Kaghan Valley#Notable sites

File:Kaghan,kpk.jpeg |page=16, 40 |url=https://www.pdma.gov.pk/sub/uploads/REA_Mansehra_29032015.pdf |access-date=31 October 2024}}{{sfn|Ali|2006|p=25}}]]

The Kaghan Valley is located in the Hazara region of Pakistan,{{Cite web |date=2021-07-23 |title=Tourists throng scenic Hazara division |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/795444/tourists-throng-scenic-hazara-division/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}} and borders the Pakistani-administered territories of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir to the north and east, respectively. From here, the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) Road leads to Gilgit Baltistan.{{cite news |title=Kaghan receives snowfall |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1868538/kaghan-receives-snowfall |access-date=30 October 2024 |work=Dawn |date=30 October 2024}} The 155-kilometre-long valley is enveloped by the Lower Himalayan mountain range, resulting in an alpine climate and the prevalence of pine and deodar forests and alpine meadows.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan/karakoram-highway/kaghan-valley|title=Kaghan Valley travel {{!}} Karakoram Highway, Pakistan|last=Planet|first=Lonely|website=Lonely Planet|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}} Alongside the flow of the Kunhar River, the valley features glaciers, crystal-like clear lakes, waterfalls and frosty mountain streams.

The natural freshwater lakes of the valley including Lake Saiful Muluk, Pyala Lake, Ansoo Lake, Lulusar Lake, Dharamsar Lake, Dudipatsar Lake, Siri Lake and Payee Lake attract tourists every year and some other lakes are still undiscovered. There are two national parks in the valley,{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=N.Ahmad |title=Kaghan valley's ecology vulnerable |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1542753 |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=Dawn |date=22 March 2020}} lower parts of the valley constitute the Naran region and Saiful Muluk National Park with Saiful Muluk Lake while the upper parts in the north constitute Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park covering along the Naran-Chilas road the Dhramsar, Dudipatsar, Lulusar and six other lakes and hilly areas of the Himalayan Range. The Babusar Pass, which is nearly the end of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa territory lies within the latter.{{cite journal |last1=Arif |first1=A.Mahmud |last2=Khan |first2=Owais |last3=Usman |first3=Naveed |title=Nature Based Tourism in Kaghan Valley: Potential and Problems |journal=Journal of Development and Social Sciences |year=2021 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=153–166 |doi=10.47205/jdss.2021(2-III)15 |url=https://jdss.org.pk/issues/v2/3/nature-based-tourism-in-kaghan-valley-potential-and-problems.pdf |access-date=30 October 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=N.Ahmad |title=The unexplored lakes of Kaghan valley |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1699280 |access-date=30 October 2024 |work=Dawn |date=13 July 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Niaz |first1=Muhammad |title=Kaghan valley: Lake district |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1115467 |access-date=30 October 2024 |work=Dawn |date=29 June 2014}}

The Kaghan is known for its scenery and landscapes, resulting in its popularity as a summertime resort amongst locals and tourists alike. Annually, tourists come from across the country and outside to visit the valley.{{cite web |last1=Khan |first1=Gulnaz |title=Explore Pakistan’s wildest, most beautiful landscapes |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/beautiful-natural-wonders |work=National Geographic |date=16 August 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news|title=Record number of tourists visit Kaghan Valley|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/213269-Record-number-of-tourists-visit-Kaghan-Valley|work=The News International}} In June 2024, more than 300,000 tourists arrived in the valley during the Eid al-Adha holidays.{{cite news |title=Over 300,000 tourists flock to Kaghan Valley during Eid holidays |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/25-Jun-2024/over-300-000-tourists-flock-to-kaghan-valley-during-eid-holidays |access-date= 14 November 2024 |work=The Nation |date=25 June 2024}}

• Shogran, a hill station which lies on a plateau at an elevation of {{convert|2362|m}}. Malika Parbat, the highest mountain peak in the valley, is visible from the nearby Siri Paye meadows{{cite news |last1=Almario |first1=Manuel |title=A trip through the hills and valleys of northern Pakistan |url=https://gulfnews.com/photos/readers-pictures/readers-photo-essay-a-trip-through-the-hills-and-valleys-of-northern-pakistan-1.1654257486412 |work=Gulf News |date=3 June 2022 |language=en}} which are surrounded by Makra Peak.

