Qaqlasht Meadows
Plateau in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Qāqlasht, also spelt Qāq Lasht (Khowar: قاقلشت; lit. 'Dry Plain') is an alpine meadow located near Buni in the Upper Chitral District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The meadows are situated at an altitude of around 2,500 metres (8,200 ft).[1][2]
Qaqlasht Meadows | |
|---|---|
A view of Qaqlasht meadows photographed c. 2016 | |
| Coordinates: 36.2858°N 72.2337°E | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| District | Upper Chitral District |
| Elevation | 2,500 m (8,200 ft) |
Festival
The four-day spring festival "Jashan-e-Qaqlasht" is held at the meadows annually. The history of festival celebrations dates back to 2,000 years ago.[3] The festival, a major part of the Kho culture, was revived in 2003 after nearly 35 years, although it was put into a five-year hiatus in 2019–2024. The sport competitions include polo, archery, paragliding, cricket, football, hockey, skeet shooting and marathon race.[4][5][6] Qaqlasht also hosts a winter sports festival from January 2–5, featuring winter camping, skiing and mountaineering training.[7]