~ When I was going to Chitral to cover the aftermath of the Shandur Polo Festival 2016, I had no idea what the region had in store for me. When you have space for one story from a region that is generally under-represented, it is inevitable that the most appalling one wins placement.There is so much more to Chitral than just forced marriages and floods. Whether you are strolling in a bazaar or sitting on a hill overlooking Tirich Mir from the royal abode of the mehtar, the city and its people will force you to extend your trip. The air of regality, serenity and warmth is enough to lure you in.
The presence of various lakes and glacial streams in the area has created an abundance of water supply providing the perfect set-up for a hydel power plant project. Golain, surrounded by mountains and water, is not only a scenic site but the land where a 106MW power project has been constructed. The area also has various trout farms. It is believed that when Cobbs, a British administrator of Chitral, asked for the highest polo ground to be constructed in Shandur in Chitral, he also brought in a large supply of trout in the local rivers. Golain now continues the area’s tradition of supplying fresh fish. The construction is made using the best wood from the finest trees and is erected in memory of those parents who did not have children. Kundurik was supposed to keep their memory alive. While the people of Kalash have been restricted to only three valleys in the region, their traditions and festivals continue to intrigue the world today.
source: Tribune
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