Everything You Need To Know About Kalash Trip

By Author: Tripsia
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Are you planning to enjoy a cultural tour in Pakistan? Well, you should schedule a tour of Kalash Valleys. This colorful tour will let you meet powerful and beautiful people holding to their cultural values and welcoming every guest with a smile on their face. And the best thing is you get a chance to participate in festivals.

What Valley to Discovery First?

Before you head to Kalash, it's always suggested to make up your mind about a specific valley you can visit during your trip. When time is short, you need to make a choice. However, when the plan is to stay longer than a week, you can discover different valleys. Local tourists head to Bumburet, which is a developed valley. You don't have to walk long hours to find food and other stuff. This valley is the first stopping point for local and international tourists. Foreigners wanting to dig deep into Kalash often head to Rumboor, less developed than Bumburet.

Religion in Kalash

The majority of residents in Kalash are non-Muslims. They have a unique culture, norms, and traditions that date back to a time before the religion of Islam. According ...
... to some common beliefs, this religion has some connection with Hinduism. Kalash people try to keep their tradition alive, and thereby, they arrange some festivals every year. But you must know that almost 50 percent of the community is converted to Islam. As far as the reason for conversion is concerned, everyone has their own. Some did it due to societal pressure others want to deal with marital and financial struggles.

Travel Guide to Kalash from Chitral

If you want to reach Kalash Valley easily, you first must land at Chitral. You can take a bus and rely on a train depending on your home town. The first ride you can take from Chitral to Kalash is a jeep, which is super comfortable and affordable. You can hire a jeep and pay a reasonable amount at Alfalah bank in the Center of Chitral. When you start traveling mid-day, you can rely on shared cars. You can hire a private vehicle, but it will cost you more. A car takes you to Auyun, and you can pay a little more to land in your favorite valley. Remember, it will be a bumpy ride. Domestic tourists don't have to pay entry fees, but foreigners will pay PKR 600 to 1000 for Kalash people's betterment and welfare.

Accommodation in Kalash

You can't plan a one-day tour in Kalash. If you want to discover the essence of its beauty, you should schedule at least a three to seven days tour. You need to opt for a hotel booking in Kalash. When it comes to accommodation, you can enjoy variety. Some guest houses are owned and operated by Kalash; you should prefer them over Muslim-operated guest houses or hotels. Are you wondering why? You will see hints of their culture everywhere when you enter their spaces. From interior to food to room service, it's good to experience Kalash traditions.
The best guest houses in Bumburet are Kalash Galaxy and Kalash View. There are only three guest houses in Rumboor. Kalash Home Guest House is well-maintained and sparkling clean. If you want to taste some mouthwatering food, you should head to Engineer Khan in Rumboor. Rent for booking hotels in Kalash varies from one guest house to another. Another comfortable accommodation is the Kalash Indigenous Guest house. Its rent also includes the cost of food.

Things to Do in Kalash Valleys

You have decided where you will go and what guest house to book, the next important thing is to know what you want to do there. Here are some suggestions.

Attending Festivals

Kalash is famous for its colorful, cultural-rich festivals. If you haven't decided about the dates, you should plan your trip during festival times. However, some small festivals are the norm in this culture. It would help if you considered joining during big festivals like Chilam Joshi in May, Chorus in winter, and Uchae in September. The reason for heading there during this time is to dance and drink alongside the Kalash people. One thing to remember is that you must be a very respectful guest. Please don't harass the local women and don't try to be over-friendly. Know your boundaries as a guest, and then stick to them.

Visiting Cultural Museum

You plan to visit Kalash to learn more about their culture. So, what could be a better place than a museum? Kalasha Dur Museum gives you great insight into the colorful culture and beautiful background of Kalasha. You can hire a tour guide in Kalash to learn the history of each item in the Museum.

Hiking

Bring your backpack, wear your joggers, and start hiking from one valley to another. Climbing up the mountains and seeing the lush green meadows all around is the most refreshing trip for you. There might not be some sightseeing options, but you should interact and connect with local people.