The siege of Chitral in 1895 was a roughly seven-week stand by a small British-led garrison inside Chitral Fort, from 3 March until relief arrived on about 19 to 20 April. About 400 soldiers held a mud, stone and timber fort against a much larger Chitrali and Pathan force, lost 41 men, and were rescued by two columns, one of which dragged mountain guns over the Shandur Pass in snow. The fort still stands on the bank of the Chitral River, though it is a private residence rather than a museum.
This guide tells the story in order: why a succession dispute in a remote valley brought a British force into it, how the siege went, and what the relief marches involved. It ends with what you can and cannot see in Chitral today.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Siege dates | 3 March to about 19 or 20 April 1895 (sources differ by a day) |
| Garrison | About 400 soldiers; one account counts 543 people inside including 343 combatants |
| Defenders' losses | 41 killed |
| Relief columns | Colonel Kelly from Gilgit; General Low from Peshawar |
| Fort walls | About 25 feet high and 8 feet thick |
| Where | Chitral Fort, on the Chitral River in Chitral town |
Why was Chitral besieged?
The trouble started with a death. Aman ul-Mulk, who had ruled Chitral for decades and accepted British influence in 1891 while keeping control of internal affairs, died in 1892. His many sons then fought over the throne.
Afzal ul-Mulk took power by killing half-brothers, and was himself murdered by another brother, Sher Afzal, who returned from exile in Afghanistan. Nizam ul-Mulk then advanced from Gilgit with British backing and took the throne. Within a year he was assassinated on the orders of yet another brother, Amir ul-Mulk. Meanwhile Umra Khan, a tribal leader from Jandul to the south, marched on Chitral with around 3,000 men.
British officials in Gilgit saw Chitral as the north-western door to India and did not want it in hostile hands. A small force went in to protect the young claimant they favoured, and ended up inside the fort when the country turned against them.
The fort and its garrison
The fort was built in 1774 and is described as about 80 yards square, with walls roughly 25 feet high and 8 feet thick, made of mud, stone and timber. It stood on the bank of the Chitral River.
The garrison included five British officers and men of the 14th Sikhs and Kashmiri infantry units. Captain Charles Townshend commanded the troops, and Surgeon-Major George Scott Robertson, the British political agent, held overall authority. They had two small mountain guns with about 80 rounds, around 300 cartridges per man, and food for roughly a month. The food was meant to last about a month; the siege lasted far longer.
How the siege unfolded
3 March. A sortie early in the fighting went badly, with the loss of 23 men killed and 33 wounded by one count. Captain John Baird was mortally wounded. Surgeon-Captain Harry Whitchurch went out under heavy fire and brought him back into the fort, an act that earned Whitchurch the Victoria Cross.
Mid-March to early April. The besiegers closed in and sniped at the walls. By 5 April they had reached within about 50 yards. On 7 April a tower caught fire, though it did not collapse.
11 to 17 April. The Chitralis began tunnelling towards the walls to lay a mine. Defenders countered with a bayonet sortie, and on 17 April a party led by Lieutenant Harley blew up the enemy's mine.
19 to 20 April. The besiegers melted away as relief neared. Kelly's column entered the fort, where one account describes the garrison as starving.
The two relief marches
Two forces set out to reach the fort, and the way they got there is the most remarkable part of the story.
Kelly from Gilgit
Colonel James Graves Kelly left Gilgit on 23 March with about 400 Sikh Pioneers, 40 Kashmiri sappers with two mountain guns and about 900 Hunza irregulars. The problem was the Shandur Pass at about 12,000 feet, which in late winter was under waist-deep snow. Between 1 and 5 April the column crossed it, dragging the guns on sledges. Kelly reached the fort on 20 April.
If you are curious what that route is like today, read our guide to Chitral to Gilgit via Shandur and the page on Shandur Pass. The pass is now crossed by jeep in summer, and the festival that fills it each year is the opposite of a winter forced march.
