from
Bank Alfalah
opposite Mountain Inn, Jhang bazar road,


For luxury hotels please stay at

Hindukush Heights
Dolomuch, Chitral. Owned by famous royal family prince Siraj-ul-Mulk

Mid range

Hotel Terichmir View
Shahi masjid road, excellent rooms, friendly management,

Budgeted ones

Hotel City tower
Shahi Masjid road, nice terrace, good restaurant, reasonable prices

Better to exchange the US $ or Euros here in Peshawar, because there're no money changers in Chitral and if someone's willing to exchange (some hotel managers), but the rates're very bad.

In Peshawar, the best places to change US $ or Euros

Malik Exchange
Dean's plaza,

Zarco exchange
Dean's plaza, Saddar road.

Je vous souhaite un voyage tres agreable,

Imran Schah

Enjoy the marvels of Pakistan
http://flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[imranthetrekker]

Dates of Shandoor polo festival



Bonjour mes amis,

The famous festival of polo, Shandoor polo, at Shandoor pass and lake 3800 m, on the roof of the world’ll be held , from 7th to 9th of July.

5 teams’ll play this year , 2 matches everyday, from Gilgit and Chitral,but besides polo there’re few more events included in the festival like horse racing, para gliding, and music concerts from Gilgit and Chitral, by the local musicians, which’ll make the events more colorful, enjoyable, enthusaistic and full of verve.

Weather, during the day’ll be sunny, but nights’ll be chilly , therefore please keep some sun block with good pH as well as warm gear like some fleece and Gore-tex jacket, with a good sleeping bag, if you have a tent, you can picth it somewhere close to the water, but there’s enough space, so you can find some tent, available on rent.

Shandoor pass’s located at 6 to 8 hrs drive from Gilgit,road’s metalled till Phandar and then 2 more hrs on dirt road, and 5 to 7 hrs from Chitral.

During the festival, public transport’ll be available from Chitral, you can take some jeep to Mastuj and next day continue towards Shandoor.

A nice place to stay at Mastuj

Tourist gardan

Places to stay in Gilgit

Luxury hotels
Gilgit Serena
Jutial,

Hotel Canopy Nexus
Chinar bagh,

Mid range

Hotel Riveria
Chinar Bagh,

Budgeted

Tourist cottage
Chinar bagh

Park hotel
Airport road,

Hotel Medina
NLI market,

Places to stay in Chitral

Luxury

Hindukush Heights
Dolomus , Chitral.

Pamir Inn
Shahi Qila road,

Mountain Inn
Officer’s mess road,

Mid range

Chinar Inn
Chitral gol bridge,

Terichmir view
Shahi masjid road,

Budgeted

City Tower
Shahi masjid road,

Tourist lodge
Shahi masjid road,

Je vous souhaite un voyage très agréable,


Imran Schah
imranthesamana@hotmail.com
Cergy pontoise, France.

Mountain godz of Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker/

[phacops]

The famous festival of polo, Shandoor polo, at Shandoor pass and lake 3800 m, on the roof of the world’ll be held , from 7th to 9th of July.

Oh yes - the famous polo festival at Shandoor.
Its every year at the beginning of july?
And Boroghil festival is regularly in mid july?
So I have to start my planning for next year...

The road to Mustuj is in good condition? To Shandoor still a track?

Good travelling in Pakistan!

phacops

[imranthetrekker]

Asalam-u-Alaikum mes amis,

Muslim world’s celebrating one of the holiest festivals of the year, Eid-ul-Azha or Eid-ul-Kubra, the sacrificial event (commemoration of Abraham’s son Izmail’s sacrifice).

We’re celebrating the Eid tomorrow, here in Peshawar, the colorful sacrificial animals, painted with different colors and henna’re wondering in the city; they’ll be sacrificed tomorrow and day after.

A bad news, Lowari pass 3100 m, the only road link to Chitral is closed now due to last night's heavy snowfall.

