Kaghan Valley is a god-gifted jewel amongst the beautiful valleys of the Mansehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This valley is approximately 160 kilometers long and is a
Kaghan Valley is a god-gifted jewel amongst the beautiful valleys of the Mansehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This valley is approximately 160 kilometers long and is a popular holiday destination for tourists from both within the country and abroad.
Its mountains, dales, lakes, waterfalls, streams, and glaciers are in an unspoiled paradise. That is why it can be such a deeply satisfying experience to spend a few days in Kaghan. Kaghan is a beautiful place to visit. Its valleys and lakes make it like a wonderland of Pakistan. People commonly refer to it alongside Naran Valley, which lies nearby. They call both valleys Kaghan Naran. Saif ul Malook Lake is one of the greatest attractions that is like a fairy place. It also has an account in history. Mian Mohammad Bakhsh has written a complete book of poetry on it.
Make your visit a sustainable one. Our beloved country has a huge trash problem, and we ask you to be part of the solution. Don’t litter here and there, and bring a plastic bag along with you so you can take any trash you might find along the way.
Kaghan Valley is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the north of Pakistan, bordering the territories of Gilgit-Baltistan to the north and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the southeast. The Lower Himalaya range envelops the 155-kilometer valley, creating an alpine climate and fostering the growth of pine forests and alpine meadows. Alongside the flow of the Kunhar River, the valley features glaciers, crystal-like clear lakes, waterfalls, and frosty mountain streams. Kaghan is famous for its scenic beauty and landscapes, resulting in its popularity as a summer resort.
Map Link:
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Kaghan valley is one of the hottest tourist destinations for summer holidays, thousands of tourists each year come across this valley to explore its beauty and to enjoy their vacations. Mainly attractions are Shogran, Siri Paye, Kaghan, Naran, Lake Saif-ul-Malook, and Babusar Top, Lulusar lake. Various hotels with the best facilities are available. The nightlife is amazing, and horse riding, jeep ride for Siri Paye, and Saif-ul-Malook are also available. Let’s explore more of it.
The stunning plateau of Siri and Paya. Siri and Paya is a plateau right above the scenic Shogran.
Paya is instantly recognized for its stunning lake, which beautifully reflects the surrounding greenery.
Further ahead, the plateau of Siri lies nearby. You can reach Siri Paye via a jeep ride or a 2.5-hour hike from Shogran.
Situated at an altitude of 11,200 feet (3,414 meters), Paya offers breathtaking views.
The distance between Siri and Paya is just a 15-minute jeep ride. A forest rest house is also located at Siri.
Manna Meadows is situated at an altitude of 8000 feet above sea level.
It takes approximately 4 hours from Paya to reach Manna Meadows via a hike.
The best time to visit Manna Meadows is July/August because it is this time of the year when the flowers are in full bloom.
There is also a 3-hour hiking track from Manna Meadows to Shogran.
Sharan is located 16 kilometers from Paras, accessible via a jeep track that runs along the opposite bank of the Kunhar River. It sits at an altitude of 7,872 feet.
It is part of the mountain range which boasts Musa ka Musalla as its highest peak at 13,372 feet.
Shinu is another town in the vicinity of Sharan, and you won’t regret visiting it.
The town is well known for its Trout hatchery which is a rich source of trout fishes.
Tourists can purchase a fishing license at Shinu which allows them to fish in the well-stocked river.
Jared is a small town known for its handicrafts.
The handicraft business is run both privately and in collaboration with the government. The government also runs a handicraft development center at Jared.
The handicrafts sold at Jared mainly comprise carved furniture items and handmade woolen shawls.
Khanian is at a little distance from Mahanderi.
Located on the right bank of the Kunhar River, it serves as a base camp for those venturing into the Kamal Ban forest and Danna Meadows.
Danna Meadows is at a distance of ten kilometers via a jeep track from Khanian.
Despite the track being only 10 km long, it still takes about an hour.
Danna Meadows is situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet and presents views of several snowcapped peaks that are well above 15,000 feet.
But remember, the jeep track is currently inaccessible, which requires around three hours on foot to reach Danna Meadows.
Malkandi Forest is a densely populated forest abundant with black bears and leopards.
It also serves as home to a small number of cattle farmers.
Black bears often venture into human-populated areas and damage crops, making the act of shooting a bear considered a significant event in Malkandi.
Shooters are often rewarded by forest officers.
In addition to black bears and leopards, Malkandi forest is home to a small number of red bears, musk deer, and ibexes.
Naran is the most visited and densely populated tourist attraction of the valley. It is home to several hotels, restaurants, and tent villages.
Naran is situated at an altitude of 2,427 meters or 7,693 feet above sea level. The approximate distance from Balakot is 82 kilometers (51 miles).
Naran is the center of tourism in the Kaghan valley yet there is no bank in Naran.
Lake Saif-ul-Muluk is at a distance of ten kilometers east from Naran.
The lake, located at an altitude of about 3,212 meters (10,537 feet) above sea level, gets blanketed by a sheet of ice in winter. By April, as the ice begins to melt, miniature icebergs float on the surface of the lake.
The mountain right behind the lake is called Malika Parbat.
From the lake, one can trek up to the 4,300-meter pass at the Saif-ul-Muluk glacier which is located southwards.
