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INTRODUCTION TO SHANDUR
The world famous Shandur pass is a bout 3738 meter an above sea level and lies midway
between Chitral and Gilgit. The distance from Chitral is 147 Km and Gilgit is about
211Km. These areas remains snow covered in winter and turn into the green heaven
during summer season. There is a big lake in the area. The traditional polo tournament
played between Chitral and Gilgit teams in the month of hot July. Foreign tourist
and native came to see the festival. The first recorded polo tournament played at
this ground was in 1936, since then every year in July a grand polo tournament takes
place at Shandur pass.
POLO AT SHANDUR
 Shandur is the
highest polo ground in the world, there is game of polo is played between Chitral
and Gilgit in every year of July. The game originated in the dim and distant past
in the high mountains of the Hindukush and Karakurum ranges. Amongst the horse loving
peoples of Chitral, Gilgit and Hunza. here it is still played in its original form,
a game as tough rough and hard, on man and horse as the surrounding mountains themselves.
A game without rules or empire, a game with only a few agreed convention of play.
Polo in Khowar called “Istoorghar” has been the traditional game of Chitral, as
our motto is “we play polo the game of king and king of the games”. The game is
commonly played to the music band comprising a big drum.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Shandur Polo ground is in the district Chitral, and is situated at 72’ 35 east
longitude and 36’ 06’ north la titude. It is bordered on the west by Yarkoon valley
of Chitral and on the northerners by the valley of Gilgit district. It is dividing
point between the caracara and the handout mountains ranges. The polo ground is
about 168 Km from the main town Chitral and accessible by jeep. The road is closed
during winter due to heavy snow.
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