CHITRAL: A large number of tourists have arrived here to see the spectacular autumn colours in different valleys of Chitral.

The valleys of Booni, Mastuj, Khot, Garam Chashma, Oveer, Terich, Rech, Melp, Mulkhow, Laspur and Sheshi have been the favourite destinations of tourists to witness autumn colours.

A number of hotel owners in Chitral city told Dawn that they were receiving more guests than the previous years in this season and said that a number of groups were expected to arrive in the coming days.

They said that some towns and areas here were specially known for the high density of deciduous species presenting eye-catching views. They said that the opening of Lowari tunnel had made tours to Chitral easy. They said that a good number of autumn tourists had been arriving in Chitral from adjoining areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat due to the improved transport facilities.

From Chitral city, the tourists leave for different valleys known for their autumn colours. Most of them return to the city for night stay and leave for another tourist destination in the morning.

The autumn colours range from yellow to red and golden and each sub-valley of Chitral is known for peculiar colours due to presence of a variety of local species of poplar, apricot, chinar and mulberry.

The autumn season, locally known as ‘chhan chhori’, has romantic overtones in the local folk literature. Attachment of local people to the season can be gauged from the fact that most of the young women and children prefer to stitch yellow dresses for autumn.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019