Call to reopen old road to Bumburate

GH Farooqui

CHITRAL: There was an old road to Bumburate and Sheikhandeh area of Kalash valley that was abandoned after construction of the current road along the stream.

The old Ghochharkoh road was constructed by the forest department in 1963 to access the forest areas in these villages and bring deodar wood to Chitral.

The old road to Bumburate avoided the nullah flowing down the valley and passed through Kushkantek village at the foot of the mountain. 

There are dense forests, open fields and very beautiful tourist spots along this old road.

When the current road was constructed on the river bank, the old road was abandoned, but still motorcyclists and some tourists travel on it on foot because it’s a best trekking way.

Currently, as the NHA is expanding the Kalash valley road, it often remains closed for hours due to blasting in the mountain. 

Shahzada Sirajul Mulk, a well-known social worker and tour operator of Chitral, and local resident Abdul Akbar say Ghochharkoh road is very attractive for domestic and foreign tourists.

They will not travel on the main road below if this old road is reopened because there are wide fields and many tourist spots along it.

Moreover, there are more than 200 people living in Kushkantek village located on this old road and after its reconstruction their travel hardship would also be resolved.

The old traffic can be restored within a week with a nominal fund, they said.