Shandur Top 4.12

Shandur Top is located in Ghizer District, Gilgit-Baltistan, in the northmost political entity of Pakistan. It is often called the 'Roof of the World'. The top is flat, a plateau and can be crossed between late April and early November. The grade is very gradual, and the area is crossed by plentiful small streams during summer. The boundary line between Ghizer District of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.During the annual 'Shandur Polo Festival,' which is organized by the Ministry of tourism Gilgit-Baltistan and the Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there is a polo match played on Shandur Top between the teams of Chitral District and Gilgit District and Chitral DistrictThe Shandur Pass is one of the major mountain passes of Chitral.Shandur Polo FestivalThe initiation of Polo in Shandur is credited to The balti raja of Skardu; Ali Sher Khan Anchan who built the polo graound of Shandur as well. Shandur invites visitors to experience a traditional polo tournament which since 1936 has been held annually in the first week of July between the local teams of Gilgit and Chitral. Organized and financed by the Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP), the tournament is held on Shandur Top, the highest polo ground in the world at 3,700 meters (the pass itself is at 3,800 meters). The festival also includes Folk music, dancing and a camping village is set up. The polo tournament is featured in the first episode of Himalaya with Michael Palin.