The Kalash Tribe of Northern Pakistan

The Kalash people live in the border region between North Pakistan and Afghanistan. Millions of Muslims surround this region but they have managed to keep their own identity and religion. When you travel to the valleys in a jeep you can clearly notice this. Outside the Kalash valley the woman wear burka’s inside the valleys the woman come to you, shake your hand and welcome you.

I spend a couple of days in these valleys trekking to remote places and I wish I was able to stay longer. It’s a little bit like you would imagine paradise. The mountains are absolutely beautiful and the living is relaxed and peaceful.

However, the unique Kalash culture is under threat. Every family has at least one member who converted to Islam and the number of Muslims in the valleys is increasing.
As you can see in the photo’s, the faces of the Kalash are not at all like the Pakistani faces. Some people have blue or green eyes. The Kalash believe that they are the decedents of soldiers who were left behind by Alexander the Great’s army. This is a popular believe, there are probably other possibilities as well.

The Kalash women are not allowed to wear anything else but their traditional clothing. The men wear the Pakistani shalwar kameez (shirt and pants). I took a series of portraits of the men and woman in different age groups. Besides that a took photos of the stunning scenery inside the valleys. I hope you enjoy them.

The Kalash Women

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The Kalash Men

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The Place the Kalash Tribe Calles Home