Dear Friends
Alhamdolillah, just returned from Shogran last night. It was great fun. Superb weather, hard track (acc to my likeness), breathtaking landscape, comfortable hotel, mouth watering food.
Detail:
On 28 April 2012, we 12 cousins left for Shogran at 6 am from Peshawar. 2 SUVs were used, Imransavul's Kia Sportage and my Toyota Prado (LC90). Route: Peshawar-Burhan M1- Hassanabdal-Abbotabad-Mansehra-Balakot-Kiwai-Shogran. Road till Kiwai is excellently metaled. From Kiwai , instead of going straight on main road, u hav to climb a track for Shogran. The condition of track was very poor, u cant go without 4x4 Vehicle and that too should not b very wide like Land Cruiser or Nissan Partol as on my Prado due to big rocks on both sides of roads,i escaped rocks hardly by an inch. At some places local jeeps ( CJ5) were coming from opposite direction and we crossed very very closely, so no vehicle wider than Prado is recomemded at least in these days. The track condition is poor bec of land slides, recent rains, snow melt etc. Otherwise as far as i know in june july people easily travel there in their cars, civic, corolla etc.
The 7 km track from Kiwai to Shogran took more than an hour. At one point it was deeply muddy but alhamdolillah both our SUVs crossed it on their own shoes. We stayed at Pine Park Hotel, we hired a cottage which has 2 rooms and 1 sitting room @ Rs.5000 for one night.
The place was wonderland, with light rain throughout the day and night. We hiked around in afternoon, enjoyed coffee on way, did some practice and gaming with air gun, had all our meals at the hotel. Next morning due to rain we decided to leave early as there were chances of land slide. After breakfast we left at 10 am, from Kiwai we headed towardes Paras, the town which i always love for her name, and once camped there on my first trip to Kaghan valley back in 1998-9. At Paras we discussed about track to Sharan. Sharan is the most wild and forsety area in Kaghan Valley (acc to my vision that may b wrong for others), still out of reach from the crowds of tourists.
From Paras we moved down towards Balakot, stayed there for some time, recited fatiha at Syed Ahmed Barailvi Shaheed tomb. Then moved further down. Had lunch with Pakoras at Ilyasi Mosque, Abbotabad. Refreshed with cool water of Ilyasi Mosque's stream. Then headed for Peshawar. Rest the pics will do the work.
