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Elevation: 1670-2309 meters (5,476-7,576 feet).
Distance: 32-36km. (20-22 miles) south of Chitral.
By jeep: 2 ½ hours
These are a group of three small valleys: Brir, Bumburet and Rambur. Brir
lies at the southern most tip of Chitral at a distance of 34 km (21 miles)
and is easily accessible by jeep-able road via Ayun. It is especially ideal
for those not used to trekking. Bumburet, the largest and the most
picturesque valley of the Kafir Kalash, is 36 km.(22 miles) from Chitral and
is connected by a jeep-able road.
Rambur is 32 km (20 miles) from Chitral, the road is jeep-able. Foreign
tourists require permits for visiting the Kalash valleys. Permits are issued
free of cost by the Deputy Commissioner, Chitral, Tel: 1. Foreign visitors
have to pay a toll tax of Rs.10 per person while Re. 1.00 per person is
charged from domestic tourists.
These valleys have an alpine climate. The people inhabiting these valleys
are the primitive pagan tribes of Pakistan, who are known as Kafir Kalash,
which means the wearers of the black robes. Their origin is cloaked in
controversy. A legend says that soldiers from the legions of the Macedonian
conqueror, Alexander, settled in Chitral and are the progenitors of the
Kalash.
They live in small villages built on the hillsides near the banks of
streams. Their houses are constructed of rough-hewn logs and are double
storeyed because of the steepness of the slopes. Kalash are very lively
people and are famous for their lively religious festivals namely:
Chilimjusht (spring), Phool (September) and Chowas (from 21st December for a
week). The Kalash love music and their instruments are drums and flutes.
Their colorful dances impart a feeling of peace, joy and contentment. If you
join them in their dance, they interpret it as a sign friendship and will
open their hearts to you and reveal some of their mysteries, their joys and
sorrows. You depart with a sense of poignancy and nostalgia for these
beautiful children of nature and nagging fear that all the sweetness and
innocence may soon be swept away forever by the power and intolerance that
often hide themselves under the banner of progress.
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