Lowari Pass is also called Lowari
Top is a high mountain pass that connects Chitral with Dir in
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Lowari Top / Lowari Pass is a relatively low
pass, by far the lowest pass to enter Chitral, the others all being 12,000 to
15,000 feet. The Lowari Top crosses the Hindu Raj Mountains, a spur of the
higher Hindu Kush, and on the Chitral side of Lowari Top are the people of
Ashret, whose native is Palula language and were assigned by the Mehtar of
Chitral to be the guardians of Lowari Top.
Although, Lowari Top is shut down
by snow from late November to late May every year. During this difficult time,
jeeps cannot cross so peoples must travel by foot. The local peoples are so
strong and powerful, so they’re habitual of crossing Lowari Top by foot. This
is extremely treacherous, as there are high mountains on each side of Lowari
Top, and a fatal avalanche can come at any moment without warning. Therefore,
in every winter a few individuals are killed by avalanches while crossing
Lowari Top. So, their dead bodies are buried under the snow and it is only happens
when the summer comes and the snow melts that their dead bodies are found and
their fate learned. However, Lowari Top remains one of widespread place because
it is the shortest route from Chitral to Peshawar. Although, the alternative
way would be down the Kunar River to Jalalabad through hostile Afghan Territory
or the much longer route across Shandur Top to Gilgit.
Moreover on the other side which
is called Der reside Khowars, some of whom make their living as porters
carrying loads across Lowari Top. More than 60 years ago, when in 1954, the
Mehtar of Chitral was killed when his airplane crashed into Lowari Top. However,
in these days, even PIA pilots often turn back because of winds and fear of
crossing Lowari Top. The word "Top" is thought not to be the English
word "top" but a word from an ancient language no longer spoken
there. The Lowari Top is one of the four major mountain passes to enter
Chitral. Hence, the others are the Dorah Pass from Badakshan in Afghanistan, Shandur
Top from Gilgit, and Broghol from the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan. Furthermore,
in 2009 the Lowari Tunnel was constructed beneath Lowari Pass by a Korean
company. Though, the tunnel was
abandoned presently thereafter and has since fallen into shabbiness.