Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is located in the northwest region of Pakistan. The province has a varied landscape ranging from rugged mountains and valleys to plain areas and dense agricultural farms. The region is well known for its rich historical background. There are a number of Buddhist archaeological sites from the Gandhara civilisation such as Takht Bhai and Pushkalavati, Bala Hisar Fort, Butkara Stupa, Kanishka stupa, Chakdara, Panjkora Valley and Sehri Bahlol.
Peshawar is the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The city is home to a number of sites including Bala Hisar Fort, Peshawar Museum, Gor Khuttree, Mohabbat Khan Mosque, Sethi Mohallah, Jamrud Fort, the Sphola Stupa and the most famous bazaar of Qissa Khawani. The city of Dera Ismail Khan, in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is another city that is a junction entrance to the province of Punjab and Balochistan. This city is famous for its Hindu ruins at Kafir Kot.
The Buddhist ruins at Shahbaz Garhi are also famous in the city of Mardan (A region in the central part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
In addition to the historically rich archeological sites, the region is also home to lush green mountains in the northern and east-southern parts. The most mesmerizing valleys in the north of this province include Kumrat Valley, Jahaz Banda, Usheri Valley, and Bin Shahi in Dir Upper and Lower districts; Kalam Valley, Marghazar Valley, Miandam, Malam Jabba, Gabin Jabba and Jarogo Waterfall in the Swat District; Shandur Pass, Bumburet, and Chitral National Park in the Chitral district.
In the south-eastern part of the region, the district Mansehra is remarkable. This city is a major stay area for tourists setting out to the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. The city is connected with the famous Karakoram Highway which elongates up to the Kashgar area of China, connecting Pakistan to the ancient Silk Road. Along the route in the Mansehra region, there are several picturesque sights including the Kaghan Valley, Balakot, Naran, Shogran, Lake Saiful Mulook and Babusar Top.
There are also several other sites within the province which attract a large number of tourists every year including Ayubia, Nathia Gali, Mukeshpuri, Shangla, and Haripur. [1]
Besides, there are number of passes that run through the province. One of them is the Khyber Pass which links Afghanistan with Pakistan. This trade route sees a large number of trucks and lorries importing and exporting goods in and out of the region. The Babusar Pass is another mountain pass, connecting the Thak Nala with Chilas on the Karakorum Highway. The Lowari Pass is another pass which connects Chitral with Dir amidst the giant mountains via the Lowari Tunnel. Another significant pass is the Shandur Pass, known as the "Highest Mountain Pass in Pakistan", which connects the Chitral region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Gilgit. This pass is often called the "Roof of the World". The pass is the center of three mountain ranges – Hindukush, Pamir and Karakoram.
The following are the accessible lakes ;
Northern Pakistan is a tourism region in the northern and north-western parts of Pakistan, comprising the administrative units of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Pothohar Plateau in Punjab. The first two territories are a part of the wider Kashmir region. Usually, the federal territory of Islamabad is also considered to be in northern Pakistan. It is a mountainous region straddling the Himalayas, Karakoram and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges, containing many of the highest peaks in the world and some of the longest glaciers outside polar regions. Northern Pakistan accounts for a high level of Pakistan's tourism industry.
The Kaghan Valley is an alpine valley located in the Mansehra District in the Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The valley covers a distance of 155 kilometres (96 mi) across northern Pakistan, rising from its lowest elevation of 650 m (2,134 ft) to its highest point at the Babusar Pass around 4,170 m (13,690 ft). Landslides triggered by the devastating 2005 Kashmir earthquake destroyed many passes leading into the valley, though roads have since been largely rebuilt. The Kaghan is a highly popular tourist attraction.
Miandam is a hill station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, in the foothills of Hindu Kush mountains. It is located at a distance of 55 km away from Mingora the capital of Swat Valley, and 56 kilometers (35 mi) from Saidu Sharif.
Lulusar, , or Lalusar, is a group of mountain peaks and a lake in the Kaghan Valley in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Dudipatsar Lake, also known as Dudipat Lake, is a lake encircled by snow clad peaks in Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park. The lake lies in the north end of the Kaghan Valley, in the Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in northern Pakistan.
