Hazara Division – An Earthly Paradise

Since my childhood, I had a dream to visit Babusar Top, Naran, Kaghan Valley of Hazara division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan because whenever I used to see the beautiful pictures of landscapes in northern Pakistan and read the stories of those valleys in books, they always created the curiousity and excitement to go and explore these areas.

Finally, my 20 years old dream came true and I planned to visit these areas. I decided to start my journey from Islamabad by visiting DharmaRajika Buddhists archeologist site in Taxila in District Rawalpindi Punjab. The DharmaRajika was built in 3^rd century BC by Maurya Emperor Ashoka. The DharmaRajika site were rediscovered by renowned archeologist Sir Alexander Cunningham in the mid-19^th century. Later on, in 1980, Taxila was declared as one of the World’s Heritage by UNESCO

Stupa DharmaRajika Texila

After that, I left to Khanpur dam which took around 20 minutes to reach there from Taxila. The cool breeze of Khanpur dam made me so fresh and re-energized that I couldn’t resist myself so I took the speed-boat to have a round trip of dam. The Khanpur Dam is famous for water sports. Every year, airborne and waterborne sports Gala is being orgniazed at Khanpur which attracts many tourists from Pakistan and from around the world and it has many colorful and attractive events to show off. For a day trip/picnic, it is an ideal place where you can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, adventure, water sports, Skiing, angling, Spelunking, Night caving, Rock Climbing, Team Rappelling, Rap Jumping and watching migratory birds during winter. It was indeed a soothing experience to see very clean and fresh water in the dam.

Khanpur Dam

Later on, I left for Mansehra which took me three and half hours to reach there from Khanpur. Mansehra is a town located in the district of Mansehra district. The name of the town is derived from that of its founder, Sardar Maha Singh Mirpuri, who was a Sikh administrator and general in the Sikh Khalsa Army during the rule of the Khalsa Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

There was divergent towards Karakorum Highway at the gateway of the Mansehra city for Kaghan Valley. I turned to Kaghan road which also leads to Balakot city. I stopped at a hilly site of the Mansehra, where one could get the view of whole city.

There was an amazing landscape of the city. I took some rest there and also observed the beautiful view of sunset. My curiousity didn’t let me have more rest so I continued my journey from Mansehra to Balakot which is again a town of Mansehra District. There was a Jaba pass between Balakot and Mansehra which was covered with a thick forest and I crossed that pass at night time which was very safe. After almost an hour’s drive, I reached at Balakot city where I spent my night.

Mansehra

Balakot

On the next day, I left my guest house and went to the site of Kunhar river which flows through the entire Kaghan & Naran vallies, Balakot, Jalkhad, Garhi Habibullah and Dalola. I sat at the edge of river to listen the sound effects of flowing water which was very soothing. After this soothing morning, I continued my journey to Shogran. There was a metallic road till Kiwai. I took the jeep from Kiwai to Shogran which took 25 minutes’ drive to reach there. Shogran is a hill station situated on a green plateau in the Kaghan Valley, at a height of 7,750 feet above sea level.

Shogran

My journey did not stop at Shogran. So, I continued my travel to Naran Valley. Naran is very famous for tourist. The valley has estimated 8,000 feet above sea level. It is situated between high peaks one known as a Malika Parbat. Naran is one of the most scenic towns in Pakistan, attracting thousands of tourists, trekkers, photographers and nature-enthusiast, every year. There is a most beautiful and enchanting lake by the name of Saif-ul-Malook which is almost 9 km away from Naran.

Naran Valley

On the next early morning, I took mountain jeep for Lake Saif-ul-Malook is around 9 kilometers away from Naran. The Saif-ul-Malook Lake is situated at 10,550 feets above sea level. While you travel to lake from Naran you will have to cross the glaciers. I used to read the stories in my childhood that Naran is the earthly paradise to Pakistan from God. When I reached there, I really felt that I am in the heaven because one can feel that s/he is surrounded with lush green mountains, glaciers, cool breeze and high peaks of Malika Parbat. It is estimated to be 17,355 feet above the sea level and the biggest peak of Kaghan Valley.

Malika I Parbat

Lake Saif Ul Mulook

After the relaxing visit of Saif-ul-Malook lake, my journey continued towards Lalazar meadows which is located at thei height of 10,500 feets above sea level and 16 kilometers away from Naran. Lalazar meadows are not lesser then heaven it is also famous for camping and many tourists also go to meadows for hiking.

LalaZaar

With the multiplied energeis, I left Lalazar and started my journey towards Babusar Pass/Top which connects Gilgit Baltistan with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. First, I stopped at Kunhar river in Jalkhad. This place is connected to Neelum valley of Azad Kashmir with Kaghan Valley through Noori Top. Afterwards, I went to Kaghan’s precious Lake Lulusar which is at the height of 11,200 feet above sea level it is also biggest stock water lake in Kaghan valley.

Jhalkadh

Lalusar Lake

I further continued my journey through Kaghan highway and stopped at another place called Ghatti Das which is 9 kilometers away from Lulusar lake and 7 kilometers away from Babusar Top. During the summer season people of Chilass, Gilgit-Baltistan get settled there and then they go back to Chillas by the end of the September every year.

Ghatti Daas

Finally, I reached at place called Babusar Top which was like mostly heard word for me as my friends who travelled to Gilgit Baltistan, they used to tell the stories about their travels through Babusar Top and I used to see these places in pictures or sometimes on television but I finally materialized my dream by visiting all these places which has given me positivity and has also given me this opportunity that how beautiful my country is and how the people with different cultures and tradions live together peacefully.