The polo ground at the edge of Gilgit town is the social centre of the city. Matches are played on weekends throughout the season, and the games are free to watch — spectators crowd along the side of the dusty pitch while musicians play throughout the match. Gilgit polo is fast and rough, with players leaning from their horses at full gallop in a way that looks genuinely dangerous.
The game's connection to the region runs deep. The Shandur Polo Festival, held each July at the 3,700-metre Shandur Pass between Gilgit and Chitral, is one of the highest-altitude polo tournaments in the world and draws visitors from across Pakistan. If you are in Gilgit when a match is scheduled, watching is one of the better free experiences the town offers.