The life of an oddball can be a challenge, but being an adventurer, you respond to the call to explore new destinations and connect with diverse people. As I have travelled sufficiently to the meadows, mountaineering and trekking routes, I levelled up my adventure game this time. Thinking of exploring something new on my destinations list, I decided to start my thrilling journey to the Darkot Pass. Perched at 4,703 meters above sea level, Darkot Pass is a mountain pass that connects the Baroghil Valley in Chitral and Rawat Valley in Gilgit Baltistan.
Thinking about what a person can do to visit a mountain pass? This article answers your queries about why Darkot Pass should be your must-visiting destination.
Adventurous Journey to Darkot Pass:
This journey to Darkot Pass begins from the jump-off location in Chitral. Chitral is a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that is reachable from the capital, Islamabad, or any metropolitan city of Pakistan. From Chitral, after visiting the Tirich Mir, my journey takes off another route to Mastuj, a less crowded place and the last point to cover via vehicular transport. We drive in a private jeep to the rocky upheaval road that connects to Mastuj.
From there, my destiny joined my way with an adventurer group; some were travelling solo, and some were with their families. The pathway ahead of Mastuj was over the sky due to the presence of these new friends. The great time was seeing the countenance of joy on the faces of children as they were eager to explore the region’s natural beauty with every unfolding destination. Taking short breaks when tired, we revitalized our energy with snacks and resumed our journey to Darkot Pass.
Our destination was still far ahead as we kept traversing the route led to Kishmanja. Almost after a five to six-hour drive, we were entered near the area of Lasht. At the vast expanse of these remote places, we found people who were hospitable enough to treat us. After reaching the outskirts of every stationary spot en route, our common destination of Darkot becomes nearer to us.
The last district was Chikar, where a local, sleek and heightened man, Shadab, greeted us. He took us to his stone-hut-formed home and provided us Chai with Dildongi (flatbread). The last leg of our journey culminated in the must-awaiting Darkot Pass. The lush greenery covered the village with steep hills and unfolded the Darkot Valley. I was elated with jubilance as I stepped into the valley.
Local Culture and Communities:
The residents of Darkot Valley are exceptionally generous the richest from the bottom of their hearts. They are always ready to help you if you experience any inconvenience. While traversing Ishkawaraz, our Jeep experienced a punctured tire, most likely due to the continuously rough roads. A local mechanic promptly came to our aid, skillfully repairing our vehicle for a fair fee. While working on our vehicle, he told his boy to serve us tea and water as our preference.
At motels and valleys, we see many children engage in labour. They work to share the financial constraints of their family, alongside going to school to get a better future. This reality became apparent to me during a conversation with Wazir, a sixth-grade student working at the motel. His spirit of working beside learning is exemplary to many of us. Gladly, the burden of responsibility doesn’t diminish his infectious charm. He remains a laughing dose as you interact with him. I had a great chit-chat session with him as we both managed to talk in Urdu to exchange our thoughts.
The women we met throughout our journey were mostly associated with the fields and home chores. As I get to the Darkot Valley, I see many ladies working with their males and looking after their children and cattle. I always wanted to engage with them but found a hindrance to communicating directly with them. However, with the assistance of a bilingual individual, I bridged the gap and engaged in conversation. These women were hospitable enough and insisted that I join them to taste their self-cooked scrumptious meals.
Darkot Pass:
As experienced, Darkot Pass offers meadows, mountains and lakes for a perfect adventurous trip, all at an elevation of four thousand meters above. The rugged route to Darkot accommodates access via vans, cars, jeeps, and bikes. Darkot Pass marks the culmination of Darkot Valley, and it is reachable by either biking or hiking. So, lace up your boots, fuel yourself with energy-packed food, and pick a refilled water bottle. Within half an hour after reaching Darkot Valley, we made our way to the Darkot Pass, where we saw a lake formed by the glacial streams. The freshwater spilling down mountains and pouring a land mass is a pleasant visual to the eyes.
Geography and Altitude:
Immersing more into the destination, its physical aspects, and its importance, I asked the locals about it. From a geological perspective, the Darkot Pass is a mountainous pass serving as a gateway to two provinces of Pakistan, situated at a fantastic height of 4,703 meters. When glacial streams on mountains melt, they make a way in the rugged terrain of the peak, making it a way for water flow. Thus, these mountain passes become a route for people to traverse across the region in the mountain range.
Darkot Pass also serves the same contribution to the region, but it is more popular in luring tourists to its beautiful location in the north of Pakistan. Darkot Pass is a remote location near the Wakhan strip, a bordering nexus of Pakistan with Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Historical chronicles stated that this pass had been used before the inception of Pakistan for the connectivity of the region.
Challenges and Precautions:
The winters can be treacherous and adventurous in the meantime in this landscape. The region is blanketed in snow, giving a blissful sight to hold, but as Darkot is an elevated area, one might face altitude sickness there. Moreover, the harsh cold can also add to the misery if you fall ill and can halt your journey ahead.
Summers are another tangible choice because as the glacier melts, it makes its way to the Darkot region to flow. So it is better to choose the spring and autumn seasons to fulfil your adventurous dream. I have been there as the autumn graces the region, the winds get rough, and the nights become chilling. I sit with my cup of coffee and beholden with pure delight to unwind in the beauty and solace of the place.
Conclusion:
Darkot Pass is a serene and solitude-seeking place. With the lengthy journey comprising six days leading to my attraction, I spend the remaining daylight hours there. The beauty of the region is enhanced as the daylight gets low, the background pleasant music chirping the sound of birds and the pristine view of the crystalline lake water dripping from the mountains. I captured all these views with my camera lens, so when my footsteps stepped outside the region, I made an everlasting mark to store the memories.
As the dawn covered its time to dusk, I set up a camp before the sunset to seize the mesmerising moment. As the sun set and the day concluded, a wish was also granted to visit this place. An adventurer whose heart beats at the sightseeing sites in the backwoods should visit the Darkot Valley and Darkot Pass.
To uncover the adventure and let the exploration continue, jump to the next blog, Tirich Mir: A Travel Guide to the King of Hindu Kush.
