Pakistan celebrates Shandur Polo Festival at world’s highest polo ground

Pakistan’s annual Shandur Polo Festival  held at 12,000–12,500 ft on the Shandur Pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the world’s highest polo tournament. Dubbed the “Roof of the World,” this three-day extravaganza brings together teams from Chitral and Gilgit‑Baltistan, engaging in bare‑knuckle, freestyle mountain polo a rugged form of the sport with few rules.  

The event kicked off on June 20, a date moved earlier to respect Muharram. The festival features more than just polo: expect paragliding, folk music & dancing, local handicrafts, food stalls, and a camping village at altitude. In essence, Shandur is more than a polo tournament; it’s a cultural phenomenon, a tourism driver, and a test of endurance played out on the planet’s highest polo field.