Naran Trip: Kagnan, Pakistan

Kaghan Valley: View of Naran

The Naran tours are exhilarating trips through the mountainous section of Naran that is festooned by the majestic Kunhar River and many pristine lakes. One of the best vacationing destinations in Pakistan, Naran may be reached easily by an automobile from Shogran. The automobile will take approximately three hours to wind its way across the rocky terrains in order to get to Naran. It is best to embark on Naran tours at the onset of summer and during the autumnal months. This is because Naran is steeped under a blanket of snow at other times.

Naran Bazar

Siri Payee: Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

Siri Payee Shogran village of Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

Payee Shogran village is located on a green plateau in northern Pakistan at a height of 2,362 meters above sea level. It is only 10 kilometer from village Kiwai and 34 kilometer from administrative division Balakot. The road from Islamabad to Kiwai is metalled and measures 212 kilometer. From Shogran, you can ride a jeep or horse or hike to several picturesque places like Siri, Paye and Makra Peak. Hotels and motels are easily available at affordable costs. The local people are much friendly and cooperative.

Animal grassing at Siri Payee Shogran village of Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

Kaghan festival 24-26 June 2011 to promote soft image of KP

MANSEHRA: The Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will organize a three-day `Kaghan Festival` from 24-26 Jun 2011 to promote soft image of the province. 

TCKP's Kaghan Festival 2011 at Naran

Because of the ongoing revolution and militancy, the image of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being marked. In such an environment a three-day grand festival is being organized at Kaghan from June 24 to promote tourism in the district,” Provincial Minister for Tourism Syed Aqil Shah told a press forum here on Tuesday.

Minister for Industries Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah was also present on the juncture. Mr Shah said that the festival was being organized on the special interest of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti. “We want to show the natural splendor, culture and heritage of the region to people amid the ongoing militancy,” he added.

He said that the event would be full of entertainment and enjoyment. There would be traditional and local games, dances, foods, handicrafts, theaters and much more, he said.

“It would be the biggest event in the history of the province. Roads will be repaired and regular power supply will be ensured to make the journey and stay of tourists hassle-free. PIA and Railways have also been contracted for purpose,” the minister said.

Lake Saif-ul-Malouk, Naran Kaghan, Pakistan

He said that tourism industry was being dissolved to the provinces at the end of June. “But I want to make it clear that we will not accept the ministry without Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation and its assets,” he said.

Mr Shah said that tourism promotion conference and Olympic Games general councils meeting would also be held during the festival. Speaking on the occasion minister for industries said that work on Naran-Saiful Muluk chairlift, road and two megawatt hydropower projects would be started very soon.

Places of Interest in Kaghan Valley

Wonderful landscape at Kaghan Valley

The 161 kilometers long landscape of the Kaghan Valley with its soaring Himalayan peaks, peaceful lakes, majestic glaciers and splashing waterfalls is a scenic wonderland, ending northwards in the 4148 meters (13,600 ft) high Babusar Pass, jeep service is available in the valley during summer, while motels and rest-houses offer comfortable accommodation. There is a PTDC stopover Motel in Bellyached and a big tourist resort in Naran which provides excellent accommodation with meals at reasonable rates. It is an ideal area for trekking and trout fishing. The adventure begins in Bellyached, a charming mountain village, from where a road climbs 34 kms up to Shogran. At a height of 2,362 meters, Shogran has densely forested slopes and grassy meadows, which present an ideal setting for your first stopover.

Porrana: Small town of Kaghan Valley

The raging Kunhar river accompanies the steep snaking road which leads to the Kaghan village. This little village, after which the valley has been named, is only 61 kilometers from Bellyached. Between Kaghan and Naran there is a distance of 25 kilometers. Naran serves as the base-camp for excursions to other valleys, lakes and peaks.

Kaghan

Visit Kaghan Valley

Kaghan Valley: Beautiful view of Rajwal Bala

The Kaghan Valley is a valley in the north-east of Mansehra District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. It attracts many tourists from around the country. The inhabitants were affected by the earthquake disaster on 8 October 2005.

The Kaghan valley is named after the town of Kaghan rather than for the Kunhar River which flows through the length of the valley. The valley extends 155 km, rising from an elevation of 2,134 feet (650 m) to its highest point, the Babusar Pass, at 13,690 feet (4,170 m). Popular languages are Hindko and Gojri, while Urdu, Pakistan’s national language is also familiar among the locals. The region is Alpine in geography and climate, with forests and meadows dominating the landscape below peaks that reach over 17,000 feet.

Tourism

The Kaghan Valley’s remote mountains, dales, lakes, waterfalls, streams, and glaciers remain in a pristine state, with some within Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park. The valley is a prime destination during summer, from May through September. In May the temperature ranges between a maximum of 11 °C (52 °F) and a minimum of 3 °C (37 °F).

From the middle of July to the end of September the Naran-Babusar road beyond Naran Valley is open through Kagan Valley and over Babusar Pass. Access is restricted during the monsoon and winter seasons. The Kaghan area can be reached by roads via the towns of Balakot, Abbottabad, and Mansehra on the Karakoram Highway. In Balakot, one may find buses and other transports to reach Naran Village and the valley.

The road from Balakot ascends along the Kunhar River through beautiful forests and the villages of Paras, Shinu, Jared and Mahandri. The valley narrows along this part and the views are intimate scenery until ascending the pass when the surrounding peaks come into expansive view. One locale surrounded by peaks and forests and famous for its view is Shogran village, east of the main Kunhar River. The scenic Payee Lake, and Malika Parbat, Siri Payee, and Makra Peaks are nearby.

Lakes

Kaghan Valley is home to many a tourist attractions, especially its lakes. There are more than a dozen big and small lakes in the valley, but three are more popular among the tourists: Saiful Muluk Lake, Dudipatsar Lake and Lulusar Lake.

Dudipatsar Lake

Saiful Muluk, named in a folktale—the Qissa Saiful Muluk—about a romance between a Persia prince and a fairy princess. In the folktale. The lake is mentioned as the meeting site of the lovers in the folktale. lake Saiful Muluk is 10,578 feet (3,224 m) above the sea level, it is one of the highest and most beautiful lakes in Pakistan. The water of this over a mile in diameter oval shaped lake is spectacularly clear with a slight green tone.

Fishing

Trout Fish

Fishing is the chief sport in Kaghan. Brown Trout and Mahasher are stocked in pure silvery waters in the upper parts of the valley. The Kunhar river trout is considered to be the best throughout the sub-continent. Fishing licenses are issued by the ‘Fisheries Department at Naran’ or by the ‘Trout Hatchery’ at Shinu. Apart from this there are some other private trout fish farms at Kawai (also spelled as Kiwai) and Kahania.

Catching trout fish in the Kunhar river

A man shown fresh trout fish after catching from the Kunhar river

A boy shows trout fish in his hand.