Shandur Polo Festival 2025

The iconic Shandur Polo Festival is set to commence from Friday, June 20, 2025, at the world’s highest polo ground, located at an altitude of 10,300 feet. The three-day event will feature a series of thrilling polo matches, with the much-anticipated contests between teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) serving as the festival’s main attraction. In addition to the sporting events, visitors will be treated to vibrant cultural and musical evenings. Nighttime festivities will include fireworks displays and captivating musical performances, offering a rich blend of tradition and entertainment. The Shandur Polo Festival is a permanent fixture in the annual events calendar of the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism and Culture Department, reflecting its cultural and historical significance. Tourists have already begun arriving in the region, embarking on the approximately 200-kilometre journey from Gilgit city to the festival venue, which typically takes five to six hours by road. A high volume of traffic has been reported along Ghizer Road, indicating strong turnout and public interest. Comprehensive preparations have been made for the event. The polo ground has been renovated, and infrastructure has been enhanced to ensure the provision of essential services, including water and electricity supply, backup power via generators, telecommunications, transportation, media coverage, and security. Players from both Chitral and GB arrived at the site a week in advance and have since been engaging in practice sessions. These matches have helped both the athletes and their horses acclimatize to the challenging high-altitude environment.