Location
Chitral is situated on the west bank of the Chitral River (or Kunar River) at the foot of Tirich Mir which at 7,708 m (25,289 ft) is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush. Until 1969, it served as the capital of the princely state of ChitralHistory
Nothing definitive is recorded about the town’s first settlers. In the 3rd century AD, Kanishka, the Buddhist ruler of the Kushan empire, occupied Chitral. In the 4th century AD, the Chinese overran the valley. Raees rule over Chitral began in 1320 and came to an end in the 15th century. From 1571 onwards Chitral was the capital of the princely state of Chitral under the rule of the Katur Dynasty.The Chitral Valley is the historic home to two main ethnic groups, Ancient Chitralis and the Kalasha.
Ancient Chitralis, called Kho, probably came from what is now northeastern Afghanistan. Local legends recall a golden age around the 8th century under a semimythical Buddhist king called Bahman, at around the same time a Chinese army temporarily occupied the valley. Smaller numbers of Kalasha have simultaneously occupied several small valleys, stretching into Afghanistan, where they followed their own religion and claimed to be descendants of Alexander the Great’s armies. Although Tamerlane subdued Chitral en route to Punjab in 1398, even he took a beating from the tough Kalasha.
The end of the 19th century was the time of biggest change for Chitral, as the region was swept up in the Great Game. The Afghan Kalasha were converted to Islam by swordpoint in 1893, and their homeland’s name changed from Kafiristan (‘Land of the Infidels’) to Nuristan (‘Land of Light’). Simultaneously, the death of Chitral’s first mehtar (prince) sparked a particularly bloody fight for succession that eventually drew in the expanding British empire. Afzal ul-Mulk (son of the first mehtar) seized the throne and set about picking off his siblings in an age-old tradition of consolidating power. As various brothers either fled to Gilgit or sent rival forces from exile in Afghanistan, the British manoeuvred Afzal’s brother Nizam into power, only to see him bumped off by yet another relative. Deciding enough was enough, a detachment of 400 British soldiers was sent to occupy Chitral fort (themehtar’s ancestral home), put a 12-year-old ul-Mulk on the throne and attempt to take charge.
This at least unified the Chitralis, who immediately laid siege to the interfering British. Now in a tight spot, the garrison was eventually relieved after seven weeks when a relief force from Gilgit hauled cannons over the Shandur Pass in shoulder-high snow. This epic trek allowed the British to draw attention away from their badly handled interference and celebrate a heroic campaign of empire instead, with medals and knighthoods for all.
Following this debacle, Chitral was left largely to its own devices, although it was transferred in the early 20th century from Gilgit to the newly formed NWFP. Princely privileges continued well past Pakistan’s independence, until being formally abolished in 1972, although the ul-Mulk family still hold much sway politically. The local passes were favoured smuggling routes for mujaheddin fighting the Soviets during the war in the 1980s, and the sensitive Afghan border means that the central government still keeps a fairly close eye on Chitral.
Languages
Population
The main tribe, the Khow, speak Khowar. The Chitral culture is Islamic and contrasts considerably with the urban cities of Pakistan as well as the adjacent district of Gilgit. Women are nearly invisible except to their male relatives and other women. They avoid walking the streets of the town, so men or children do most of the shopping. Travel requires the company of a close male relative and sometimes the wearing of a burqa.There is also a small population of Nuristanis, Tajiks and Uzbeks most of whom arrive from Afghanistan seasonally for tradingEducational institutions
- Qutaiba Public School Chitral Denin
- Chitral Model College Chitral
- Government Commerce College, Shahi Masjid Road, Chitral, affiliated with University of Malakand
- Government Technical and Vocational College, Garum Chassma Road, Chitral
- Government Degree College, affiliated with University of Malakand
- Government Girls Degree College, affiliated with University of Malakand
- Government Centennial Model High School
- Government Centennial Model School for Girls
- Frontier Corp Public School (chitral)
- Chitral Public School & College (Chitral's first English Medium School)
- Langlands School and College, formerly known as Sayurj Public School
- Pamir Public School
- Iqra Model School
- Islamia Model School Bombagh
- AFAQ model school and college danin chitral
- Aga Khan School
- Terichmir Model School
- Al-Nasir Community Based School, Garam Chashma
- Chamber of Commerce College, Garam Chashma
- Al-Nasir Cbs School and Degree College, Garam Chashma
- Aga Khan Higher Secondary School (Chitral and Kuragh)
- Injigan Ideal Public school (Garum chashma)
- Islamia Model School Rayeen Torkhow
- Hasan ul bana Model School Warijun Mullkhow
- Govt High School for boys Warijun Mullkhow
- Drosh Public School Drosh
- Muslim Model School Jughoor Chitral
- Jinnah Public School Drosh
