Passion for Skiing?; Here’s what you should know.

Skiing is a winter sport of sliding down hills covered with snow, on skis with fixed heel bindings. Skiing has a history of almost five millennia. Although modern skiing has evolved from beginnings in Scandinavia, it may have been practiced as early as 600 BC in what is now China. Until the mid-1800s skiing was primarily used for transport, and since then has become a recreation and sport.

Norway is considered to be the place, where skiing emerged as a modern sport. Since then, many variations of skiing have been invented in the world of winter sports. Skiing has many different types. The most famous of them include Alpine Skiing, Backcountry Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Free Style Skiing, Ski Jumping, Ski Mountaineering, Speed Skiing, Water Skiing etc.

Skiing is as thrilling as mountaineering and especially in the Northern Areas of Pakistan; it would be the most heart-warming experience with its longest glacier system outside the polar region. Pakistan has recently grabbed the attention of the western cross-country skiers of the Snow Lake and Biafo Hispe. The lofty heights and the longest glaciers and snow capped mountains, with the added advantage of powdered snow in Northern Areas of Pakistan are appealing enough to invite the ski lovers from across the world.

Pakistan also has to offer the best of skiing opportunities to the tourists all around the world. It is home to some of the finest skiing resorts with stunning scenic views.  Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan offers a number of skiing spots for tourists. Some of the fine skiing destinations in Pakistan include Naltar in Gilgit, Burzil, Ratu and Astore. However of all the destinations, Malam Jabba, some 300 kilometres from Islamabad, offers excellent skiing opportunities. It is located in the Swat Valley of the North Western Frontier Province.

The date for celebrating the Malam Jabba Ski Competition Festival is fixed every year. The festival held every year in February or March at Malam Jabba in Swat Valley. The festival main features are Skiing competition event, paragliding, firework show, colourful folk dances and music, exhibition of the local handicraft and stall of traditional food.

Marryum Farrukh Shah is an avid observer of travel and culture in Pakistan. She is a graduate in Mass Communication and works as a content writer for Kluchit.com