KUMRAT VALLEY TO CHITRAL VALLEY VIA KAKSAR PASS
Kak Sar is a vast lake situated enroute to Thaloo Pass, close to
Laspur village in Chitral district, originating from Kumrat Valley. The lake is
so large that, as per the local elders, it takes half a day to traverse its
shores while heading towards Chitral. Thaloo Pass is an ancient mountainous
pathway that connects Kumrat Valley to Laspur of Chitral district. In times of
conflict with invading tribes, people from both sides used to take refuge with
each other via this pass. After losing a special fort in 1804 in Dir, the
surrounding tribes of Dardic in Dir Kohistan would connect with other tribes
via these mountainous roads. To travel to Swat, Badgoyi Pass, Battalo Pass, and
Daral Chumer Pass were used, whereas to go to Chitral, Thaloo Pass, Kashkin
Pass, and Gowoo Pass were utilized. Thaloo Pass and Kashkin Pass are located in
Kumrat Valley, while Gowor Pass connects the Doog Dara valley of Dir Upper to
Chitral.
To reach Chitral from Thaloo Pass, you must first arrive at Kumrat
Valley. From there, you can comfortably travel in a 4x4 vehicle up to Dojanga.
The journey from Dojanga to the final stop, Shahzor Banal, is a four to
five-hour trek on foot. The route to Shahzor Banal has many scenic areas such
as Aizgolu Banal, Charot Banal, and Ghurshai Banal. This area is a hidden gem
of Kumrat Valley, with its natural beauty. After a challenging climb of about
an hour and a half, you will reach Shahzor Lake, followed by Thaloo Pass in
another two hours of track. On the way to Chitral from here, there are three
large lakes and a big glacier. As far as is known, the names of the first lake
are Thaloo Sar (Thaloo Lake), the second is Kool Sar (Kool Lake), and the third
is Zeghai Chhat, while the name of the glacier is Thaloo Glacier.
After crossing three lakes and the glacier, you will reach Kaksar
Lake, which is said to be the largest lake in the Hindukush region and
approximately two kilometers long. The journey from Dojanga to Kaksar takes
about 13 to 15 hours on foot. The path to Shahzor Lake is smooth with little
incline, but beyond Shahzor Lake, the path to Kaksar is rocky and arduous.
Beyond Kaksar, one enters the region of Chitral. Along the way, you will pass
by the famous lake of Chitral, Bashqar Gol Lake, and reach the area of Sar
Laspur. As per the local elders, it takes about four to five days to travel
from Kumrat Valley to Sar Laspur or Lapur of Chitral. Apart from local
shepherds, there is no human population along the way, so it is crucial to
acquire the services of a local guide, carry enough food and water, and have
knowledge of camping and weather conditions before commencing the trek.
