Madaklasht Valley-Unseen Persian Community In Hindukush Mountains

Saba Ghani

2 years of guide experience in Pakistan.

Overview

Madaklasht is a small city on the north side of Chitral, Pakistan. Until the eighteenth century, the community lived in a small village on this side of Pakistan. In the early 18th century, seven people immigrated to Chitral from Pakistan to produce firearms for their kingdom. They tried to set up their base camps in various places but finally settled in Madakasht.

The city had a population of 4,000 at this time, still speaking its native language. They avoid inter-caste marriages to preserve the purity of the race. This village on the north side of Chitral is one of the most stunning sights in Chitral, Pakistan.

Brief Description

Madaklasht Chitral is an unrated but one of the best winter sports destinations, in the extreme southeast of the Chitral district. This valley has huge potential but is untapped. Most local Pakistani tourists are unaware of this adventure destination. About a year ago, the valley was unknown to the traveler, but thanks to the media, who highlighted the beauty of this land to the world. Many travelers and vloggers explored this valley by themselves and they made a great impression on the outside world. This valley is a winter destination for local and international audiences. If you're a trained skier and have a group, we recommend participation in this year's Madaklasht Valley local skiing event.

The Madaklashti is a small non-indigenous ethnolinguistic community that has lived in Chitral in northern Pakistan since the late 18th century. Initially, according to oral tradition, 7 people came to Chitral from different parts of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. They were recruited to serve the traditional rulers because of their gun production skills. They stayed at multiple places until they finally settled in one place called Madaklasht.

Currently, 3,964 people in the community still maintain their native language, with some differences and a new name "Madaklashti". Its isolated location, lack of intermarriage with other language communities, and the community's positive attitude towards its native language are major factors that have contributed to the maintenance of the original Persian language. Their wedding customs provide fairly clear evidence that the community was culturally influenced by Chitral's dominant linguistic community, the Khowar. The general socio-economic situation shows that the Madaklasht is socially developed, well-organized, and can deal with social problems.

How to get there?

The nearest airport to Madaklasht is Chitral Airport, with regular flights from Islamabad to Chitral. From there, it is about a 4-hour drive and Droosh is about a 3-hour drive away.

The best time to visit there

The best time to visit Madaklasht is from March to September. Since the valley is not well-built there is a chance of landslides during the monsoon season. However, the winters here are extreme, but if you're a nature lover, you can enjoy a winter sports festival here.

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Madaklasht Valley