Camping pods, tent villages ready to welcome tourists in scenic valleys of K-P

TCKP expecting tourism enthusiasts to savour outdoor life

PESHAWAR: Camping pods and tent villages are ready to welcome enthusiastic vacationers out to enjoy summer nights under open skies in the scenic valleys of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Tourism Corporation K-P Managing Director Junaid Khan has said that the famous camping pods and tent villages installed for the tourists at scenic spots will be opening from Eidul Fitr to facilitate them during the ongoing peak tourism season in the province.

Camping pods and tent villages in several tourist attractions, including Bishigram in Swat, Sharan in Kaghan, Thandiani in Abbottabad, Yakh Tangai in Shangla and Sheikhbadin in Lakki Marwat have already been renovated and will be opened during Eid and onwards for the tourists throughout the tourism season, he said talking to media at Iftar dinner.

Junaid said a camping pod could accommodate 40 to 50 tourists at a time, who can avail every facility including security, play land for kids and kitchen.

The camping pods, he said, have two or four bedrooms with washroom, kitchen, children’s play areas, parking lots and bonfire. There are also tent villages for the enthusiasts of adventure tourism.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had a brief stay as well in the Camping Pods in Naran and is very keen to have these facilities for both the local and foreign tourists along with foolproof security.

The camping pods have been developed in scenic places like Bishigram Swat Valley. Beshigram, laying at an attitude of 4,335 meter on the sea level, as 5km from Madyan and at a distance of 57km from Mingora. The trail meanders through wild flowers, herbs, shrub and trees. The journey to the lake is accompanied with melodious songs of a variety of birds along with the tunes reduced by waterfalls and wind glowing through the pines tree. The Bishigram Lake is farther from any permanent human presence and is believed to be a dwelling of fairies who do not like to mingle with humans.

In Thandiyani Abbottabad, located in the northeast of Abbottabad District at and is about 31m from Abbottabad in the foothills of the Himalayas. Thandiani is characterised by excellent weather and lush greenery in the summer months, and snow-covered vistas and hills in the winter.

A beautiful trek leads to Thandiani from Abbottabad that passes through Dagri Naka. To the east beyond the Kunar River are the mountains of Kashmir and the mountains of Kaghan and Kohistan are visible to the north and northeast. To the northwest are the ranges of Swat and Chitral.

In Sharan Kaghan Valley, Paras is the starting point for a detour to Sharan which is at a distance of 16km from Paras and is accessible only by jeeps. From here one can go on an exciting two to three days trekking and camping trip to the top of Musa Ka Musala and onwards to the Siran Valley. There is a forest rest house and a Youth Hostel with a capacity of 20 beds at Sharan to provide accommodation facilities to the adventure travelers. To stay at these facilities you need booking in advance from respective departments. This place is also ideal for camping.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2019.