Hi fellow pakwheelers. I went to Shugran with family last weekend and want to share the experience with you guys.
Shugran is one of those places that you will surely cherish remembering for the rest of your life. The place sits on top of a mountain approximately 8,000 feet and offers spectacular views. Shugran is surrounded by snowy mountain peaks that go high as 17,000 feet.
How to reach Shugran
It takes about 6-7 hours from Islamabad to reach Shugran. There are several ways to approach Shugran.
1) Isb-Abottabad (via Hasanabdal)-Mansehra-Balakot-Kewai-Shugran
2) Isb-Nathiagali-Abttobad-Mansehra-Balakot-Kewai-Shugran
3) Isb-Muzafrabad-Balakot(via Gari Habib-ullah)-Kewai-Shugran
Regardless of the route you take, it will take no less then 6 hours. You will find endless ‘abadi’ throughout Peshawar Road from Hasababdal to Abottabad to Mansehra. Traffic is the main hurdle through these cities.
A word of caution: If you haven’t been to Mansehra before, it can be a bit confusing as to how to take the road that leads to Balakot. Since we don’t believe in putting up any direction signs, its very easy to miss the turning if you take the Mansehra by-pass. If you go through the city you will find your self stuck in traffic for about 30-45 minutes.
Up to Mansehra its just traffic and people! Beyond Mansehra is a very picturesque road towards Kaghan valley. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach Abottabad from Islamabad and another 40 to 60 minutes to reach Mansehra (depending on traffic). From Mansehra it takes about 1 – 1.5 hours to reach Balakot. Balakot sits in a valley surrounded by huge mountains and the Khunar river flows right through the city. Before the road going down hill towards Balakot (coming from Mansehra side) the valley opens up. The view is simply amazing.
There are only a couple of “khokhay” offering refreshments right next to Khunar river, defiantly one of the places you should stop. Also Balakot is the last place you can find petrol so it’s better to fill up here
From Balakot to Kewai it takes about 40 minutes (the road is damaged in a few places, but work is in progress). Kewai is a very small village right at the foot of the road that leads to Shugran. Kewai is known for its famous water restaurant “khokha”
There’s a water stream coming up from the mountains and goes through a flat bed of rocks that is large and flat enough to hold a couple of tables. It is defiantly an experience you should not miss. The water is freezing cold though.
From Kewai is a steep climb towards Shugran. You do about 3000 feet in 7 km. The road is, in some places non-existent, especially at the very beginning. If you can survive the first 10 minutes, you’ll be okay as the road gets a bit wider in most of the places for two cars to cross. However the first 10 minutes, you will be praying. Imagine, if you will, a climb so steep that your front wheels are about 4 to 5 feet more then your rear wheels, on a rocky road that makes it even harder to create momentum to climb, on the left of which is a deep cliff (your left tire is almost floating and kissing the air), and to top that off you see a Parado coming towards you right at that moment. As my mom puts it, to get to heaven you must pass through the gates of hell. And it’s true. As you start reaching the top, you will surely see a sight seen never before. It’s simply amazing.
Regarding the road to Shugran, while it is not that bad once you manage the first 5 minutes, I would not recommend it if you think you car is a bit weak. We traveled on a 10 year old cultus. While it did take us, it did put a lot of stress on the engine. The problem aggravates when right at the beginning of the steep climb the road is replaced by “khadas” and rocks.
Shugran is a beautiful place. Though now it’s becoming more and more like Muree, full of hotels and khokhay and littering everywhere. You can still find some decent hotels that are a bit towards the edge of the mountain that offers some seclusion and valley views. From Shugran you can easily see Musa-ka-Musullah (14,000) and Malika Parbat (18,000). Rents are very economical (off season) that range from 500 to 2500.
From Shugran the road leads to Siri and Paye. Coming to Shugran and not going to Siri and Paye will be injustice to your trip. From shugran to Paye is about 8 Km and takes about 45 minutes to reach in a Jeep (it’s a jeepable track). The climb is yet another 2,500 feet. If you are physically fit, I will recommend you trek by foot. It hardly takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top on foot. Going on Jeep is more tiresome as since there is no road its just rocks and khadas, you will have displaced your bones at the end of the journey.
More pics coming soon :)