The splendor of Kaghan Valley: Story of a lost paradise Part-1

 The splendor of Kaghan Valley: Story of a lost paradise Part-1

The scenic Kaghan and its sister town of Naran have now turned into a round-the-year mountain resorts for the local tourists who flock the valley every year. Naran, which was once a small town of few shops and log hut hotels have now turned into a bustling
city of concrete and lights and is the centre of attraction in the region.

Although there are several scenic places which are directly connected with Naran, including the world renowned Lake Saif-ul-Malook, there are more than a dozen places in the vicinity, as beautiful as the lake itself but barely explored. These hidden gems
hold a unique trait of being unexplored, unspoiled and grossly underrated making it the destination of tourists and trekkers who prefer solitude and those who can put themselves under hectic physical strain.

Many of these places are located on both sides of the river Kunhar, which cresses its way from the heart of the valley. A detailed account of these unexplored places is given below.

Shogran

 One of the most beautiful plateaus in the valley, is situated 34 kilometers from Balakot via Kawai. To reach this quaint place, take a side road on the right after passing through Kawai. From here it is a steep 8 kilometers to Shogran. The road is metalled
and normal cars and vans can easily make the drive. Surrounded by thick pine forests and with an altitude of 7747 feet, the summer climate of Shogran is very mild and pleasant. One of the nicer places to visit is Shogran’s forest rest house. From the rolling
grassy lawns of the rest house, one can become immersed in breathtaking panoramic views of snow covered mountains. Kaghan Valley’s highest peaks, such as Musa Ka Musalla (4419m), Makra (3885m) and Malika Parbat (5290m), are visible from here. For those wishing
to stay the night or have a meal, there are a number of small and medium size hotels in Shogran.

Siri Paya

A wonderful excursion from Shogran is a visit to Sari and Paya. A rugged eight kilometer road climbs 2300 feet through thick pine forest to the top of Paya ridge, a lush green meadow with spectacular view of Malika Parbat. One can also see varieties of wild
alpine flowers on the rolling grassy slopes of Paya. Visitors can then hike up Makra (Spider) Mountain, which is 12743 feet from sea level. From Paya, trekkers must climb around 2000 feet to reach the top of Makra, on the border Northwest frontier Provence’s
Kaghan Valley and Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley. This mountain climb is recommended only for those who have previous experience in high altitude hiking, are familiar with the mountain wilderness safety rules and are properly equipped. 

Siri is a small lake on the way to Paya. One can stop here for a while for rest and refreshment. This place also has a small forest rest house and some tea stalls. Travelers enjoy sipping hot tea from one of the stalls while soaking in the majestic views
of snow covered mountains reflected in the lake. 

To be continued….

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Posted by Naveed A Bari on Jan 17 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry