A vacation for the outdoorsy type shall never be complete without a peek at Pakistan's hidden jewel, Chitral, in the North-West Frontier Province. Even honeymooners will find that this secret hideaway offers breathtaking, picturesque sights, which are the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway.

Only a stone’s throw from the nation's capital, Chitral is easily accessible via airplane. The longer and more rugged journey by jeep is also a possibility in the summer months. Chitral is a favorite destination among international travelers for its wide range of activities. Hikers, rock climbers, river rafters and armchair anthropologists alike, all find this quaint little spot on the Pakistani map to be the final name in vacation heaven.

Due to heavy snowfall and unpredictable weather in the winter, Chitral is inaccessible via various roads through the mountain passes, so plan your trip during the April to September months.

In the heart of Chitral, its historical beauty can be no more apparent than in the Shahi Mosque, and Chitral Fort. Side by side, both buildings are each over a hundred years old and are a testament to their builders' genius.

The Shahi Mosque, commissioned by the former rulers of Chitral is exquisite in its attention to detail and one can feel the sheer grandeur of a bygone era. Members of the ruling family are also buried within the Mosque complex.

The Fort of Chitral is in close proximity to the Shahi Mosque. Historically, the Fort is well known for its ability to keep its inhabitants safe. In the backdrop is the Tirich Mir Mountain and all around are the Hindukush Mountains.

The Chitral Bazaar holds many jewels for shoppers. Antiques, locally made handicrafts, and textiles offer a wide range of gift giving options, and even unique items for your own home. Take time to discover the secrets each vendor has to offer, you will find it difficult to stop yourself from buying out each shop.

For a fine dining experience like no other, Hindukush Heights in Chitral offers a Splendid meal 'on the rooftop of the world' with a scenic backdrop to make for a memorable event. Freshly caught trout with local wild capers is the specialty meal to have while dining at the Heights. The menu also carries a great variety of global cuisine.

From the heart of Chitral, take a two hour road trip in an open air jeep to visit the Garam Chashma, or the Hot Springs. The drive itself is an awe inspiring vista carved through the mountains, providing a glorious view of the distant snow covered Tirich Mir. Local legend suggests that Chitral, and more particularly the Tirich Mir mountain, were the home to fairies and genies before humans lived there. Tirich Mir is still believed to be the castle of fairies by locals.

Most of the drive to Garam Chashma will take you past terraced fields, orchards of walnuts, apricots, grapes, apple, mulberries and a smorgasbord of alpine species of flowers. A pit stop in the village of Morgh will provide you with the the most refreshing cup of tea and light snacks.

The hot springs of Chitral are known for their healing properties. There are specially made bath houses or 'hamams' for those interested in taking a dip in the healing sulphur waters.
Besides its hot springs, Garam Chashma is well known for its fine quality of locally woven woollen fabric known as Patti. Any shopaholic would do well to make the rounds of local shops where it is widely available. Also a popular find in the markets are the Afghani emeralds, and Armenian stone or 'Lajvard'. The trip to Garam Chashma is an all day excursion.

If you are able to plan your Trip to Chitral in advance, the best time to go would be in July to witness the decades old Polo Game at the Shandur Polo Ground, the world's Highest Polo arena. The Shandur Polo ground is aptly described as 'half way to heaven' not only because of its sheer altitude, but also because of the dangerous 9 hour trek it takes to get there. The drive up is breathtaking and not to be missed by those adventurous enough to partake, with snow capped mountains and rugged terrain to provide scenery that even Hollywood cannot dream up.

The game here is played between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit. 6 players play without referees and break only to tape up broken ribs and fractured arms, as everything is fair game here. The spectators include locals supporting their teams, as well as polo fans from across the globe. For an adrenaline packed, no holds barred, high speed game, this Polo match is definitely the one to watch.

If you make a trip in early May,and travel to the Kalash Valley, you will witness the splendid pagan festival welcoming spring to the snow covered region. The people of Kalash Valley are an ancient culture that has been preserved solely due to the isolation of their native area. Annually, they celebrate the coming of spring with their rituals and traditional songs and dance, where the women wear their customary head dresses make with shells, beads and buttons.

Tourists and historians alike flock to the Kalash Valley to witness this event every year. Many small villages are scattered across the valley, each of which must be seen for a complete insight into the Kalash way of life. Some of the Villages are Bomboret Village, Rambur, Kalashgrom and Balankuru.

Also in the Chitral area are four lakes, two of which are dried up, and 2 of which are panoramic photo opportunities that cannot be passed up even by an amateur photographer. The mountainous regions mirrored on the glass surfaces of the lakes is unreal like a dream.

One cannot pass on an opportunity to discover this unchartered beauty deep within the mountain ranges of Pakistan. It offers everything a wandering traveler yearns for in a final destination; sights, history, culture, adventure, shopping and untold beauty rarely found elsewhere in the world.

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