Today’s post has been contributed by Samia Bakhtawar. Learn more about the Shandur Polo Festival annually held in Pakistan.
Shandur Polo Festival is a sports festival held annually from 7th to 9th July in Shandur Polo Ground, Ghizer Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Shandur is often called the ‘Roof of the World’. The tournament is held at Shandur Top, which is the world’s highest polo ground at an altitude of 3,700 meters (the pass itself is at 3,800 meters). It is played between the teams of Gilgit-Baltistan Districts and Chitral District, under freestyle rules. The festival also includes folk music, dancing and a camping village is set up. The polo tournament was featured in the first episode of Himalaya with Michael Palin.