Low from Peshawar
The larger force under Major-General Sir Robert Low, about 15,000 troops, left roughly a week after Kelly. It stormed the Malakand Pass on 3 April against a large local force, then moved north and crossed the Lowari Pass as Kelly was entering the fort. The Lowari crossing is the other side of Chitral's story, and today most people pass under it through the Lowari Tunnel. Francis Younghusband, on leave as a newspaper correspondent, rode ahead of the main body and reached Chitral first.
What happened afterwards
Umra Khan fled to Afghanistan. Sher Afzal was exiled to India. Robertson had earlier installed a boy, Shuja ul-Mulk, as provisional Mehtar, and the British confirmed him; he was about twelve and ruled until 1936.
Honours followed. Robertson was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India, Kelly became an aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria, and eleven Distinguished Service Orders were awarded. The British kept two battalions at Chitral and two at Malakand. A proper road from Peshawar was rejected as too expensive, and partly out of concern that Russia could use it too.
The aftermath in Chitral itself is covered in our history of the Mehtars and the princely state.
What can you still see?
Chitral town is small, and what links to 1895 is concentrated near the river.
- Chitral Fort. It is the actual building, though the Mehtar's family lives there and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa owns it. Much of it is closed to visitors, and access depends on permission, so ask locally rather than turning up and expecting a tour. Our Chitral Fort guide covers access in more detail.
- The Shahi Mosque. It stands next to the fort, built by Shuja ul-Mulk in 1924, long after the siege but part of the same riverside setting. See the Shahi Mosque guide.
- The British cemetery. It was set up in 1897 and used for British burials until 1946. Visible grave markers remain, but nearly all the original headstones have vanished, and members of the Chitral royal family have been trying to trace them. Do not expect labelled siege graves.
- Chitral Museum. Worth checking for historical material; see our museum guide, as opening is not always reliable.
The honest picture is that the siege is mostly something you read about and then picture from the riverbank, not a set of signposted sites. Reading Robertson's own account, Chitral: The Story of a Minor Siege, before the trip is the best preparation.
Is Chitral safe to visit?
Pakistani visitors still travel to Chitral, mostly in summer. The security picture is not simple, and you should check it before you go. The UK government's travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) advises against all travel on the N45 road from Mardan to Chitral city, and against all travel to the Kalash valleys, and it advises against all travel to several neighbouring districts, including Swat and Upper and Lower Dir. Recent incidents in the region include an attack in Laram Top, Lower Dir, in July 2026, in which three police were killed.
Most visitors reach Chitral by the Lowari Tunnel route or by air, and local conditions can differ from national advice, so check local news and current police advice before setting out. Overseas visitors should read their own government's advice: it may say not to go, and travelling against it can void travel insurance. For the current picture see our guide to whether Chitral is safe.
Is it worth visiting for the history?
If you already plan to be in Chitral, an hour by the fort and mosque with the story in your head makes the place make more sense. It is not worth a trip on its own for the siege, since there is no museum of it and the fort is largely closed.
If the story appeals more than the town, the stronger version is a summer trip that includes the Shandur crossing, and our experiences page lists the other things to do in the region.
Frequently asked questions
How long did the siege of Chitral last?
About seven weeks, from 3 March until relief arrived on around 19 to 20 April 1895. Sources differ by a day on the end date.
Who commanded the defenders at Chitral Fort?
Captain Charles Townshend commanded the troops, while Surgeon-Major George Scott Robertson, the political agent, held overall authority.
How many men died in the siege of Chitral?
The defenders lost 41 men. Whitchurch won the Victoria Cross for bringing the mortally wounded Captain Baird back into the fort on 3 March.
Who relieved Chitral Fort?
Colonel James Kelly's small column from Gilgit reached it first on 20 April, after crossing the Shandur Pass in snow. A much larger force under General Low came from Peshawar via the Malakand and Lowari passes.
Can tourists visit Chitral Fort today?
It is occupied by the Mehtar's family and much of it is closed. Ask locally about permission instead of assuming a visit is possible.
Where can I read more about the siege?
Robertson's own account, Chitral: The Story of a Minor Siege, and George Younghusband's The Relief of Chitral are both widely available, and the Wikipedia article on the Chitral Expedition is a good short summary.
