Kalasha Dur Museum

Kalasha Dur Museum, also known as Bumburet Museum, is a cultural heritage and archaeology Museum. This Museum has reborn the rapidly disappearing Kalasha people and their ancient culture. It represents the Chitrals’ Indo-Aryan indigenous people and communities residing in the Hindu Kash mountains. The Kalasha tribe is a dwindling minority. The men Alexander left behind are the ancestors of the Kalasha people.

Today, Chitral is a new tourist destination with significant cultural and historical value. The Museum is also home to an impressive collection of traditional Kalasha art and artifacts, which give you a real sense of their unique cultural heritage. So if you’re ever in the area, visit the Kalasha Dur Museum! You won’t regret it.

History of Kalasha Dur Museum

Construction on the Bumburet Museum Kalash began in 2001 with assistance from the Greek government agency Hellenic Aid to protect the thousands of-year-old Kalasha culture. The Museum displayed many exhibits after the completion of the Museum’s physical structure in 2005. Greek Volunteers working in Kalasha valleys since 1995 collected most of the objects. 

The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is in charge of overseeing the Bumburet museum. However, a committee of locals who serve as volunteers runs it. Check out the many other Museums in Pakistan.

The Architecture of Bumburet Museum Kalash

The Museum’s grounds and the surrounding area total about 21780 square feet of space. Its construction utilized a blend of contemporary methods and conventional design. Stone walls surround the concrete framework, which has carved verandas and distinctive parallel wooden beams. Near the entrance is a temple of Jestak. Locals believe that Jestak, a local goddess guards their future generations. The constructed building contains all of human culture’s output, including old artifacts that are thought to date back about three thousand years.

Attractions Offered by Kalasha Dur Museum

On the first floor of the structure is a museum that the Kalasha people funded through donations and purchases from various sources. Visitors can see about 1300 items from the Kalasha Tradition that are of ethnographic interest on display. The six departments at the Kalasha Cultural Center has spread across two floors. A traditional flour mill on the lawn is on display that uses running water to operate. Each item tells a story of the Kalasha people and their unique way of life. The Museum is a reminder of the importance of preserving culture and heritage. So, let’s take a virtual visit to some of its attractions. 

Traditional Weapons

The Museum has a great collection of traditional weapons and other artifacts used by the Kalasha people for hunting and self-defense purposes. The process of creating Traditional weapons with local materials like stone, metal, wood, etc., in Kalash has continued for centuries and continues till today.

Agricultural Tools

One can say that they live in an ant-hill of tools or tools as a house. Kalasha Museum houses a vast collection of agricultural Tools, which tells us about the culture, history, and innovation changes in tool-making techniques over the centuries. They use these tools to benefit from land and earn significant profits in trades such as plows, blades, handles, etc. Kalashi people are the most hardworking and agricultural people of the subcontinent. The tourist can better understand these techniques and skills, which are being lost quickly due to modernization in our modern-day lifestyle.

Indigenous Dresses

At Bumburet Museum, you can see the indigenous dresses of the Kalash people. The dresses are special because it’s not just traditional dresses but also the expression of cultural identity. The women of Kalash wear the clothing in lengthy, loose black robes decorated with vibrant embroidery and cowrie shells. These women wear colorful beads and necklaces. They use bright, long braided headwear to accessorize their black robes. 

Based on the base color of the fabric used by the ladies, the differences between Red and Black Kafirs are striking and highlighted in a lovely way. Handwoven wool in shades of red and black made up the fabrics.

Traditional Kitchen

In the Museum, you can see a traditional kitchen with many utensils and accessories. A small table and chairs made of wood are on display in Kitchen.

Musical Instruments

The Kalash people enjoy dancing and music and hold three major festivals yearly. Various musical instruments used over centuries are also on display in the Museum. Instruments include tabla, sarangi, sahnai, tambura, sarod etc. 

Collection of the Kalasha Culture

Kalasha Dur Museum presents a rich collection from the Kalasha culture providing an insight into their lifestyles and costumes while providing artistic beauty. Kalasha Dur Museum collects photographs, film rolls, journals, books, sculptures, maps, documents, and materials related to the Kalasha Dur area and arranges these systematically to preserve Kalasha’s History. Kalasha Dur Museum also displays historically significant objects like pottery or weapons and ethnographic artifacts that provide a rich array of knowledge about the people of this region.

Library

The second floor contains a small library with a selection of books about Kalash culture available for perusal. A wide selection of books about Kalash culture is available.

Professional Training Hall

There is also a professional training hall facility in the Kalasha Dur Museum for nearby artisans with a team comprising experienced trainers and a group of subject matter experts dedicated to enhancing the craftsmanship of artisans.

Traditional Utensils

The Kalasha Dur Museum also preserves and exhibits traditional utensils and tools used by the Kalasha tribe. You can see these standard tools and utensils used by the Kalasha people and examples of their beautiful artwork. 

Local artisans make these utensils and accessories using Kalash traditional techniques with excellent care. To expand its collection, the Museum also bought traditional utensils and other items from Peshawar and Chitral’s antique stores that had left the Hindu Kush’s settlements.

Ornaments

The Kalasha are tribal people who inhabit Pakistan’s Hindu Kush mountain region. They are known for their unique culture and art, evident in the beautifully crafted ornaments displayed at the Museum. Much care and thought have gone into creating the delicate Workmanship of each ornament.

Traditional Furniture and Household Items

The traditional furniture and household items on display offer a unique window into an ancient culture. The Museum is home to an incredible collection of artifacts, including handmade pottery, intricately carved wooden bowls, and colorful textiles. You will transport back in time by seeing these exhibits.

Statues

These ancient stone carvings depict a unique window into the Kalasha culture. It is fascinating to see how their art reflects their beliefs and customs. Each statue of god tells its own story, and you quickly feel lost in the beauty and complexity of it all.

Outside Beautiful Lawns

As you walk around the Kalasha Dur Museum, you are in awe of its beauty. The Museum has a large park-like setting with well-manicured lawns. It’s the perfect place to relax and take in the sights and sounds of an ancient culture.

Kalasha Dur Museum Ticket Price:

Before going there, keep a few things in mind. You must purchase tickets, each of which costs 10 PKR. A separate ticket for photography, costing 150 PKR per person, must be purchased if you intend to take photos inside the Museum. You can only visit the ground floor of the Museum’s two floors for 10 Pakistani Rupees; if you want to ascend to the second floor, you must pay 300 Pakistani Rupees per person. Bumburet Museum Kalash will use the money you spend on tickets to improve the local community’s quality of life, so please consider buying some.

Kalasha Dur Museum Timings:

Kalasha Dur Museum is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM from Monday to Friday and remains closed on Saturday and Sunday. Located in the heart of Kalasha Valley, it’s the perfect place to start your exploration of this incredible region.

Location of Kalasha Museum:

The Kalasha Dur Museum is situated in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPK) of Pakistan’s Brua Village in the Bumburet Valley of the District Chitral. This Museum offers a poignant glimpse into Kalash’s way of life, and it is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the world’s diverse cultures.

Conclusion

As someone who appreciates history and ancient cultures, the Kalasha Dur Museum is a real treat. Visitors to the Museum can learn about the history and culture of the Kalasha people and see first-hand how they lived. It’s not often that you get to see such an extensive collection of artifacts from a single culture, and the Museum does an excellent job of telling the story of the Kalasha people. Bumburet Museum Kalash is vital to preserving a rich and unique heritage and is well maintained.

If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend stopping at this Museum- it’s well worth it!