GARAM CHASHMA- Where the Spring goes Hot !!

Garam Chashma Chitral

Garam Chashma, at the distance of almost 2 hours from Chitral town, previously known as “Injigan”, the land of Hot Springs, is famous for its stunning beauty, mountainous terrain, as in its warm hearted and friendly inhabitants. Its picturesque mountains, sulphur springs, Juniper forests, friendly people and rivers teeming with the famous Trout fish are truly spellbinding. 

Towards Garam Chashma, along the track is a natural spring popping at the road side. Locally known as “Khonza Utch” or the “Princess of Springs”, its water is cooler than ice and is considered good for health. Other then Hot Springs, Garam Chashma is also home to many cold and fresh springs. These springs rarely dry due to slow melting of snow on the mountain peaks.

Garam Chasma is renowned for its boiling sulphur springs which are famous for healing effect on skin diseases, gout, rheumatism and chronic headaches. Yearly tourists and other cure seekers visit the area. The season of bath starts from March 21 and continue for two months of the spring season. The government has setup few rooms near the hot springs for the convenience of tourists and visitors. The locals claim that the water is more useful for women while for young people the bath can be slightly harmful. According to a local doctor the hot bath was a kind of physiotherapy, but from medical point of view he could not explain this mode of treatment. He said that the hot water caused the closed pores of the human skin to open.

Visitors enjoying hot spring

The people of Garam Chashma valley celebrate the traditional spring festival ‘Pathak’ every year to mark the end of winter and start of the arrival of spring. According to folk heritage of Ismaili Muslims, who comprise majority of the population of Lotkuh sub tehsil, Pathak marks the successful conclusion of the 40 days (Chillah) meditation of Nasir Khisraw, the legendary Fatimid period Ismaili mystic, who first preached Islam in this part of the world. The local astrologers known as ‘Pathakeen’ decide when to celebrate the festival. The Pathakeens visit different houses conveying the message and announcing the date door to door. On arrival of these pathakeens (messengers) is very exciting moment, people shower a pinch of flour on their shoulder to be relics and to welcome. This festival is celebrated in South and West Asia as spring festival and has been given different cultural names like ‘Basant’.  

Another fascinating aspect of this magnificent valley is the presence of memorial shrine of Pir Hakim Nasir Khusrus.  Pir Nasir Khusrow known as Ruby of Badakhshan was the great and-well-known lsmaili Missionary.  He was the celebrated medieval erudite poet, philosopher, traveller and Hujjat of Khurasan. Nasir Khusraw was one of the most important figures of llth century Iran. 

Delicious Chitrali traditional food

Garam Chashma is also very famous for its nutritious, juicy and fresh fruits. Such as apple, mulberry, pear, grapes and many other wild fruits.The traditional food of Garam Chashma is Gholmandi, Cheera Shapik, Shospalaki and Cheergreenj.

Garam Chashma is also very famous for its nutritious, juicy and fresh fruits. Such as apple, mulberry, pear, grapes and many other wild fruits.The traditional food of Garam Chashma is Gholmandi, Cheera Shapik,

Potato field

From past few years, the valley had witnessed potato boom that proved to be great golden income generating harvest.

Every year in the month of September there is festival in the Gobbor valley of Garam chashma. Where different games are arranged such as Polo, Paragliding, Buz kashi and traditional dance and music.

Trout Fish

Garam Chashma is the dream-come true for lovers of mountaineering, trekking, hiking, camping and fishing. Besides eco-tourism of the area and the bath one can enjoy trout fishing in the stream. The rivers in Chitral are teeming with trout fish.