File:Lalazar - Kaghan Valley.jpg

• Lalazar, a tourist spot at an elevation of {{convert|3123|m}} above the sea level, is located in the lower part of the valley.{{cite news |title=From breathtaking to breath-holding: Govt apathy covering lush Lalazar in trash |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1835477/breathtaking-breath-holding-govt-apathy-covering-lush-lalazar-trash |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=The Express Tribune |date=28 October 2018}}

File:Lulusar Lake, Naran, KPK, Pakistan.JPG

• Lulusar, a group of mountain peaks and a lake at a height of {{Convert|3410|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}. The lake is the primary headwaters of the Kunhar River.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tdcp.gop.pk/tdcp/Destinations/Lakes/LulusarLake/tabid/489/Default.aspx |title=Lulusar Lake |accessdate=9 January 2009 |publisher=Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107080757/http://www.tdcp.gop.pk/tdcp/Destinations/Lakes/LulusarLake/tabid/489/Default.aspx |archivedate=7 January 2009 }} It flows southwest through the entire length of the valley, passing Jalkhand, Naran, Jared, Paras and Balakot until its confluence with the Jhelum River.

File:Jalkhand,Near Naran Valley,KPK,Pakistan.jpg

• Jalkhand, a town about {{convert|40|km}} away from Naran. Pyala Lake lies in the town.{{cite web |title=Jalkhand on map |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Naran,+Mansehra,+Khyber+Pakhtunkhwa/Jalkhand,+Mansehra,+Khyber+Pakhtunkhwa |website=Google Maps |accessdate=13 September 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/2017/07/05/357296/tourism-needs-urgent-coordination/|title=Tourism needs urgent coordination|date=5 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1128133/hadiqa-kianis-trip-kaghan-valley-will-make-pack-bags-right-now/|title=Hadiqa Kiani's trip to Kaghan Valley will make you pack your bags right now - The Express Tribune|date=24 June 2016|publisher=}}

File:Kewai, Kaghan Valley.jpg

• Kiwai, a village known for Kiwai waterfalls near Shogran.{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Zulfiqar |title=Landslides block Kaghan Highway |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2427366/landslides-block-kaghan-highway |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=The Express Tribune |date=22 July 2023}}

• Khanian, also spelt Khania, is a small village in the north of the valley.{{cite news |last1=A Bari |first1=Naveed |title=The splendor of Kaghan Valley: Story of a lost paradise Part-3 |url=https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=9737 |work=News Pakistan |date=19 January 2012}}{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Zulfiqar |title=Tourists continue to throng Kaghan Valley |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1737990/tourists-continue-throng-kaghan-valley |access-date=26 December 2023 |work=The Express Tribune |date=20 June 2018}}{{cite web |title=Khanian on Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Khanian,+Mansehra,+Khyber+Pakhtunkhwa,+Pakistan/@34.7306439,73.4965395,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x38e0aa5136f252e5:0xd9cc3e88f6d76eba!8m2!3d34.7298856!4d73.5041929 |website=Google Maps |accessdate=8 August 2018}} It is located on the right bank of the Kunhar River. It is the starting point for a trip to Kamal Ban Forest and Dana Meadows. There are several resorts in Khanian.

