Kaghan Valley

8/14/2019 Kaghan Valley

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Kaghan valley Travel Guide

The Kaghan Valley is located in Northern Pakistan northeast of Hazara,

NWFP. It's one of the valleys that's relatively easy to reach from Rawalpindi /Islamabad.

The mountain scenerey, the dales, lakes, water-falls, streams and glaciers are the mainreason to come here. The Valley extends for 155 km rising from an elevation of 2,134meters to its highest point, the Babusar Pass, at 4,145 meters. Further north from fromBabusar Pass, a jeep track leads to Chilas, which is now on Karakoram Highway (theroad that connects Islamabad to Xinjiang province of China via Gilgit, Hunza andKhunjerab Pass). Before Karakoram Highway was opened in 1978, the only roadaccess to Gilgit was through Kaghan Valley.

Naran is the best base for treks and walks in the valley. There are some options foraccommodation here and some restaurants. Naran is best reached by jeep fromBalakot some 200 km north of RawalPindi / Islamabad.

The best time to visit Kaghan is in summer months (May to September). From themiddle of July up to the end of September, the road beyond Naran, snow-boundthroughout the winter, is open right up to Babusar Pass. Movement may be restrictedduring the monsoon season due to heavy rains and landslides.

In summer it is possible to continue to Gilgit Valley - one hell of a trip with incredibleviews - but roads are not always in tiptop condition so it may involve some hard work toget to the other site of the mountains.

Practical Information

A Visit to Kaghan Valley will leave you enchanted by the spectacular beauty of itsmountains, glaciers and lush greenery. Kaghan Valley includes Naran, Kaghan,Shogran and its surrounding areas. The way to Kaghan valley starts with two hourdrive to Abbottabad. At Abbottabad you can refresh yourself with a cup of tea beforedriving to Mansehra, Balakot and onwards to Kawai. Kawai onwards is a steep climb tothe Shogran plateau which offers a splended view of a fabulous array of mountains,amid pine trees and lush green meadows.
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Most of the tourists especially come to visit lake Saiful Maluk lying 10,600 feet abovesea level with its natural tranquillity in the foot hills of Himalayas. Saiful Maluk is one ofthe most beautiful lakes of the world. To sit beside the lake is to be in the fairy world.Camping at Saiful Maluk is an experience of life time.

You can find nice and comfortable hotel accomodation at Shogran and after a day'srest consider moving on to Sri Paia. But be prepared for the extra bumpy ride. You canalso plan a hiking trip to Sri Paia from Shogran. It will take around two and half hour toreach at peaks of Sri Paia. (In local language, Sri means Lake, Paia means Peak)

Once you reach Sri Paia the discomfort of the journey is forgotten as you find yourselfsurrounded by a spectacular view of the Makra Hills and the Malka Parbat peak. MalkaParbat in english means "Queen of Mountains".

The next stop Khanian offers the best Trout fish one can taste in the north. Thedazzling greens of Dana Meadows and the slippery glaciers at tarmac, on the way toNaran, are quite an experience.

Malka Parbat, can be best approached by hiking or driving 10 KM from Naran to thelegendary Saiful Maluk nesting in the shadows of The Malka Parbat. On a clear day,you can behold the majesty of the Malka Parbat'speaks reflected in the lake's deepblue icy waters. The road from Mansehra to Naran is excellenty built. The workers ofFrontier Works Organization are always busy in repairing the road and clearing the wayof eroded mountains to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

Naran is one of most popular tourist spots of Pakistan at distance of 160 KM fromAbbottabad. Travelers from Pakistan as well as many foreign countries rush in summerto the lush green valley surrounded by snowy mountains.

Foreign tourists mostly stay at PTDC motel while Pakistani elites prefer Pine ParkHotel and the same PTDC motel. There are many budget hotels in Naran's main bazarand most of people prefer to stay there. Hotel fares are very high in good hotelsranging between Rs.2,000 ($34.5 appox) to Rs.8,000 ($138 appox) per night. Tents onrent are also available where you can stay by paying as low as Rs.150 per night. Julyand August see more visitors as compared to the other months of summer. Localpeople do most of their business to earn livelihood for the whole year in these two tothree months. Their businesses vary from teashops to rent-a-jeep service.

The most interesting job is of the elder people of the area who narrate medival story ofPrince Saiful Maluk in a very catching way to the visitors who listen to them intently.

After story is finished they demand their money for offering this story tellingservice.Tourists never show misery to those storytellers after they (tourists) areentertained with the story.

In my recent trip to Kaghan valley I did trekking, camping and hiking in variouslocations like Shogran, Lake Saif-ul-Maluk, Lalazar, Lake Lulu Pat Sar, Sri Paia, andDana Medows. This trip was was full of adventure and I strongly recommend every oneto visit Kaghan Valley because its simply a must see Virgin Beauty.


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Picture Gallery

A local kid cry when see us as analians enter to his Heaven. It was onway back to Naran from Lake Saiful-

Malook

a view near siri paya - abbottabad Aansoo Lake

Ali Hasan rolls down on Jeep Track :)photo by: Hassan - USA (1998)

Ansoo lake.....

Beautiful scene near Kawai, KaghanValley

Breath taking beautiful Sri - Shogran,

Kaghan (Sri = Lake)

Dear Saif-ul-Malook

Fairy Lake Saif al Malook

Glacier on the way to saif ul malook

Green Mountains on way back toNaran from Lake Saiful-Malook

Hand Made Wooden Bridge in Naran
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high above Lake Saiful Malik

Jheel Saiful Malook Jheel Saiful Malook

Jheel Saiful Malook

Kaghan valley

Khagan Valley

Khagan Valley

Khagan Valley

photo by: Kashif Moin

Lake Dodepatsar in Kaghan valleyaway from Naran:
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Lake Doodi pat sar

Lake Lulusar Baisal, Pakistan

Lake Saif ul Malook

Lake Saiful Maluk (Kaghan Valley)

Lake Saiful-Malook

Lake Saifumaluk

Getting Around

Kaghan valley opens its ways for travelers in a number of directions. Keeping AzadJammu and Kashmir on your right, and Karakoram Highway on ur left, the wholeKaghan valley contains many magnificent landscapes and spots.
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Shogran, a visitors paradise in the Kaghan valley offers perhaps the best lush greenscenic stay in the areas. A further high, Siri Pai is a real magical place to visit - a fullday trek.

Lalazar is among the major attractions of Kaghan valley. With alpine forest, carpetedmeadows and snowy peaks in surroundings, a wonderful place to keep visitors' stay for

a couple of days.

Lake Saif ul Maluk, most visited part of Kaghan valley, always offers a new color tocomers. Keeping shadows ofMalika Parbat the highest peak in the area, Lake Saif ulMaluk is the most famous lake in Pakistan.

Babu Sar Top is a traditional rout joining the Kaghan valley with Northern Areas ofPakistan. Saral and Dudibach Sar Lakes in the way, its among the highest roadpasses in Pakistan.

In addition to mentioned above attractions of Kaghan valley there are many otherpossible hikes and treks for physically fit and adventure tourists. Including Aanso

(Tear) Lake, Noori Nar Gali Pass and Sharan, tourist can travel in the dimensions ofKaghan Velley.

Documents

Kaghan Valley