Shandur Pass, Mountain pass between Gupis-Yasin and Lower Chitral Districts, Pakistan
Shandur Pass is a mountain pass in northern Pakistan that links the Gupis-Yasin and Lower Chitral districts at an elevation of around 3,700 meters (12,100 feet). The road across it is unpaved and crosses a broad high plateau flanked by peaks and dotted with small lakes.
During the colonial period, British administrators used this pass as a strategic link between their territories in what is now northwestern Pakistan. After independence, the route remained a key connection between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Every July, teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan meet on the polo ground here for a traditional tournament that draws large crowds from surrounding valleys. The matches follow old mountain rules, with no referee and a style of play passed down through generations.
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is strongly recommended for crossing the pass, as the unpaved road can be rough in places. The route is generally open from late April through November, outside of the snow season.
The polo ground on the pass is said to be one of the highest in the world, yet it has no permanent structure or stands, just a flat stretch of the plateau. Spectators watch from the surrounding hillsides, which gives the event a setting unlike any other polo tournament.
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