So Eid Mubarak to everybody and bon voyage,

Imran Schah

Photos of Pakistan on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[phacops]

hello Imran,

yes! - Eid Mubarak to you and all our pakistani friends here!

Lowari will stay closed til April or May? Perhaps for Joshi it will open again?

What about the Lowari tunnel? How far is it already and til when will it be completed?

phacops

[malang]

Hi friends, the "Lowari tunnel projekt" will be final in mid 2008, this is what the officials told me. But someone who is working in the project told me that this is only a whish from pakistani side. The work is slowly going on from both sides and it will take minimum up to end of next year to final the project. Regards and nice christmas days to everybody (:

[maximus]

Hi to all the Merry

When winters set in with links to the outside world cut off I bet many would be eager in Chitral to walk the tunnel when its drilled through by end 2008. Then another year or two is required to finalize the work ....so not till 2010 will it be completed and opened.

Maximus

[imranthetrekker]

Salut mes amis,

After a couple of days hard work with showels and heavy machinery by NHA (National Highway Authority), Lowari pass's open again for the ight traffic since yesterday.

But there's no guaranatee that the pass'll be welcoming the outsiders for how long because these winters seem very harsh therefore as soon as it's cloudy, pass'll be no longer passable.

Je vous souhaite un voyage tres agreable,

Da Khudai pa aman,

Imran Schah
From the plains to the mountains, Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[imranthetrekker]

Salut mes amis,

After a hard, snowy and cold day over Lowari pass, I made it to Chitral last night, the weather, as soon as we started from Dir, was cloudy and it's drizzling but when car got closer to the pass, it's very hazy and slippery, so the driver put the chains round the tyres and we continued but soon after the pass, the road's very narrow, so we left the car for a while and walked almost for an hour and then the car came and continued towards Chitral, the pass's blocked again because of the snow,so it is just to update the travelers.

Bon voyage,

Mountains of Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[mieke]

Hi Imran,
Glad you made it over the pass nevertheless, even though it was such a challenge...

Here below is what I spotted in Chitral News of today (January 6). And I wonder if that can be true, that Lowari pass could now remain closed till late March, when winter will be over. What do you think?

http://www.chitralnews.com/LN790.htm
Lowari pass closes again

CHITRAL, 06 Jan 08: Lowari pass, the only road link connection of Chitral with the rest of Pakistan has closed for all kind of traffic because of snowfall there on Saturday. It is unlikely that the pass is reopened for traffic until turn of the season late March, when the snow slides settle down and no more snowfall is expected. With closure of Lowari pass travelling problems of Chitralis compound. Chitralis have demanded immediate opening of the Afghanistan route and resumption of PIA flights between Islamabad and Chitral to alleviate the grave travelling problems of the people of Chitral. (CN report)

[phacops]

So, Maximus and Imran, stay well in Chitral or elsewhere during winter!
And let the Lowari open again for Joshi ;) .

phacops

[imranthetrekker]

Dear friends,

I’m here in Ayun and it’s been snowing for the last 2 days, so no power, and no Internet connection and still it’s cloudy and snowy outside.

Chitral’s totally cut off from rest of the country, Lowari pass’s blocked by the recent snowfall and no flights, but there were rumors today that the road to Afghanistan will be passable, negotiations on the both sides remained successful, so now we’ll take the flight if the weather permits or through the Kunar province of Afghanistan.

Bon voyage,

Imran Schah

Mountains of Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[imranthetrekker]

Yeah mieke, but March's still very early for Lowari pass, noramlly it;s clear in the first or last week of April.

But when we look at the weather conditions here, it seems very difficult for March.

All the best.

[AndreasW]

Let's hope... :coffee:
Travelers crossing Lowari pass on foot

CHITRAL: 20 March 08: Due to the long arduous risky and expensive journey through Afghanistan, majority of travelers between Chitral and Peshawar have started using the Lowari route by crossing the 10500 ft pass on foot. Amongst those who reached Chitral in this manner include the District Nazim, besides others. Every day scores of travelers are arriving in Chitral to narrate their adventurous journey. Work on snow clearing from the Lowari pass is underway and the pass is expected to open for vehicular traffic within the next two weeks. (CN report).
http://www.chitralnews.com/LN846.htm

[imranthetrekker]

Salut mes amis,


After remaining under snow for more than 2 months, now the time's come to welcome the spring deity, which's approaching the high passes of th northern mountainous regions of Pakistan.

Lowari pass's expected to be cleared for all sort of traffic, from the 1st of April, I spoke to the officials of NHA (National Highway Authority).

Lowari pass 3100 m, is the only passage which connects Chitral , with rest of south Pakistan.
So enjoy your trip to Pakistan.

Imran Schah


Mountains of Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[AndreasW]

Thanks Imran. Your spring deity "works" good... :up:
http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast.asp?partner=netweather&traveler=0&locCode=ASI|PK|PK005|CHITRAL&metric=1 (http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast.asp?partner=netweather&traveler=0&locCode=ASI%7CPK%7CPK005%7CCHITRAL&metric=1)

Greetings from frozen Germany... ;)
http://www.accuweather.com/world-index-forecast.asp?partner=netweather&traveler=0&locCode=EUR|DE|GM002|KEMPTEN&metric=1 (http://www.accuweather.com/world-index-forecast.asp?partner=netweather&traveler=0&locCode=EUR%7CDE%7CGM002%7CKEMPTEN&metric=1)

AndreasW

[imranthetrekker]

Salut mes amis,

I'll keep you updated.

Bon Voyage,

Imran Schah

[imranthetrekker]

Salut mes amis,

There' s a good news that Lowari pass 3100 m to Chitral's clear and Chitral's accessible now by road.

Kalash spring festival, JOSHI, from 13th to 16th of May in the valleys of Kalash, Chitral.

Happy travels,

Imran Schah

Photos of Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[AndreasW]

Sad news... :-/
Lowari Top: It devours, freezes and kills http://thenews.jang.com.pk/images/shim.gif http://thenews.jang.com.pk/images/shim.gif http://thenews.jang.com.pk/images/shim.gif Thursday, April 17, 2008
Delawar Jan

PESHAWAR: Heavy snowfall blocks the Lowari Top, some 240 kilometres northwest of here, for all kinds of traffic in every winter and cuts off district Chitral from the rest of the country for at least four months.

After closure of the Top, the people have to cross it on foot to reach their destinations in Chitral, but most of the time the trekkers fall prey to avalanches, freezing cold and winds.

This winter the Top, known as the killer mountain had killed 12 persons, seven on January 8 and five on April 5, and injured scores of others while making a bid to cross it on foot.

An avalanche had hit the workers of the foreign construction company executing Lowari tunnel project in January, but luckily, they were pulled out unharmed.

From December to March, avalanches, storm and blizzard freeze groups of trekkers to death at the Top situated at 10,500 feet from the sea level.

Nothing, including a clear threat to their lives can hold people of Chitral back to undertake the walk in the absence of a choice.

Lowari was blocked thrice, from December to April 15. However, it has been opened for light traffic now.

Mehr: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=107342

[imranthetrekker]

Salut mes amis,

Yeah! Lowari pass in Chitral, is considered a killer pass, because every year, some precious lives’re lost there.

I crossed it on the 5th of January 2008, to Chitral and I walked for more than 2 hrs and close to the pass, along with some kids and women, we’re almost stuck in a snowstorm and luckily managed it and survived.

But there’s good news, that it’s open again, so let’s have a rendez-vous with the fairies, mountain gods and spring deity, in the mountains of Hindukush.

May Allah bless you.

Imran Schah

My adventures in Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

[imranthetrekker]

Bonjour mes amis,

Lowar pass is passable now for the light traffic, so welcome to Chitral.


Bon voyage,

Imran Schah

Cities & Mountains of Pakistan, Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker