Winter tourism in full swing as snow covers northern Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan’s northern regions are famous for lofty mountains, lush green valleys, and the most breathtaking blue-and-green scenery. But the recurring spell of snowfall has transformed the region into a winter wonderland.

The snow-laden trees, frozen lakes, and cozy cottages have compelled tourists to rush to the north to enjoy the fresh snow.

The winter tourist season is in full swing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The weather sparked excitement through social media where people shared hundreds of photos and videos of snow-blanketed areas. “I’ve never seen so much snow. This is more beautiful than the photos on Instagram,” Maria Khan, a tourist from Lahore, told Gulf News. Maria came all the way from Lahore to the beautiful Swat valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to enjoy the snow-covered mountain terrains.

The family especially enjoyed their visit to the Saif-ul-Malook Lake which they said “looked more majestic” frozen and covered with snow. This lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in summer when it is most accessible.

“Saif-ul-Malook is one of my favourite places because of its magical ambiance in both summers and winters” she added. Her family is now headed to further north Gilgit-Baltistan where winter sports and cultural festivals are in full action in the snow-covered valleys of Pakistan.

Winter festivals and sports activities

This week, the scenic Gilgit-Baltistan region saw the three-day Shyok Winter Festival in the Khaplu area of the Ghanche district and another winter festival kicked off in Hunza’s Ghulkin village. The festivals included traditional polo, ice hockey, rock climbing, and volleyball competitions. The festivities attracted hundreds of people who enjoyed the cultural and traditional games of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Shyok festival, named after a river, was organised by the district administration in collaboration with the Canadian High Commission and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. The winter event allowed young girls from the mountainous region to participate in winter sports, especially ice hockey which is a new sport for the people of this region.

“Excited to train the next generation of ice hockey players. For most girls, it was their first time on the ice and we were just as giddy as they were!” said the Canadian High Commission with photos of girls playing ice hockey posted on its official account. Canadian High Commissioner Leslie Scanlon praised the efforts to organise such events at one of the highest areas in the world and hoped the region will become a hub for ice hockey with both women and men taking up the sport as Gilgit-Baltistan has immense potential to generate more tourism by arranging such activities.

Regional festivals to become national events

The festivities will continue as a series of winter festivals are planned in Ghizer, Hunza, Skardu, Astore, and Diamer this year. A seven-day winter fest will be held from January 14 to 22 in the Attabad area of Upper Hunza to promote inclusive tourism and revive interest in traditional games of the region.

Besides sports activities, the festivities also included traditional music played by local artists. The events also featured stalls of local food, fruit and handicrafts. Musical shows, bonfires and Balti cultural shows are also part of the events. The festivals were attended by huge crowds including locals, tourists and adventure seekers.

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Sports and Tourism Minister Raja Nasir Ali Khan has promised to turn the traditional winter festival in the region into a national event next year by inviting people from other parts of the country. “Next year, we will arrange a national-level winter festival” and invite people from all across Pakistan, he said.

Winter tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, known for its diverse natural beauty and magnificent valleys, including the Swat, Kaghan and Kumrat, also witnessed several winter events. To promote winter sports, an ice sports training camp for girls and boys was organised in the picturesque valley of Parwak in Upper Chitral by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cultural and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) in collaboration with the Winter Sports Federation of Pakistan (WSFP).

At least 50 athletes participated in the three-day training camp where training equipment and ice sports kits were distributed among participants. The WSFP vice-president Shahid Nadeem and the Canadian coach Sabina Islam hoped that the training camp would improve the capacity of players and enable them to bring laurels for the country in international events of ice hockey.

Another 15-day annual winter festival was held in the remote Kalash Valley located deep in the mountains in the Chitral district. This valley is home to Kalasha people — the country’s smallest minority group of about 4,000 people who live in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.

Each year, they come together for Chawmos, a New Year festival that coincides with the winter solstice and is marked by folk dance, animal sacrifice, and traditional meals. The festival was celebrated in the three Kalash valleys — Bumburet, Rumber and Birir. On the final day, the members of the tribes, all men, women and children sang songs and danced to folk tunes to welcome the New Year.

Tourism facilities

As more tourists head to Pakistan’s great white north, some have complained about inadequate road infrastructure, lack of public toilets, parking facilities, and information signs, as well as the struggle to find good quality hotel and restaurant services. The visitors have asked authorities to improve food and lodging standards, keep a check on the local hotel industry and ensure sustainable tourism by introducing littering fines and proper waste management and recycling facilities.

“Some of these picturesque regions are not as perfect as they look on Instagram. The electricity and gas outages and unavailability is a serious issue,” said Kamran Khan, who is on a trip to Hunza with his colleagues. He added that while the tourists would leave after a brief stay, the cold and snow make living conditions extremely tough for the residents, especially those living in the far-off regions where people are forced to rely on wood stoves for cooking and heating.

The government says it is making gradual investments in facilities and infrastructure to offer better facilities and more attractions for sightseers, skiers, trekkers, and mountaineers. The KP government has planned ecotourism resorts to improve facilities and construct walking tracks, wood boats, huts, parking areas, camping pods, and others facilitation services at Mahudhand lake.

Jeep tracks would be constructed in 16 districts mostly in Malakand and Hazara divisions at a cost of Rs500 million to make lakes accessible for families throughout the year, officials said. Another Rs188 million project approved for Saiful Malook national park would help maintain the park’s cleanliness and set up of offices for wildlife staff there.

The authorities have asked tourists to come fully prepared by storing extra fuel and food, charged batteries, tow and snow chains, and be extra careful while snapping selfies and checking the weather conditions before traveling. Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Aftab ur Rehman Rana said that all concerned departments are vigilant and provide round-the-clock services to the people visiting these areas to make their tours fun and hassle-free.