Naran Valley

Naran Valley...


Naran Valley (Urdu: وادی ناران) is located in North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. The Kunhar River, swollen by glacier melt, meanders its way through the Naran Valley. Makra Peak, Malka Parbat, Lalazar and Saiful Muluk are the main attractions..

Lake Saiful Muluk.....Location Kaghan Valley
Coordinates 34°52′37″N 73°41′40″E / 34.876957°N 73.694485°E / 34.876957; 73.694485Coordinates: 34°52′37″N 73°41′40″E / 34.876957°N 73.694485°E / 34.876957; 73.694485
Basin countries Pakistan

Surface area 2.75km
Surface elevation 3,224 m (10,578 ft)


Lake Saiful Muluk (Urdu: سیف الملوک) is a lake located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley (34°52′37.34″N 73°41′37.71″E / 34.8770389°N 73.6938083°E / 34.8770389; 73.6938083) near Naran. It is in the north east of Mansehra District in the North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. At an altitude of 3,224 m (10,578 feet) above sea level it is amongst one of the highest lakes in Pakistan.

The lake is accessible by a 14 km road from Naran (which is accessible by a road from Mansehra via Balakot and Kaghan) during the summer months. On foot, the trek from Naran to the lake takes about 4-6 hours. The water is clear with a slight green tone. The clarity of the water comes from the multiple glaciers all around the high basin which feed the lake.

A fairy tale called Saiful Muluk, written by the famous sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, is associated with the lake.[1] It is the story of prince of Persia who fell in love with a fairy princess at the lake.[2] The impact of the lake beauty is of such extent that people believe that fairies come down to lake in full moon.

A poet and writer from Balakot, Ahmad Hussain Mujahid, has written the story of Saif ul Malook. The first edition of the book Saif ul Malook was published in 1999


Tourism...

The Guardian ranked Lake Saiful Muluk as the 5th Best Tourist Destination in Pakistan.[3] Mansehra District has had a flourishing tourism industry in the past due to its many mountain ranges and the Saiful Muluk Lake, however since the 2005 earthquake the region has seen a decrease in tourists. This lake is about ten thousand feet above the ground level of Naran, this beautiful lake reflects many colors in minutes.[4] Lately there has been an interest in building hotels in the area.[5]


Lulusar...
Lulusar is group of mountains near the Naran Valley in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is famous for the large lake situated there which is a popular tourist attraction. The word "sar" means "top" or "peak" in Pashto. It is located at N35.0804 E73.9266, at a height of 11,200 ft (3,410 m) above sea level.

The lake is the main source of the Kunhar river, which flows through the entire Kaghan Valley through Jalkhand, Naran Valley, Kaghan, Jared, Paras and Balakot until it joins the Jhelum River. The lake is 48 kilometers away from Naran, on the Naran-Babusar road. Lulusar marks the historic place where 55 participants of the 1857 war of independence were arrested.

Tourist attraction..

The lake is much bigger than other lakes around the valley, and is surrounded by snowcapped hills, making it a natural tourist attraction. From Gittidas, the Naran-Babusar road, one of the highest in the world, goes through the Babusar Pass to Gilgit. In the summer, when the water reflects its surroundings like a mirror, a large number of both domestic and international visitors make the lake a destination stop.


Ansoo Lake...
Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake (elevation 13,540 feet or 4,126 metres) in the Kaghan Valley in the Mansehra District of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.

It can be reached by a difficult trek from Saiful Mulook Lake and requires physical and mental fitness. If one chooses to walk it takes more than eight hours for a round trip starting from lake Saif ul Muluk. The trek is covered with snow in most parts of the year. The best time to trek is from 25 July to 30 August. The optimal time to set off for the lake is around 09:00 in the morning. Horses can also be hired from the Lake Saif ul Muluk along with a guide person who will take you to Ansoo Lake. It costs almost PKR 800-1000 per horse but one still has to walk more than 50% of the distance himself. Another trek to reach Ansoo Lake is from Mahandri, which is 40 km below Naran, but this is a less trod route and the difficulties are unknown. The name "Ansoo" comes from its tear-like shape (the Urdu word Ansoo means teardrop). The lake is said to have been discovered in 1993 by Pakistan Air Force pilots who were flying low above the area. Earlier, the lake was not even known to the locals

Shogran...

Shogran is a village situated on a green plateau in the Naran Valley, northern Pakistan at a height of 2,362 meters above sea level. The village was affected by the earthquake of 2005 when some building were damaged.[1] It is only 10 km from Kiwai village and 4 km from Balakot. The road from Islamabad to Kiwai is metalled and measures 212 km. 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 friendly and helpful.