Majestic Sharan forest attracts tourists

BALAKOT:

Wanderers in search of tranquillity are increasingly making their way to the scenic area of Sharan in the famed Kaghan Valley, an oft-visited destination in the summers for those seeking escape from the intense heat that envelopes the rest of the country during this time.

Upon reaching Sharan forest, tourists and adventurers are awestruck by the melodious medley of birdsong and the chittering of insects. The majesty of Sharan waterfall, the lure of Manshi Top and the breathtaking expanse of the surrounding meadows are also big draws for travellers.

Sharan lies on the way from Balakot to Naran and is accessible via a 14km-long jeep track. The renowned forest is also remembered as the wilderness of Darshi, based on a local folktale of love and tragedy.

The forest is populated with a number of trees such as deodar cedar, biyar and partal.

As many as 11 wooden pods established by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Tourism Department in 2016 offer adequate accommodation and meals for tourists. Lodgers not only enjoy the facility of readily available hot water, but also make use of the kitchens to prepare their own food.

For the more adventurous, camping on the grounds is also an option.

A two-hour trek from Sharan leads to Manshi Top, from whence the tourists can glimpse other hills shrouded in clouds as well. The famous Musa ka Musallah peak can also be spotted from Manshi Top.

Meanwhile, tourists also travel either on foot or on horseback to visit the Sharan waterfall, which is half-an-hour’s walk from the forest and a major attraction of the area.

The mellow ringing of cowbells adds further depth to the rustic setting of the place, while one can also hear the distant strain of shepherds playing sweet melodies on their flutes.

All in all, the beautiful forest of Sharan offers a lesser known but refreshing alternate to the more popular tourist spots in the north of Pakistan.

Travellers flock Galiyat, Kaghan

The tourist influx at scenic spots of K-P is on the rise, with around 32,905 people from across the country visiting various destinations in a single day to enjoy the pleasant weather.

According to statistics issued daily by K-P Integrated Tourism Development Project (KITE), Galiyat received 11,000 tourists, while Kaghan and Naran welcomed 11,430 visitors.

Under the KITE Project, four integrated tourism zones were established in the province, including Tandiani, Mankyal, Ghanol and Madakalasht, said KITE Programme Director Tauseef Khalid.

He said that the master planning of integrated tourism zones will promote sustainable tourism via effective management, adding that the hotel industry was doing a good business due to rise in summer tourism.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2022.