Wakhi Communities of Broghil, the Eastern Pamir Region

Website: www.adventuretravelnews.com/chitral-association-for-mountain-area-tourism-camat
Facebook: CAMAT
E-mail: camatchitral@yahoo.com
Phone: Shams Uddin: +92 943 413540 or +92 (0)203 5975059 (mobile)

Communities

Wakhi Communities of Broghil, the Eastern Pamir Region

Who they are

The Wakhi communities along the Wakhan Corridor in the Eastern Pamir region are of Central Asian origin. They speak Persian and Wakhi and are proud of their Central Asian ancestral linkages. It takes about 5 days from Chitral town to reach Broghil. At the last leg of the journey, you have to ride sure-hoofed mountainous ponies. Jashan-eBroghil is the cultural festival of the Wakhi people in Broghil, during which the famous game of Yak Polo is played.

Broghil has a beautiful wetland environment, which is the habitat for a wide range of rare bird species. Broghil is the natural route for migratory birds travelling to and from Central Asia and Siberia twice a year. There are also 44 large and small lakes across the landscape, of which the Lake Karambar is the grandest.

From Broghil there are a range of passes to different regions such as to Yasin, Ishkamon and Hunza valleys. Broghil Pass leads to Sarhad-e-Wakhan, the last village of Afghanistan. From here it takes 2 days to get to Greater Pamir, which is rightly dubbed as the ‘roof of the earth’.

What they offer

- Yak Polo
- Free style polo on sturdy mountainous ponies
- Trekking over Darkhot Pass to Yasin valley
- Trekking over Ishkamon valley to Gilgit city
- Trekking over Chilinji glacier to Hunza
- Camping at Karambar lake
- Visiting Broghil Pass
- Tasting traditional Wakhi cuisine
- Visiting the traditional Wakhi houses and interacted with the community members

Location

The Wakhan Corridor in the Eastern Pamir region is the northernmost tip of the Chitral district of Pakistan. You have to travel to Chitral either by air or by road from Peshawar or Islamabad/Rawalpindi respectively. There is one flight every day from Islamabad and Peshawar. You will not have a problem if you want to do this trip on your own. The local people are friendly and they will guide you when you need them.

Once in Chitral you have to go to Mastuj jeep stand to find transportation up to Mastuj or any village of the Yarkhun valley. From there you will procede up to Broghil in Eastern Pamir.

View Larger Map

What to bring

- Sleeping bag
- Mosquito net
- Torch

Accommodation & Amenities

There are a variety of options: Village guesthouses, family homestay and camping.
When staying at hotels and the guest houses their are good bathing facilities with showers. There are also nice places for outdoor bathing. There are both Indian squat toilets and European toilets.
There is electricity
There is a choice of traditional, international, vegetarian and Indian food.
Guest house: PKR 1,000.00 per night (US$11.80); Food: PKR 300.00 per meal (US$3.50). Transportation costs will vary from PKR 4,000.00 (US$47.00) to PKR 22,000 (US$260.00) depending on the place.

Check out the current exchange rate PKR to USD

More information

Find out more about Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT), an NGO that works with the Wakhi Communities of Broghil of the Eastern Pamir Region.