Aansoo Lake is situated near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan mountain range.
The word Aansoo in Urdu stands for ‘teardrop’. The lake has been named so because of its tear-like shape.
Aansoo Lake has been said to be discovered by Pakistan Air Force Pilots in 1993 while flying at a relatively low altitude. Before this, the lake was unknown even to the locals.
The best season to visit Aansoo Lake is from May to July.
Batakundi is situated across the way towards the Babusar pass.
The altitude of Batakundi is 2,624 meters or 8,607 feet above sea level. It is situated at a distance of 16 kilometers from Naran.
A PWD rest house and three other hotels are situated at Batakundi.
Batakundi is the last village in the valley to stay open all winter.
Lalazar is situated along the jeep track about two kilometers from Batakundi.
Lalazar is famous for its meadows full of blooming flowers during the spring season. There are also numerous potato fields situated in Lalazar.
Burawai is situated at a distance of around 13 kilometers from Batakundi.
Jalkhad is at a distance of 12 km from Burawai.
Pyala Lake is situated about 1 kilometer east of Jalkhad.
Noori Top/ Noori Lake is situated at an altitude of 12,900 feet above sea level.
Noori Lake lies at the border of Kaghan Valley and Azad Kashmir. It is at an altitude of 12,780 feet above sea level.
The lake can be reached by a Jeep via Jalkhad in 1.5 hours.
Besal is at the road towards the north of Jalkhad.
It is treacherous terrain. In stark contrast with the lush green forests of the Kaghan Valley, Besal offers mere views of jagged rocks.
Lulusar Lake is situated at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
The water flowing out of the lake flows into the river Kunhar further contributing to its strength.
Dudipatsar Lake is another beautiful lake encircled by snow-clad peaks.
Dudipatsar Lake is one of the hardest places to reach in the valley. A tough trek of around 6 hours from Besal leads to the lake.
Babusar Pass is situated towards the Kaghan Valley by high mountains.
Babusar pass is the end of the Kaghan valley which commands the whole Kaghan panorama.
The road at Babusar Pass remains closed from October to June, also restricted during the monsoon season.
The majority of people practice subsistence agriculture and livestock is the main source of livelihood. To be honest, it is affected by seasonal work in the lower districts of the country. Due to its diverse landscape and climatic conditions, the valley provides excellent habitat for a variety of commercially important medicinal plants.
The people in the valley primarily speak Hindko and Gojri, and they also widely understand Urdu, the national language.
The best time for Kaghan visit is from April to Sep, where you can definitely enjoy the beauty of this place and also you can maximize your visit.
The Kaghan lies on 2026m above sea level In Kaghan, the climate is warm and temperate. There is significant rainfall throughout the year in Kaghan. Even the driest month still has a lot of rainfall. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is Cfb. In Kaghan, the average annual temperature is 12.6 °C | 54.7 °F. The annual rainfall is 893 mm | 35.2 inch.
This lavish resort is really an amazing and lovely place to visit. One of the highlighting factors here is star gazing at night. View is stunning from this Hotel and a perfect place for Couples to sit and enjoy the view from Balcony. Executive rooms are also available and the building of the hotel is elegant.
Pine Park is a large property located in Shogran. You can access the resort via a winding dirt road, which requires a 4×4 vehicle. The resort which has all the needed facilities and can easily accommodate 50+ attendees at a time.
You will be greeted by the owners there very nicely. Cleaning and maintenance is quite astounding.
One of the best resorts with a clean and spacious area, comfortable beds, and all luxury facilities for families and couples. You won’t regret having the view of scenic Kunhar River from the terrace.
The best part of this hotel apart from all the facilities is their traditional Kashmiri meatballs (goshtaba). Best traditional eatery place.
Other notable eateries are:
In Kaghan Valley you can find the restaurants near Balakot- Kaghan road or at main Street of Naran.These restaurants serve a variety of dishes mainly from the Pashtun cuisine -aromatic, mouthwatering and delicious. A must eat while visiting is Kabuli Pulao, Lamb Sajji, Chicken/ Mutton Karahi, Chicken/ Mutton Biryani, Chicken/ Mutton Handi, Chicken Roast, Trout fish, and Peshawari kahwa.
Address: N15, Naran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Phone: 0322 4557120
Address: Naran – Jalkhad – Chilas Road, Kaghan Valley, Naran, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Website: www.hoteldemanchi.com
Phone: 0341 9030303
Address: PTDC Motel Area, Naran, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Website: www.tourism.gov.pk
Phone: (051) 9208949
Address: Saiful Muluk Rd, Katha, Naran, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Website: www.sayyamheightsnaran.com
Phone: (0997) 430256
Address: Main Bazar Naran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Phone: +92 997 430124
You can reach the Kaghan area by road through the towns of Balakot, Abbottabad, and Mansehra. In Balakot, one may find buses and other transports to reach Kaghan or Naran. It can also be reached from the capital, Islamabad. You can drive in a rented car, taxi, station-wagon or bus to Abbottabad which is 122 kms from Islamabad and 217 kms from Peshawar. Abbottabad is also a Charming town spread out over several low, refreshingly green hills.
Here are some helpful essentials:
Kaghan & Neelum Valley Council: 03558144405, 03558108505
