Yak polo to offer unique draw at Broghil Festival
The annual event will commence on September 6 in Upper Chitral
A man guides his yak to Broghil where other athletes take part in a warm-up match of yak polo. PHOTOS: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
The Tourism Corporation Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCK-P) and the Upper Chitral district administration are organising a three-day Broghil Festival early next month in the Broghil National Park, Upper Chitral.
The festival will showcase various activities, including polo matches on horses, yaks and even donkeys. The ancient Asian game of Buzkashi - in which carcass of a goat is pulled while riding a horse- will also be played out. Traditional modern games such as cricket and football, marathons, tug-of-war, wrestling and other traditional games will also be played.
There will be live music and a food show as well.
Yak Polo draws tourists to Chitral
Chairing a meeting to review arrangements for the festival, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Senior Minister for Sports and Tourism Atif Khan directed officials of his department to work with the Upper Chitral district administration to ensure different aspects of the ancient and unique Wakhi culture are highlighted during the festival.
TCK-P Managing Director Junaid Khan said that arrangements were being finalized for the event. He hoped that this year, a large number of tourists will visit the remote area of Chitral to enjoy the festival.
Junaid believed that the yak race and yak polo will be the main feature of the festival, and a major draw for visitors.
He said that tangible steps are being taken to hold the festival in a befitting manner to lure more tourists and visitors to this part of K-P.
“A tent village will be set up in Broghil to facilitate the tourists,” the official said, adding that opportunities were also being explored for tourists to participate in adventure tourism activities in the remote spot.
Meanwhile, yak keepers have started arriving in Broghil to arrange yaks for those interested in playing yak polo.
Shandur hopes to attract hordes of foreign tourists to annual polo festival
Broghil is the home of Chiantar glacier surrounded by many other glaciers, which feed the Chitral River while the Kuramber Lake is said to be biologically active lake supporting a wide range of diversity.
The Broghil valley, bordering the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, is situated about 250km from Chitral city. Its extended glaciers, incredible wildlife, scattered wetlands, rich wilderness, green meadows and mighty mountains are the main tourist attractions.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2019.
The Tourism Corporation Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCK-P) and the Upper Chitral district administration are organising a three-day Broghil Festival early next month in the Broghil National Park, Upper Chitral.
The festival will showcase various activities, including polo matches on horses, yaks and even donkeys. The ancient Asian game of Buzkashi - in which carcass of a goat is pulled while riding a horse- will also be played out. Traditional modern games such as cricket and football, marathons, tug-of-war, wrestling and other traditional games will also be played.
There will be live music and a food show as well.
Yak Polo draws tourists to Chitral
Chairing a meeting to review arrangements for the festival, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Senior Minister for Sports and Tourism Atif Khan directed officials of his department to work with the Upper Chitral district administration to ensure different aspects of the ancient and unique Wakhi culture are highlighted during the festival.
TCK-P Managing Director Junaid Khan said that arrangements were being finalized for the event. He hoped that this year, a large number of tourists will visit the remote area of Chitral to enjoy the festival.
Junaid believed that the yak race and yak polo will be the main feature of the festival, and a major draw for visitors.
He said that tangible steps are being taken to hold the festival in a befitting manner to lure more tourists and visitors to this part of K-P.
“A tent village will be set up in Broghil to facilitate the tourists,” the official said, adding that opportunities were also being explored for tourists to participate in adventure tourism activities in the remote spot.
Meanwhile, yak keepers have started arriving in Broghil to arrange yaks for those interested in playing yak polo.
Shandur hopes to attract hordes of foreign tourists to annual polo festival
Broghil is the home of Chiantar glacier surrounded by many other glaciers, which feed the Chitral River while the Kuramber Lake is said to be biologically active lake supporting a wide range of diversity.
The Broghil valley, bordering the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, is situated about 250km from Chitral city. Its extended glaciers, incredible wildlife, scattered wetlands, rich wilderness, green meadows and mighty mountains are the main tourist attractions.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2019.