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.
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.
Shandur polo festival organised from July 7 to July 19 every year (sometimes dates may fluctuate), It is the famous polo event which has attracted great number of polo enthusiast nationally and internationally including the supporter of the Chitral and Giglit team respectively. The polo played here has no rule and the only rule is that it is played raw and without rule. All depends on the stamina of the horse and that of the player. Shandur is the highest polo ground on earth–3700m.
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 their 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.
Polo is the world’s famous game and playing polo with no rules on the world highest polo ground, really a memorable moment of life, different multi national companies sponsor this festival as hundreds of tourist from all over the world came here to become a part of this festival. Nothern areas of Pakistan are quite safe; and any one can freely move around these places like Sakardu, Gilgit, chitral etc..
So I suggest you Don’t miss it and if you can not come this time, try to come atleast once in a life. You are welcomed to watch one of the thrilling polo contests on earth. Here are some photos I would like to share it with you:
Update: Chitral won the Shundoor Polo Tournament defeating Gilgit 10-2 goals in the final played here at the world’s highest polo ground Shundoor. Chitral’s team made several attacks against the opponents in the first half of the match and succeeded in scoring five goals while Gilgit could make only one goal. However, Gilgit scored another goal at the beginning of the second half but Chitral made five more goals to emerge victorious. A large number of local and foreign spectators watched the match. At the end of the match, provincial minister Saleem Khan gave away the cash prize of Rs100,000 to the winners and Rs50,000 to the runners-up.
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