Culture of Gilgit

ded in mists and perhaps myths of the history of Western and Central Asia, but there is no doubt that that this region in general is its birthplace and with some even going so far as to so' that it was in the Gilgit-Baltistan, and Baltistan's town of Shigar in particular, where it all started.

Whether or not that indeed is the case polo has a long tradition and enjoys a substantial following of enthusiasts in the Northern Areas. Even among people who could never dream of owning a horse, polo has its loyal devotees who regularly support their favourite team and often 'ravel long distances throughout the Gilgit-Baltistan  to demonstrate that loyalty.

One such instance, and perhaps the largest and most dramatic in the whole Northern Areas, and perhaps all of Pakistan, is the annual Shandur Polo Festival held in July. Until last year Shandur was the highest polo ground in the world 'it 12,263 feet. That distinction now goes to Babusar at almost 13,599 feet, still in Pakistan.

Shandur is on a spur of the old Silk Route. It has been the site of a fierce rivalry between the polo teams from the old fortress town of Chitral in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP)

and the ancient caravanserai's and now modern city of Gilgit in the Northern Areas.

In 2008 Chitral won the free-style, no chukka polo tournament by two goals and the match had to go into spirited, hard-playing extra time on a ground wider,