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Kaghan Valley

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The Kaghan Valley (Hindko, Urdu: وادی کاغان) is an alpine valley in Balakot Tehsil, Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The valley stretches 155 kilometres (96 mi)[1] across northern Pakistan, rising from its lowest elevation of 650 m (2,134 ft) to its highest point at the Babusar Pass around 4,170 m (13,690 ft). Furthermore, the highest mountain peak in the valley known as Malika Parbat (lit. 'Queen of Mountains'), stands with a height of around 5,290 metres (17,360 ft).[2] Landslides triggered by the devastating 2005 Kashmir earthquake destroyed many passes leading into the valley, though roads have since been rebuilt. Kaghan is a popular tourist attraction in Pakistan.[3][4][5]

Kaghan Valley
کاغان وادی
Valley
Kaghan photographed during autumn, c. October 2015
Kaghan photographed during autumn, c. October 2015
Kaghan Valley is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kaghan Valley
Kaghan Valley
Kaghan Valley is located in Pakistan
Kaghan Valley
Kaghan Valley
Coordinates: 34°50′N 73°31′E / 34.833°N 73.517°E / 34.833; 73.517
CountryPakistan
ProvinceKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
DistrictMansehra
TehsilBalakot
Area
 • Total
3,884 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)

Geography

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The widespread valley is named after a small town Kaghan which is a union council of the Balakot tehsil.[6][7]

The Kaghan Valley is located in the Hazara region of Pakistan,[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] Alongside the flow of the Kunhar River, the valley features glaciers, crystal-like clear lakes, waterfalls and frosty mountain streams.

Lakes and National Parks

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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,[11] 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.[12][13][14]

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. In June 2024, more than 300,000 tourists arrived in the valley during the Eid al-Adha holidays.[15]

Notable sites

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Green hills at Lalazar
  • Lalazar, a tourist spot at an elevation of 3,123 metres (10,246 ft) above the sea level, is located in the lower part of the valley.[16]
 
Lulusar Lake between hills
  • Lulusar, a group of mountain peaks and a lake at a height of 3,410 m (11,190 ft). The lake is the primary headwaters of the Kunhar River.[17] It flows southwest through the entire length of the valley, passing Jalkhand, Naran, Jared, Paras and Balakot until its confluence with the Jhelum River.
 
A view of Jalkhand
  • Jalkhand, a town about 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from Naran. Pyala Lake lies in the town.[18][19][20]
 
A scene of path in Kiwai
  • Kiwai, a village known for Kiwai waterfalls near Shogran.[21]
  • Khanian, also spelt Khania, is a small village in the north of the valley.[22][23][24] 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.
 
A cloudy view of Gittidas Meadow
  • Gittidas, a meadow at an elevation of 3,678 metres (12,067 ft) 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.[25][26]

Flora

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Local forest known as Kaghan Temperate Coniferous Forest is home to many plants species.[27] 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.[28]

Demographics

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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.[29]

Access

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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.[30] From May to the end of September, the roads and Babusar Pass usually remain open.[31] In May, temperatures can reach up to 11 °C (52 °F) and stoop as low as 3 °C (37 °F).[32] 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.[33][34]

Associated Folklores

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Folk tale of Lalazar

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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.[35]

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.[35]

Folk tale of Munshi and Darshi (Paras)

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The romantic saga of Munshi and Darshi (Paras) unfolds against the backdrop of a renowned village called Paras in the Kaghan Valley.[35] 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.

See also

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kaghan Valley.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaghan Valley.

References

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  1. ^ Sophie (12 July 2010). "Kaghan Valley, Pakistan: Beauty Between Glaciers". www.tourismontheedge.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  2. ^ Braham 1965.
  3. ^ The Kashmir Earthquake of 8 October 2005 – Earthquake Engineering, pp.5-6
  4. ^ "Cold wave rules KP, Fata: Snow, landslides block roads in Kaghan valley". The News International.
  5. ^ "Record number of tourists visit Kaghan Valley". The News International.
  6. ^ Balzer, Dirk (2015). RISK EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT FOR THE DISTRICTS OF MANSEHRA & TORGHAR, PROVINCE KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN: CASE STUDY 'LANDSLIDES' (PDF). PDMA. p. 16, 40. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  7. ^ Ali 2006, p. 25.
  8. ^ "Tourists throng scenic Hazara division". Daily Times. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Kaghan receives snowfall". Dawn. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ Planet, Lonely. "Kaghan Valley travel | Karakoram Highway, Pakistan". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  11. ^ Khan, N.Ahmad (22 March 2020). "Kaghan valley's ecology vulnerable". Dawn. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  12. ^ Arif, A.Mahmud; Khan, Owais; Usman, Naveed (2021). "Nature Based Tourism in Kaghan Valley: Potential and Problems" (PDF). Journal of Development and Social Sciences. 2 (3): 153–166. doi:10.47205/jdss.2021(2-III)15. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  13. ^ Khan, N.Ahmad (13 July 2022). "The unexplored lakes of Kaghan valley". Dawn. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  14. ^ Niaz, Muhammad (29 June 2014). "Kaghan valley: Lake district". Dawn. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Over 300,000 tourists flock to Kaghan Valley during Eid holidays". The Nation. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  16. ^ "From breathtaking to breath-holding: Govt apathy covering lush Lalazar in trash". The Express Tribune. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Lulusar Lake". Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP). Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  18. ^ "Jalkhand on map". Google Maps. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  19. ^ "Tourism needs urgent coordination". 5 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Hadiqa Kiani's trip to Kaghan Valley will make you pack your bags right now - The Express Tribune". 24 June 2016.
  21. ^ Ali, Zulfiqar (22 July 2023). "Landslides block Kaghan Highway". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  22. ^ A Bari, Naveed (19 January 2012). "The splendor of Kaghan Valley: Story of a lost paradise Part-3". News Pakistan.
  23. ^ Ali, Zulfiqar (20 June 2018). "Tourists continue to throng Kaghan Valley". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Khanian on Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Police rescue stranded family from snowbound Kaghan". Dawn. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Tourists visit Sambaksar Lake and Dharamsar lake in Gittidas Meadows". Aaj TV. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  27. ^ "BASE LINE STUDIES OF THE SHAHRAN (MANCHI) FOREST, KAGHAN (SFM-PROJECT)-2017" (PDF). undp.org. Pakistan Museum of Natural History: United Nations Development Programme. 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  28. ^ Almubayedh, Hanine; Ahmad, Rizwan (2020). "Ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and therapeutic applications of Cedrela serrata Royle: A mini review". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 246 (2020). doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.112206. PMC 7126226. PMID 31494199.
  29. ^ Ali 2006, pp. 12, 25.
  30. ^ Ali, Zulfiqar (27 April 2024). "Kaghan road reopening kindles tourism hopes". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Kaghan Valley braces for tourist influx on Eid". DAWN. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Best Time to Visit Kaghan Valley". tourism.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  33. ^ "The Kaghan Development Authority Act, 2020" (PDF). kp.gov.pk. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Kaghan development authority initiates glacier removal to safeguard tourists". Associated Press of Pakistan. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  35. ^ a b c Arif, Anas Mahmud; Hameed, Abdul; Fizza, Syeda (30 September 2021). "Cultural Tourism in Kaghan Valley: Potential and Problems". Pakistan Journal of Social Research. 3 (3): 23–43. doi:10.52567/pjsr.v3i3.223. ISSN 2710-3129.

Sources

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