Kalam is a valley located 99 kilometres (62 mi) from Mingora in the northern upper section of Swat valley along the banks of the Swat River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Swat River was formed as a result of the confluence of two major tributaries, the Gabral and Ushu river.
Tourism in Pakistan is a growing industry. In 2010, Lonely Planet termed Pakistan "tourism's 'next big thing'". The country is geographically and ethnically diverse, and has a number of historical and cultural heritage sites. Condé Nast Traveller ranked Pakistan The Best Holiday Destination for 2020 and also declared it the third-highest potential adventure destination in the world for 2020. As security in the country improves, tourism increases; in two years, it has increased by more than 300%. The Pakistani government had launched online visa services for 175 countries and 50 countries were offered visa on arrival, making visiting Pakistan easier. The country received an influx of travel vloggers, who promoted the characteristics of the country, such as in the Northern Pakistan, like Hunza and Skardu.
Mahodand Lake is a lake located in the upper Usho Valley at a distance of about 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Kalam in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The lake is accessible by a four-wheel drive vehicle, and is often utilized for fishing and boating.
Kundol Lake, also known as Kundol Dand, is a lake in the Swat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is located in the north of the Utror Valley. It is 20.8 kilometres (12.9 mi) away from the Kalam Valley.Also, there is a widely spread fairytale is associated with the lake that every night in a month, a golden bowl appears in the center of the lake and glistens like moon but no one has ever touched that bowl due to magical powers inside it.
Naran is a town and popular tourist destination in upper Kaghan Valley in the Mansehra District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located 119 kilometers (74 mi) from Mansehra city at the altitude of 2,409 meters (7,904 ft). It is located about 65 kilometers (40 mi) away from Babusar Top. It is one of the most popular tourist attraction locally as well as internationally. Naran valley is also Pakistan's most visited Valley, around 1.5 million people visit Naran valley every year.
Lulusar-Dodipat National Park is located in the Kaghan Valley in Mansehra District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The park was created in 2003. The scenic Dudipatsar Lake and Lulusar Lake and peaks are in the park.
Besal is a small village located in Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It sits 3260 meters above sea level. It is adjacent to the Kunhar River, about 45 kilometers north of Naran. It is the starting point for hiking trails like Dudipatsar Trail. It is accessible by cars and motorbikes.
Daral Lake, also known as Daral Dand, is an alpine lake within the Bahrain region of the Swat Valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is situated to the northeast of Saidgai Lake. The lake appears as giant amoeba in shape. Near the lake, there is an ancient mosque where shepherds and visitors offer their prayers and use it as a resting place for night.
Katora Lake is an alpine glacial lake located in the upper reaches of the Jahaz Banda, Kumrat Valley within the Upper Dir District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The lake is fed by the surrounding melting glacier waters. The word Katora means "bowl" in Pashto. It was named after the lakes resemblance to a bowl shape.
Saidgai Lake also known as Saidgai Dand is a lake in the upper reaches of the Ushirai Dara within the Upper Dir District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at an elevation of 11,500 feet (3,500 m) above the sea level. It is located to the northwest of Gabin Jabba. The temperature is normally about 5 °C to 10 °C during hot months. Primarily, this lake attracts tourists from Dir as well as other regions of the country, especially during the months of June, July, and August. However, for the rest of the months, the lake remains covered by snow. Saidgai lake is at the boundary of Dir Upper and Swat.
Bashigram Lake also known as Bashigram Danda in Pashto is an alpine glacial lake located to the eastern side of Madyan in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Dharamsar is an alpine lake in the Kaghan Valley in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located approximately 4,100 meters above sea level to the left of Babusar Top going eastwards from Chilas on the Karakoram Highway, next to the larger Sambaksar and Ganai Gali. Dharamsar lake is located close to the border of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir just south of the meeting point of all three of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Kharkhari Lake also known as Kharkhari Danda in Pashto is an alpine glacial lake located in the Gabral Valley to the north of Kalam Valley in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is reachable by road from the town of Kalam, following the Utror river to Bahandra. From Bahandra, one must hike to Kharkhari Lake which takes up to 2 hours.
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