CHITRAL, Nov 3: Chitral is attracting crowds of people from across the country during the current autumn season.

Tourists told Dawn on Saturday that Chitral was one of the few places in the country where tourism was possible during autumn.

They said Booni, Mastuj, Garam Chashma, Oveer, Terich and Susum having a good number of poplar trees were known for autumn colour attractions.

A couple from Lahore said they had been Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan on alternate years for 10 years.

Mr Salman, a pharmacist, said he visited Chitral with family every year for excellent autumn colours. “I wish to have a house here to spend at least one month in autumn,” he said.

These days, the hotels in Chitral, Garam Chashma, Booni and Kalash valleys are doing a roaring business. Owners of these hotels said most tourists spent a week or so in these areas before returning home.

They said the number of tourists had increased this autumn compared with the last one.

Writer Gul Nawaz Khaki said the autumn season got a special mention in local poetry and songs.

He said yellow, red and golden were the colours of autumn and that each sub-valley of Chitral was known for its own autumn colour. Mr Khaki said women preferred to wear yellow dresses during autumn.

Shahzada Khosh Ahmadul Mulk, the son of the former ruler of Chitral, has grown trees in columns in his Ayun village garden. In autumn, these trees give a beautiful look.

Most tourists visit the garden and appreciate the beauty of trees. Professor Abdur Rashid of Peshawar University, a visitor, said the trees of the garden looked lovely.