Snow-clad Kaghan Valleys attract tourists

Thousands of snowfall lovers and tourists throng Kaghan Valley to enjoy mesmerizing scenes of snow-covered Saiful Malook and Anso lakes in the past two days.

“Saiful Malook lake is my ideal tourist destination due to its unique feature of peace and serenity besides snowfall of high intensity,” Qaiser Khan, a retired employee of Wapda, arrived here to enjoy snowfall with his family told APP on Thursday.

With children playing around him with snowballs and skiing at Naran and Kaghan after returning from Saiful Malook Lake, the Nowshera born-tourist said the famous oval shape lake known for crystal greenish-blue water in world was almost covered by the recent heavy snowfall. “Saiful Malook Lake’s natural beauty is beyond my imagination,” said Khan who was wearing a Chitrali woolen cap and overcoat. Named after Persian Prince Saiful Malook, the lake’s waterfall emanating from nearby glaciers on its northeast during summer leaves enduring effects on minds and souls of hundreds of thousands of tourists and nature lovers every year.

Mian Muhammad Bakhash, a noted historian and poet in his book ‘Fairytale of Saiful Malook’ narrated the story of Prince Saiful Malook and fairy princes Badriul Jamala. He explained about the epic romance of Prince Malook when he fell in love with fairy princess Badriul Jamala during his visit to this famous lake of Pakistan.

“Saiful Malook Lake is my ideal tourist place due to its fairytales, unique natural beauty and better road connectivity than other lakes of KP,” said Engr Khushal Khan, a resident of Dir Lower. “It is my fourth trip to Saiful Malook and first one during winter.”

He said that families can easily come here to spend some time in its relaxed environment before exploring the nearby snow covered Anso and Dudipatsar lakes in Upper Kaghan through jeeps and horse riding with great fun and excitement. He advised families and tourists to bring warm clothes and sweaters keeping in view the increased cold weather in Naran and Kaghan valleys.

Besides Saiful Malook, the natural beauty of tear-shaped Anso lake which is considered the highest lake of Hamaliya region with 4,126 meter height of the sea level, Payala lake with 2,895 meters elevation, Pyala lake with 3410 meters height, Siri lake with 2,590 meters altitude, Dudipatsar lake with 3,800 meters elevation and Dudibach Star lake in Kaghan valley captivate adventure sports enthusiasts and snow sports lovers.

“Saiful Malook is the identity of Pakistan. But, I am disappointed to see garbage and polythene bags thrown by visitors around these picturesque lakes,” Engr Khushal said, adding it was the collective responsibility of Kaghan Development Authority (KDA), Wildlife Department and District Administration to ensure and maintain its cleanliness besides making it pollution-free.

“A per international practice, vehicles are parked outside of lakes’ premises to maintain its ecology and protect it from plastic pollution. There is a need for the construction of parking areas outside the premises of Saiful Malook, Mahudhand and others national lakes to protect it from plastic pollution,” he reiterated.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2023.