This is part 1 of 3 of Shogran, Naran kaghan Tour
Naran, kaghan, Shogran is very famous touristic point in Pakistan even someone encountered in a problem of unavailability of hotels for staying in peak season. Actually Naran is a town of Kaghan Valley, Mansehra NWFP Province Pakistan. Mostly people stay here for going to famous spots like Lake Saif-ul-Malook and Lalazar, Lalusar Lake, and Babusar Top. Naran Valley is very beautiful. Kunhar river flows along the whole valley which offers most amazing sceneries.I have been wishing for a long time to visit Naran Kaghan even I have visited many remote areas of very beautiful NWFP province. Last week I decided to visit Shogran, Naran Kaghan. I could skip SHOGRAN as it is in the way of Naran But it also a very beautiful place I don’t want to missed it. However I started my journey on Saturday 30 june 2012 for Shogran, Naran Kaghan.
The plane was
30 june 2012 start journey in night and reach Shogran till 10 am.
1 July 2012 Explore Shogran, Sri and Paye and then move to Naran for night stay
2 July 2012 Full day for Lake Saiful Malook
3 July 2012 Visit Babusar Top and Lulusar Lake
4 July 2012 back to home.
I had started my journey from Lahore at 7:00pm. My first destination was
Shogran so I took a bus for Mansehra from Lahore Niazi Bus station.
Their services of buses is very good and comfortable. However next
morning I was at Mansehra 6:30am and ready to heading next destination.
Frugality while travelling is not very easy sometime you have to do a
lot for budget travelling.
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| Bus Terminal at Mansehra NWFP Province |
There was no vans or buses for KIWAI. There
were some vans but the problem is that there is rule when whole seat of
van filled with passenger then they depart. Ohh. I had plane to reach
Shogran till 9:00am. There was one option to hire a private cab or taxi
to reach there but it will increase my budget. i came on first option
and waited for near about 1.5 hours. During that time I went to a local
hotel for breakfast and took some eatables as I heard the eatables in
Shogran is very expensive. Finally the whole van filled with passengers
and I headed to Kiwai.
How to reach here
Kiwai is mid point for Shogran and Naran. you can
turn for Shogran or head to Naran. So I stoped at Kiwai for next
destination Shogran. From Kiwai any one can hire a Jeep to reach Shogran
and then Sri and Paye as it is rough track. Jeep cost was same for one
person or 6 person so I gathered 4 person more to reduce the cost of
Jeep travel. If I hired whole jeep sure it would increase my budget. so I
saved a lot.
How to reach here
any one can reach here from any part of the country Mansehra city is base point. suppose you are coming from Karachi or Islamabad, Multan just arrive here in Mansehra and head to any destination. i suggest Mansehra city because its a big bus terminal where you can hire any type of vehicle.
My rout was
My rout was
Lahore to Mansehra 8 Hours
Mansehra to Kiwai 2 Hours Approximately
Kiwai to Shogran 1 hour Jeep or Cab track
Shogran to Sri Paye 1.5 Hours Jeep Track
Mansehra to Kiwai 2 Hours Approximately
Kiwai to Shogran 1 hour Jeep or Cab track
Shogran to Sri Paye 1.5 Hours Jeep Track
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| Kiwai (if you want to go Shogran you have to stop here) |
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| Jeep were heading to Shogran |
Accommodation
There are many Hotels where you can stay. It is hard to show the rate of Hotels its totally depend on season, rush of people, weather etc. I heard from a friend that he stayed in Pine Park Hotel for 500 per day in winter and the rate of this hotel in summer 10000PKR approximately. so you should good at bargaining. you can find hotels from 3000 to 15000 PKR.
There are many Hotels where you can stay. It is hard to show the rate of Hotels its totally depend on season, rush of people, weather etc. I heard from a friend that he stayed in Pine Park Hotel for 500 per day in winter and the rate of this hotel in summer 10000PKR approximately. so you should good at bargaining. you can find hotels from 3000 to 15000 PKR.
Transportation
Jeeps are commonly use here so you have to hire a jeep for getting around. A Jeep can be hired for 3500PKR for kiwai to Shogran and Sri Paye. Or 2000PKR from Shogran to Sri Paye and then back to shogran. 6 to 7 persons can easily sits in Jeep.
Jeeps are commonly use here so you have to hire a jeep for getting around. A Jeep can be hired for 3500PKR for kiwai to Shogran and Sri Paye. Or 2000PKR from Shogran to Sri Paye and then back to shogran. 6 to 7 persons can easily sits in Jeep.
Food
I did not see many restaurants in this area however you can find many shops where you can buy eatables. So there is only 5 to 6 good restaurants. One time food cost can be 200PKR to 800PKR.
Finally after near about 1 and hour i was at Shogran it was very scenic point. i sat here for some time and see the natural beauty which is unforgettable. Thank God for giving me the chance to see your unbelievable beauty. my next destination was Sri and Paye. it is Located 6 kms away from the popular
tourist destination Shogran. Its lush green
meadows with the surrounding
snow-covered peaks makes it one of the
most popular tourist destination. so its again time to hire a jeep for Sri and Paye. so after near about 1 hour i was able to find guys who were also going to Sri and Paye i told them i can contribute join me for Sri and Paye. and the answer was yes. so my journey started on jeep for Sri and Paye meadows.I did not see many restaurants in this area however you can find many shops where you can buy eatables. So there is only 5 to 6 good restaurants. One time food cost can be 200PKR to 800PKR.
Money Saving tips
Try to don’t buy any food item or eatables from Shogran or Sri paye because the food prices are very high in this area. Can you imagine a 1.5 letter bottle of Pepsi is for 120 PKR which you can buy from markets in 70 PKR.
Try to don’t buy any food item or eatables from Shogran or Sri paye because the food prices are very high in this area. Can you imagine a 1.5 letter bottle of Pepsi is for 120 PKR which you can buy from markets in 70 PKR.
You
have to hire a jeep for getting around If you are 1 or 2 persons then
gather 5 to 6 person so that your fare of jeep distributed on each
person.
Hotels rates are expensive here after spending a day you can go to Kaghan or Naran so that you can find good economical hotel.
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| Shogran |
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| Heading to Sri and Paye Meadows |
In the way of Sri and Paye meadows there was really very beautiful sceniries, greenery everywhere and snow covered mountains which you cannot forget whole life as i heard a lot about Shogran, Sri and paye and now i was seeing with my eyes. its really worth to see. i was talking with driver about local culture heritage and much more about life.
while going to Sri Paye driver told its Malka parbat peak. and i told to driver i dont know but its very beautiful.
After 2 hour Jeeps took us at the Paye meadows. Paye meadows located at the height of10,500 feet its
really beautiful with full of lush green grounds and then very beautiful the views of
Makra peak.Paye meadows includes one of the most beautiful places in
Kaghan valley. there was small shops where we ate food but at very expensive rate.
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| Paye Meadows |
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| Me at Paye. |
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| it is also very favourable place by Families. |
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| In the background you can see the beautiful Makra Peak |
Lahore to Mansehra 750
Mansehra to Kiwai 130
Kiwai to Shogran 150
Shogran to Sri and Paye 500
Shogran to Kaghan 140
3 Time food + eatables 440
Night stay in Kaghan 500
Miscellaneous Expenses 80
Total 2690
you give each inch detail. Great. if you know good hotels for families and information about other cities like Islamabad and Murree please share them also. Appreciated
ReplyDeleteAwesome job buddy..... Your article here is too inspiring...... Great work once again !!! Tons of thanks... :-)
ReplyDelete