Kaghan valley is amazing! i was lucky to visit it in June when i went to aran and Shogran. i cant believe how much snow had fallen during the winter of 2008-9.
I wish national park tourism in an eco-friendly sense takes off in Pak!
I always thought the kaghan valley esp around Shogran is a birdwatchers paradise.
Footloose, NOS, The News International
Kaghan valley isn’t just about the exotic and extremely popular Saiful Maluk
By Mohammad Niaz
Country’s mountain ecosystem is under threat due to unsustainable consumption of its resources. Reports by World Conservation Strategy, the National Conservation Strategy and others term the protection of mountain ecosystems indispensable for the well being of humans.
Mountain ecosystem might not sound as familiar to you as Ayubia National Park in Abbottabad, Chitral Gol National Park in Chitral, Sailful Maluk National Park and Lulusar-Dodipatsar National Park in Mansehra, and Margalla Hills National Park in Islamabad – the famous hilly areas of Pakistan. Effective management of these national parks has given them recognition for their role in conservation of critical biodiversity of the area offering recreation and education.
The current situation of the country has, besides other things, limited the options of travelling to hilly areas in the country. Kaghan Valley in NWFP has everything for a tourist who wishes to devour the serenity of Mother Nature. Hazara division of the NWFP has abundant natural resources especially forests and wildlife.
The upper reaches of Kaghan valley from Naran to Babusar Pass have a potential for the promotion of tourism and conservation of high altitude dry temperate forests, sub alpine scrub and alpine meadows. These systems support endangered wildlife species. The flagship species are snow leopard, brown bear, Himalayan ibex, stone martin, weasel, marmot, Himalayan snow cock etc.
The area also supports three major freshwater reservoirs namely Saiful Maluk, Lulusar and Dudipatsar – recently declared national parks to protect the natural heritage. A visit to Lake Saiful Maluk encourages the tourists, provided they have the time and the resources, to also see Lulusar and Dudipatsar Lakes, Lalazar, and Babusar Pass leading to Northern Areas.
Lake Saiful Maluk is about 145km away from Mansehra, at a six-hour drive because the road, damaged during the October 2005 earthquake is still under construction. Fed by surrounding glaciers, Saiful Maluk is a panoramic clear freshwater alpine lake situated at an elevation of 3109m (10,200 feet) at Naran, which feeds river Kunhar.
The legendary lake nestles in the lap of the towering snow capped Malika Parbat (the Queen of the Mountains) reaching to height of about 51817,000 feet from sea level. The lake is about 6km away from Naran taking 40 minutes jeep ride over a rocky track or three-hour trek. Some tourists prefer to walk the distance while others ride horses and the others hire jeeps.
The best time to visit the lake is during extreme summers. Go before noon to spend enough time at the lake because the place is crowded in the evening. The nature lovers can avail camping facilities, trekking, in the alpine scenic splendour, lofty mountains, trees and the blue water of the lake. Boating, though a little risky because of the deep water, is another option.
There are also the old daastangos (storytellers) who would remind you of your grandmas with legends of Prince Saiful Maluk who fell in love with a fairy. Other places that might interest you in that area include Lalazar and Gitidas. A PTDC hotel at the heart of the Naran bazaar could be your first choice besides a wide option of hotels, from luxury and expensive to affordable.
Because of its central location from Kaghan to Babusar top, Lake Saiful Maluk has become a prime tourist spot. It is estimated that from May till September over one hundred thousand tourists visit the lake and the park.
Situated along Naran to Pabusar top, Lulusar Lake is also one of the frequently visited lakes in the area. This lake is also a refuge of winter migratory waterfowls. Therefore, solid waste is also a growing problem that adds to the ugliness of the site. The far-flung Dudipatsar being a beautiful lake is situated at the boundary of Kashmir and Kaghan valley, which serves as a breeding place for trout fish. Only trekkers and a very few tourists visit it.
The landscape of Naran serves to promote geo-tourism and attract visitors to boost up local economy. These ecologically important lakes serve as a staging and wintering ground to some of the important migratory waterfowls that cross international boundaries to avail natural aquatic resources of such water bodies during their migration process.
The natural lakes in the area are currently facing heavy erosion and degradation due to biotic pressure and unmanaged tourism in the area. Now a lot depends on the ongoing programme and concerned agencies to recognise these lakes and proactively manage and plan for these resources of the high altitude alpine zone. Pakistan being signatory to most of the environment related Multilateral Environmental Agreements has international obligations to protect its biodiversity and mountain ecosystems that are crucial for country’s economy.