Chitral Fort

18th-century palace of the Mehtars on the Chitral River

The fort sits low on the right bank of the Chitral River with the bulk of Tirich Mir behind it on clear days. Built in the early 18th century and rebuilt several times, it served as the residence of the Mehtars — the hereditary rulers of Chitral — until the kingdom was absorbed into Pakistan in 1969. The current Mehtar's family still uses parts of the complex.

Visiting is informal: ask at the gate. The polo ground next door — one of the highest natural grass polo grounds in the world — is the venue for big matches against the rival valley of Mastuj. The famous summer Shandur tournament against the Gilgit side draws thousands of spectators to a 3,700-metre pass.

things to do sight fort
A story
In March 1895 the fort was besieged for 48 days by forces of the deposed claimant Sher Afzul. A relief column of 15,000 men under Sir Robert Low marched from Peshawar to break the siege — the same Chitral Expedition that secured the valley for the Raj.