View source for Lowari Pass

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan}}
{{citations needed|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Lowari Pass<br>{{nq|درہ لواری}} 
| photo = File:Lowari Pass top.jpg
| photo_caption = Prior to the construction of the [[Lowari Tunnel]], vehicles had to traverse the pass by ascending via a dangerous roadway
| elevation_m = 3118
| elevation_ref = 
| traversed = 
| location = [[Pakistan]]
| range = [[Hindukush Mountains]]
| coordinates = {{coord|35.3516|71.8002|format=dms|type:pass_region:PK|display=inline,title}}
| map               = Pakistan
| topo = 
}}

[[File:Lowari Pass road - Ashfaq7.jpg|thumb|280px|Dusty Lowari Top]]

'''Lowari Pass''' ({{langx|ur|درہ لواری}}), or '''Lowari Top''', (el. 10,230&nbsp;ft.) is a high [[mountain pass]], connecting the regions of [[Chitral District|Chitral]] and [[Upper Dir District|Dir Upper]] within the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] province of [[Pakistan]]. Lowari Pass is a relatively low pass, by far the lowest pass to enter Chitral. All the other are around 12,000 to 15,000 feet.

Lowari Top experiences a seasonal closure due to heavy snow accumulation, rendering it impassable for vehicular transportation. This closure typically extends from the latter part of November to the ending days of May each year. The Pass entail inherent risks. A significant concern may be the imminent threat posed by deadly [[avalanche]], which can occur abruptly and without warning.  This is dangerous, as there are high mountains on each side of Lowari Top.

Several people traversing the Pass in winters become the victims of [[avalanche]] fatalities. Their bodies are buried under the snow and it is only when the summer comes and the snow melts that their bodies are found.

Nevertheless, Lowari Top remains popular because it is the shortest route from [[Chitral]] to [[Peshawar]]. The other way would be down the [[Kunar River]] to [[Jalalabad]] through hostile [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] territory or the much longer route across [[Shandur]] Top to [[Gilgit]].

Lowari Top crosses the [[Hindu Raj]] Mountains, a spur of the higher [[Hindu Kush]]. On the Chitral side of Lowari Top are the people of [[Ashret]], who speak the [[Palula language]] and were assigned by the [[Chitral (princely state)|Mehtar of Chitral]] to be the guardians of Lowari Top.

On the Dir side reside [[Khowar people|Khowars]], some of whom make their living as [[Porter (carrier)|porters]] carrying loads across Lowari Top.

In 1954, the Mehtar of Chitral was killed when his airplane crashed into Lowari Top. 

The word "Top" is believed not to be the English word "top" but a word from an ancient language no longer spoken there.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The Lowari Top is one of the four major mountain passes to enter [[Chitral District|Chitral]]. The others are the [[Dorah Pass]] from [[Badakshan]] in [[Afghanistan]], [[Shandur]] Top from [[Gilgit]], and [[Broghol]] from the [[Wakhan Corridor]] in [[Afghanistan]].

The [[Lowari Tunnel]] was constructed beneath Lowari Pass by Sambu, a South Korean company in 2009. However, the tunnel was abandoned shortly thereafter and has since fallen into disrepair.

The tunnel is functional as of December 2019 and comprises over 8.5 Kilometres in length.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chitraltimes.com/english11/newseng1410.htm |title=Chitral Times &#124;&#124; News Detail &#124;&#124; |access-date=2013-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012170016/http://chitraltimes.com/english11/newseng1410.htm |archive-date=2011-10-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Books ==
* ''The Gilgit Game'' by [[John Keay]] (1985) {{ISBN|0-19-577466-3}}
* ''The Kafirs of the Hindukush'' (1896) Sir George Scott Robertson.

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215414/http://www.southasianmedia.net/cnn.cfm?id=219791&category=Development&Country=PAKISTAN President  Musharraf said in July 2005 work on the Lowari Tunnel would start in October 2005]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160414041357/http://www.skardu.pk/10-most-dangerous-roads-in-pakistan/ Lowari Pass one of 10 most dangerous roads in Pakistan]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mountain passes of Pakistan}}
[[Category:Lower Chitral District]]
[[Category:Upper Dir District]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
[[Category:Hindu Raj]]