From Tirich Mir to Everest: A Journey from Chitral to Nepal
By Ayaz Ali | Chitral Times
I belong to Karimabad, Lower Chitral, where Tirich Mir stands among the mountains of the Hindu Kush. In October 2026, I travelled to Nepal and completed the Everest Base Camp trek. It was a journey I had been looking forward to and one that left me with memories I will always cherish.
The trek took me through Lukla, Namche Bazaar and Dingboche, surrounded by the mighty Himalayas. One of the most memorable moments was watching the first sunlight reach the summit of Mount Everest from Kala Patthar. After days of walking at high altitude, standing there and seeing the world’s highest mountain was a special feeling.
Coming from Chitral, I naturally found myself noticing the differences between the two mountain regions. One thing that stood out in Nepal was the role tourism plays in the lives of local people. Along the trekking route, small hotels, teahouses, restaurants, guides and porters serve visitors and earn their living from tourism. In places like Namche Bazaar, many local businesses have grown around trekking.
This made me think about Chitral. We have Tirich Mir, beautiful valleys, glaciers and a rich culture but tourism still has room to grow. Nepal showed me how the mountains can support local businesses when visitors have the services they need and local people are involved.
Of course, Nepal has its own challenges. Popular trails can become crowded, waste remains a concern, and bad weather can disrupt flights. Still, the services available along the trekking route make it easier for visitors to travel and create work for people living in remote areas.
In Chitral, better transport information, suitable accommodation, trained guides and clear details about trekking routes could help improve the experience for visitors. Young people could also benefit from training and support to work as guides, run guesthouses or start small tourism related businesses. These opportunities could help more families earn an income without leaving their home region for work.
We also need to do more to introduce Chitral to people outside the region. Our mountains, culture, festivals and traditional way of life deserve greater attention. Better promotion, useful online information and cooperation with tour operators could help more people discover what Chitral has to offer.
During my trek, I also raised awareness about littering and climate change while representing Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS). It was important to me that the journey should carry a message beyond adventure. As more people visit mountain areas, we must also take care of the environment, keep trekking routes clean and protect our water sources.
Completing the Everest Base Camp trek was a personal milestone and I returned with wonderful memories of Nepal. It also gave me a greater appreciation for the mountains back home. Chitral does not need to become another Nepa. Our culture and way of life are our own. But we can learn from the experience of places that have built tourism around their natural beauty.
The journey from Tirich Mir to Everest gave me the chance to experience another great mountain region and reflect on the place I call home. It reminded me that Chitral has much to offer and that with thoughtful development and care for our environment, tourism can bring more opportunities to local people.
