I was only 3 years old when I first time visit this valley with my father on a willys jeep.At that time there was no road from Abotabad onwards.2nd time when I visited this valley I was 13 & explored this valley on a excertion tour as a boy scout.
Now this valley is favourite spot of my family & my two sons (3 years & 1.5 years) love this valley of lakes.Almost every year we use to visit & explore naran & its surroundings.Per pias heay k bujhati he nahin
This year i was worried as so far I dont have any 4x4 vehical.So i requested Ahsan (Parapilot) if he can spare his willys jeep which i sold to him a year back.He is a kind man so he gave me the favour.I called my brother in law from lahore so he can drive my suzuki khyber & i loaded all the lugage in willys jeep & my elder son hassan was siiting next on the passenger seat.He so crazy for jeeps that he left the air condition comfort of car & acompany me for four long days in willys jeep.
Day-1
my brother in law (his name is also fahad) came from lahore to my place in Jhelum on 14-7-2009.he reached me abt 1am & we start loading the stuff into willys back right away.Stuff inclusive of tent,sleeping bags, warm aclothes, kitchen items,stove,rashon,lots of noodles & toys
We left Jhelum with 1st light at abt 5:30 am & started the journey on GT road.Our 1st stop was rawalpindi saddar from where we top up our fuel tanks & had some food.
From Rwp we catch motorway till Burhan Interchange & than we were heading for Abotabad.
Our 3rd stop of the day was at abotababd to refil cng in car and a short tea break.
there onwards we stop only for refiling of cng at Mansehra & our next destination was Balakot.
We stoped near river Kunhar @ balakot & have our lunch.Cool breeze can be felt on banks of Kunhar.It was mid day & my back was wet & swet.Hassan my son was sitting next to me & his cheeks were red due to intense heat & temperature.I asked him to sit in the car with his mother & mamoon but he refused to do so & i will always remember his sweet voice saying "Papa cahlein Na jeep ko mountains mein chalein" and I swicthed onn the ignition..beeeeeeep heater beep comes & with a voice ghaaaaaaaang the 2 liter turbo chged diesel engine of willys started & we were heading towards Naran.
Pine park hotel appears on my left near Khanian & I pull over the Jeep & light a cigrate.hassan was sleeping on pessanger seat & I was waiting for my family car to catch me up.After few mins they arrive & we took few pics of Pine park.We gather information regarding dana medaows but the hotel staff told us that its not jeepable as track was destryoed in 2005 earth quake so we decided to move forward.Stoped again at kaghan & wash my mouth & hairs as they were full of dust.Road from Kewai to kaghan is in bad shape.broken & very dusty due to recent repair work in progress.