Chitral is one of the oldest princely states of the former sub-continent. Starting from 3AD,to 1010
various parts of chitral have seen the rules of Buddhist (Kanishka) Chinese (Kushan and Tang
dynasties) Arabs and Persians (from Khurasan).

The present ruling family of the Katoor Dynasty hails from Herat in Afghanistan. They have been on the scene from 1590 until the state of Chitral became a settled district of present-day Pakistan in 1969.

The Ulmulk rules of the Katoor dynasty gave the state stability and world-wide recognition .
Aman Ulmulk ruled for 39 years until 1895 and his son Shuja Ulmulk ruled for 41years . Only one of Shuja Ulmulks sons, Khush Ahmed Ulmulk, is surviving to date after the death of one of his brothers , khushwaqt Ulmulk in 2010 and Mohiuddin in 2011.  Siraj Ulmulk , the owner of hindukush heights,is the eldest son of late Khushwaqt Ulmulk.