Shandur Pass, at about 3,700 metres, lies on the boundary between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and hosts the Shandur Polo Festival each summer on a ground often called the highest in the world.
The pass is on the boundary of two provinces. The plateau and the polo ground lie mostly on the Gilgit-Baltistan side, in the district of Ghizer, and the road on the other side drops into Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We list it under both for that reason, and travellers arrive from either direction: from Phander and Gilgit on one side, or from Mastuj and Chitral on the other.
The festival
The polo match, held in early July, pits the Chitral team against the Gilgit team. It is played by local rules, with few restrictions and a great deal of noise. Spectators arrive from both directions and the plain fills quickly. If you want to attend, plan months ahead, and prepare for cold nights even in July.
Highlights
- The polo match between the Chitral and Gilgit teams
- Shandur Lake beside the polo ground
- The high road between Phander and Chitral
