Under the shadows of Tirichmir in the Hindukush mountain range, the valley of Chitral in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan is a fascinating combination of scenic beauty and culture diversity. sThe land of apples, Apricots, Pears, and Pomegranates, Chitral stretches from 1,094m to 7778m above sea level (ASL) at Tirichmir Peak. With its collection of rugged mountains gushing river, hot spring and fruit –laden orchards, Chitral truly is an enchanting part of Pakistan.
The area is bordered by Afghanistan in the north and west, with the narrow Afghan Wakhan corridor separating it from Tajikistan, Dir Kohistan in the south and Gilgit in the east. Chitral can be accessed via several mountain passes, the most famous being the Lowari Top (3,118m) approx. crossing the Hindu Raj ( spur of the higher Hindukush ) in the south and the Shoundur pass (3,798m) forming the eastern gateway from Gilgit. Other passes include the Dorah pass from Badakshan in Afghanistan and the main arteries of the ancient Silk Route to Yarkand and Kashgar in China and Badakhsan in Afghanistan, they are not much in use today.