File:Gittidas - Lush meadows as seen from Babusar Top.jpg

• Gittidas, a meadow at an elevation of {{convert|3678|m}} in the upper part prior to Babusar Top, the end point of the valley. Nearby the meadows, are the Dharamsar and Sambaksar lakes. To the north, it further leads to Azad Kashmir.{{cite news |title=Police rescue stranded family from snowbound Kaghan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1869162 |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=Dawn |date=2 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Tourists visit Sambaksar Lake and Dharamsar lake in Gittidas Meadows |url=https://english.aaj.tv/news/30327698/tourists-visit-sambaksar-lake-and-dharamsar-lake-in-gittidas-meadows-aaj-news |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=Aaj TV |date=18 July 2023}}

Local forest known as Kaghan Temperate Coniferous Forest is home to many plants species.{{cite web |title=Base Line Studies of the Shahran (Manchi) Forest, Kaghan (SFM-Project)-2017 |url=https://info.undp.org/docs/pdc/Documents/PAK/Kaghan%20Report-%20(SFM)%20Jan-2018%20(Final)%20Gilani.pdf |website=undp.org |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date= 14 November 2024 |year=2017 |location=Pakistan Museum of Natural History}} These include Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana, Abies pindrow, Taxus wallichiana, Picea smithiana, and broad-leaved plants such as Juglans regia, Aesculus indica, Prunus padus, Fraxinus excelscior, Ailanthus glandulosa, Diospyrus lotus, Morus alba and Ficus indica. In 2020, an ethnobotanical survey conducted in valley reported the uses of Cederella serrata for treating chronic infantile dysentery.{{cite journal |last1=Almubayedh |first1=Hanine |last2=Ahmad |first2=Rizwan |title=Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and therapeutic applications of Cedrela serrata Royle: A mini review |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |year=2020 |volume=246 |issue=2020 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2019.112206 |pmid=31494199 |doi-access=free |pmc=7126226 }}

Most of the communities residing in the region including Syed, Kashmiris, Durranis (Jadoon), Swati, Gujjar and Mughal families, settled here from their ancestors. Besides mostly Hindko speaking residents, there is also an outspread of Pashto and Gojari speaking groups in the valley.{{sfn|Ali|2006|pp=12,25}}

The Kaghan Valley can be reached by road via Balakot through Mansehra and Abbottabad. In Balakot, public buses and other vehicular transport can be used to travel to the valley. Additionally, the Kaghan Valley can also be reached from Peshawar or the national capital of Islamabad by renting a car to Abbottabad or Mansehra; tourists can then order a taxi or other available methods of public transport to go to the valley.

The valley is accessible during the summer and closed to visitors during winter. This is because glaciers block the roads leading to the Kaghan during winter, although these glaciers typically melt between February and April.{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Zulfiqar |title=Kaghan road reopening kindles tourism hopes |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464106/kaghan-road-reopening-kindles-tourism-hopes |access-date= 14 November 2024 |work=The Express Tribune |date=27 April 2024}} From May to the end of September, the roads and Babusar Pass usually remain open.{{cite news |title=Kaghan Valley braces for tourist influx on Eid |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1840350 |access-date=24 November 2024 |work=Dawn |date=17 June 2024}} In May, temperatures can reach up to {{convert|11|C|F}} and stoop as low as {{convert|3|C|F}}.{{cite web |title=Best Time to Visit Kaghan Valley |url=http://www.tourism.gov.pk/kaghan_valley_nwfp.htm |website=tourism.gov.pk |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720042833/http://www.tourism.gov.pk/kaghan_valley_nwfp.htm |archive-date=20 July 2010 |url-status=dead }} In 2020, the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) was established under an act passed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The authority work for the development and management services in the valley.{{cite web |title=The Kaghan Development Authority Act, 2020 |url=https://kp.gov.pk/uploads/2022/02/Kghan-development-authority-ACT-2020.pdf |website=kp.gov.pk |date=4 March 2020 |access-date=14 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Kaghan development authority initiates glacier removal to safeguard tourists |url=https://www.app.com.pk/domestic/kaghan-development-authority-initiates-glacier-removal-to-safeguard-tourists/ |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=Associated Press of Pakistan |date=24 July 2024}}

The folk tale of Lala Afghani and Sohni (Lalazar) is intricately linked to the romantic saga of an Afghan youth named Lala and a local maiden named Sohni. Rooted in the cultural fabric of the region, this narrative unfolds as Lala, while passing through the village, becomes enamored with Sohni. However, societal disapproval prevails, leading to the tragic demise of the young man at the hands of the local community.

The site of Lala's sacrifice has since gained renown as Lalazar, with "Zar" signifying the location where Lala made the ultimate sacrifice for his love. Notably, the adjacent forest is christened Sohni da Banr, translating to the forest of Sohni.{{Cite journal |last1=Arif |first1=Anas Mahmud |last2=Hameed |first2=Abdul |last3=Fizza |first3=Syeda |date=2021-09-30 |title=Cultural Tourism in Kaghan Valley: Potential and Problems |journal=Pakistan Journal of Social Research |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=23–43 |doi=10.52567/pjsr.v3i3.223 |issn=2710-3129|doi-access=free }}

In contemporary times, Lalazar has evolved into a well-known village, emerging as a burgeoning tourist destination within the valley. Simultaneously, Sohni da Banr retains its prominence as a distinguished forest in the area, preserving the essence of the timeless tale of Lala Afghani and Sohni. The rich cultural heritage associated with Lalazar continues to attract visitors, offering a glimpse into the enduring allure of this captivating narrative.

The romantic saga of Munshi and Darshi (Paras) unfolds against the backdrop of a renowned village called Paras in the Kaghan Valley. During the British colonial era, Munshi, employed as a worker for a company, toiled in the local forest. It was here that he became entangled in a love affair with Darshi, a girl from the community. The clandestine meetings of Munshi and Darshi became the talk of the town, with their love story gaining prominence in the region.

However, societal resistance prevailed, and Munshi faced rejection from the locals, ultimately meeting a tragic end at their hands. The site of this fateful event garnered fame as Darshi da Banr, signifying the forest of Darshi. This woodland has since become a popular destination within the valley, celebrated for its breathtaking beauty, diverse wildlife, and suitability for hiking adventures.

{{Wikivoyage}}

{{Commons category|Kaghan Valley}}

• Kumrat Valley
• Naltar Valley
• Neelum District
• Swat District

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite encyclopedia |title=Kagan Valley |date=1 October 2013 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kagan-Valley |access-date= 14 November 2024}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ali |first1=Ihsan |author-link=Ihsan Ali |title=Mapping and Documentation of the Cultural Assets of Kaghan Valley, Mansehra |publisher=UNESCO |location=UNESCO, Islamabad |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000216933 |pp=10-46 |year=2006 |access-date=11 August 2019}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Braham |first1=Trevor |author-link=Trevor Braham |editor=Dr. K.Biswas |title=Mountains of Kaghan, 1965 |journal=The Himalayan Journal |year=1965 |volume=26 |via=The Himalayan Club |url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/26/8/mountains-of-kaghan-1965/ |access-date=24 November 2024}}
• {{cite book |last1=Jamal |first1=Zafar |title=Biodiversity, Ethnobotany and Conservation status of the flora of Kaghan Valley Mansehra, NWFP. Pakistan |year=2009 |publisher=Quaid-i-Azam University |location=Islamabad |url=https://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1491/1/2106S.pdf |access-date=14 November 2024}}
• {{cite book |editor-last1=Khan |editor-first1=M. Asif |editor-link=Muhammad Asif Khan|title=Tectonics of the Nanga Parbat syntaxis and the Western Himalaya |date=2000 |publisher=Geological Society |location=London |isbn=978-18-62-39061-4 |pages=411-423}}
• Shakirullah, J Ahmad, H Nawaz (2016). Recent Archaeological Exploration of the Upper Kaghan Valley, Mansehra, Pakistan. 45th Annual Conference on South Asia.

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Category:Mansehra District

Category:Hill stations in Pakistan

Category:Valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Category:Tourist attractions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa