Daily Times

While travelling on the Motorway M2 from Lahore to Islamabad, you might have stopped over at Kallar Kahar for refreshments and for freshening up yourself, but have you ever gone beyond this activity?

Have you ever explored the beauty and nature of this area?

Kallar Kahar is located almost 225 kilometres from Lahore on M2 motorway and is about 125km from the city of Rawalpindi. This place somehow makes the midpoint of route while travelling from Lahore to Islamabad. This time, while travelling to Swat I planned to stop over at Kallar Kahar for a day, to enjoy the scenic beauty of this mind blowing place. I decided to stay there for the night and spend a few hours of the next morning there as I wanted to visit the famous Shrine there.

I thought that it must be a dark town at night but I guess times have changed and there is night life at Kallar Kahar too. I stayed at the Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) resort which is no less than a four star hotel. The cool breeze in that area was refreshing and the place this resort is located at gives the best view of the lake at night, dazzling with the moonlight and stars.

Dumba Shinwari is the best dish to eat from Kallar Kahar and you will find a lot of Shinwari restaurants there which cook fresh meat for you. I remember that almost ten years ago this place was not much developed but I think TDCP has done a great deal to develop the tourist spots and attract people there. Trust me I was not at all afraid of roaming around in the hills and areas around Kallar Kahar at night. I could see several restaurants opened at night along with markets and fruit shops. As it is the mango season so you will see a variety of mangoes there and the prices are cheap.

The next morning I woke up and took the view of the beautiful lake, Kallar Kahar Lake which is one of the reasons for Kallar Kahar to be prominent among tourists. I got to know that it is the salt water lake because the salt mines are also nearby. I could see tourists enjoying boating there and families having a good time. The Kallar Kahar Lake is as old as Kallar Kahar itself. I think it is a must visit place for you all.

I thought that it must be a dark town at night but I guess times have changed and there is night life in Kallar Kahar too. I stayed at the Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) resort which is no less than a four star hotel. The cool breeze in that area was refreshing and the place this resort is located in gives the best view of the lake at night, dazzling with the moonlight and the stars

Another striking thing is the peacocks there and if you get into the green forests around the lake. You will see the peacocks dancing and spreading their feathers marvellously. It is no doubt a magical view. You will see peacocks wandering here and there in the hills and their matchless sound clearly be heard from there. The best view of the peacocks can be enjoyed from the top near Saint Sakhi Sultan Bahu’s Tomb. The Ho Buho tomb is also in Kallar Kahar.

If we go into the history of this place, through historic references we get to know that the history of Kallar Kahar goes back to the period Mohammad Bin Qasim who after defeating Raja Dahir defeated his son Jay Singh. It is said that on the request of Jay Singh, the Raja of Kashmir not only granted him refuge but also handed him the area located on the southern border of Kashmir. Historian Zaffar Nadvi in his book ‘History of Sindh’ states that the capital of that area was Kallar Kahar. It is quoted by the historian Salman Rashid that Zaheer ud din Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire also stayed at Kallar Kahar and camped there. Today as well we see ‘Takht-e-Babri’ at Kallar Kahar. Near the lake Babur laid out the foundations of the first ever Mughal garden of the subcontinent known as Bagh-i-Safa. The fruit trees along the southwestern shore of the lake still mark Babur’s Bagh-i-Safa.

Another marvel near Kallar Kahar is the Soon Sakesar. Soon Valley is a spectacular panorama of natural beauty having lakes and springs, lush green fertile fields, beautiful landscapes, dense forests and pre-historic sites. The valley provides a unique place for migratory birds in winter. It is located at a height of 5,010 feet above sea level and Sakesar is the highest point in the Soon Valley.

Another marvel is the Lake Uchhali which is one of the famous and striking salt water lakes of Soon Valley overlooked by mount Sakaser. You will get to see Lake Khabikki as well which is one kilometre wide and two kilometers long. Khabikki is also the name of a neighbouring village. Jhalar Lake is another important attraction in the vicinity of Kallar Kahar. It is said that these lakes attract thousands of migratory birds each year including rare white-headed ducks from Central Asia.

Kanhatti Garden is also a must visit place there. It is said that Kanhatti Garden was established by Major W Whet Burn, District Engineer of the area during 1933. Kanhatti sub village of Khabikki has been derived from Kanhat, a special rock found at natural water spring. The plantation in the garden includes Almond, Apricot, Pine apple, etc.

While visiting the area, I could feel that if such a tourist spot was in any other country of the world, it would have been the hotspot and most developed. TDCP has done its bit there but I think there’s a lot more to be done and develop. There should be traditional crafts shops, souvenirs and more tourist attractions. Moreover, tourists should be fined on littering and spreading any kind of mess around the place.

The writer can be reached at taniashahab2016@gmail.com