Hundreds of tourists flock to Naran, Murree
Some appreciate the natural, scenic beauty while others complain about the trash
Tourists enjoying at Lake Saiful Mulook in Naran. photos: app
ISLAMABAD:
With Ramazan ending summer vacations only half gone, hundreds of tourists from across the country have been flocking to hill stations in the country such as Naran and Murree.
One location that has particularly been drawing attention is the scenic Lake Saiful Mulook near the town of Naran.
People brave a precarious jeep ride up to lake from Naran where they then spend the day picnicking, trekking along the lake or enjoying a boat ride across its turquoise green waters. In the distance, people enjoy the scene of the snow-laden Malika Parbat.
Pakistan to introduce police force for tourists
Talking to APP, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Abdul Ghafoor said that a large number of tourists, especially domestic tourists, had been booking their hotels, motels and rest houses at hilly picnic spots such as Murree, Nathiagali, Ayubia, Bhurban Patriata, Abbottabad, Swat, Naran, Kaghan, Shogran, Rawalkot, Nelum Valley, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Noting that most of the visitors were domestic tourists, Ghafoor estimated that these areas were likely to receive between 50,000 to 60,000 local tourists this year.
Picnic spots such as Abbottabad, Swat, Naran, Shogran and Kaghan were likely to receive 30,000 to 40,000 domestic tourists alone. The PTDC official pointed out that ongoing summer vacations were another factor which saw a rush of domestic tourists head to these scenic valleys.
Talking about the PTDC motel in Naran, he said that they had 60 rooms situated on the bank of the Naran River. “The Naran valley was very pleasant and peaceful, which attracts a large number of tourists every year,” he added.
In view of the rush of tourists, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and police have also set up a free tent village in Naran.
Tahir Malik, who had been visiting Naran along with his friends said that they had great fun while visiting the hill station. However, Hassan Raza was vexed by the amount of trash irresponsibly discarded in the scenic valley. He, though, was not alone in complaining about the trash. “This is the worst hill station I have ever seen which is full of filth,” complained Jahanzeb Khan while talking about his experience in Naran and at Lake Saiful Mulook.
“I will never recommend you to visit this place. The filthiest, most expensive… do not waste your time, money and energy in visiting such a nasty place,” he added as he pointed out how many people were throwing trash into the lake without being stopped by any official – the litter destroying the scenic beauty. Apart from Naran and its surrounding hill stations including Kaghan and Shogran, Murree and the Galiyat region is also receiving a host of local tourists.
Pakistan ranked fourth most unsafe country for tourists
As many as 15,000 domestic tourists have been visiting the area almost on a daily basis to enjoy the pleasant change in weather, a PTDC official said. The official added that the flow of tourists from various parts of the country had been steadily increasing day by day. Further, he said that the PTDC had started analysing the tourists’ ratio at their various resorts since the summer season started.
The official stated that PTDC resorts including at Bhurban, New Murree, Kashmir Point, Pindi Point, Mall Road and Ayubia were packed with tourists.
Muhammad Haneef, a tourist from Sahiwal visiting Naran said that this year traffic in the hill stations had been properly managed and that he did not face any difficulty in reaching the hill station.
Dangerous trend
Meanwhile, district authorities have warned tourists to take caution while taking pictures after another life was lost to careless selfies.
On Friday, three tourists were buried under a glacier in Naran while taking a selfie. One of them, a young man was killed while two others were critically injured. According to police sources, the three tourists from Karachi were taking a selfie when a glacier from Kali Matti in Naran suddenly collapsed over the tourists.
Kaghan police and locals immediately launched a rescue effort. The three were recovered and shifted to hospital where one tourist lost his life.
Last year, over 10 tourists were killed in Naran and Balakot while trying to take selfies.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2017.
With Ramazan ending summer vacations only half gone, hundreds of tourists from across the country have been flocking to hill stations in the country such as Naran and Murree.
One location that has particularly been drawing attention is the scenic Lake Saiful Mulook near the town of Naran.
People brave a precarious jeep ride up to lake from Naran where they then spend the day picnicking, trekking along the lake or enjoying a boat ride across its turquoise green waters. In the distance, people enjoy the scene of the snow-laden Malika Parbat.
Pakistan to introduce police force for tourists
Talking to APP, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Abdul Ghafoor said that a large number of tourists, especially domestic tourists, had been booking their hotels, motels and rest houses at hilly picnic spots such as Murree, Nathiagali, Ayubia, Bhurban Patriata, Abbottabad, Swat, Naran, Kaghan, Shogran, Rawalkot, Nelum Valley, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Noting that most of the visitors were domestic tourists, Ghafoor estimated that these areas were likely to receive between 50,000 to 60,000 local tourists this year.
Picnic spots such as Abbottabad, Swat, Naran, Shogran and Kaghan were likely to receive 30,000 to 40,000 domestic tourists alone. The PTDC official pointed out that ongoing summer vacations were another factor which saw a rush of domestic tourists head to these scenic valleys.
Talking about the PTDC motel in Naran, he said that they had 60 rooms situated on the bank of the Naran River. “The Naran valley was very pleasant and peaceful, which attracts a large number of tourists every year,” he added.
In view of the rush of tourists, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and police have also set up a free tent village in Naran.
Tahir Malik, who had been visiting Naran along with his friends said that they had great fun while visiting the hill station. However, Hassan Raza was vexed by the amount of trash irresponsibly discarded in the scenic valley. He, though, was not alone in complaining about the trash. “This is the worst hill station I have ever seen which is full of filth,” complained Jahanzeb Khan while talking about his experience in Naran and at Lake Saiful Mulook.
“I will never recommend you to visit this place. The filthiest, most expensive… do not waste your time, money and energy in visiting such a nasty place,” he added as he pointed out how many people were throwing trash into the lake without being stopped by any official – the litter destroying the scenic beauty. Apart from Naran and its surrounding hill stations including Kaghan and Shogran, Murree and the Galiyat region is also receiving a host of local tourists.
Pakistan ranked fourth most unsafe country for tourists
As many as 15,000 domestic tourists have been visiting the area almost on a daily basis to enjoy the pleasant change in weather, a PTDC official said. The official added that the flow of tourists from various parts of the country had been steadily increasing day by day. Further, he said that the PTDC had started analysing the tourists’ ratio at their various resorts since the summer season started.
The official stated that PTDC resorts including at Bhurban, New Murree, Kashmir Point, Pindi Point, Mall Road and Ayubia were packed with tourists.
Muhammad Haneef, a tourist from Sahiwal visiting Naran said that this year traffic in the hill stations had been properly managed and that he did not face any difficulty in reaching the hill station.
Dangerous trend
Meanwhile, district authorities have warned tourists to take caution while taking pictures after another life was lost to careless selfies.
On Friday, three tourists were buried under a glacier in Naran while taking a selfie. One of them, a young man was killed while two others were critically injured. According to police sources, the three tourists from Karachi were taking a selfie when a glacier from Kali Matti in Naran suddenly collapsed over the tourists.
Kaghan police and locals immediately launched a rescue effort. The three were recovered and shifted to hospital where one tourist lost his life.
Last year, over 10 tourists were killed in Naran and Balakot while trying to take selfies.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2017.