I have visited Naran and Shogran on 24th May 2013 to 27th May 2013 details
Left on 0800 HRS and reached Manshera at 1400 HRS via Rawalpindi.
Booked a Taxi on 400Rs for Balakot and reached Balakot after 1 hour (40Kms) 1530hrs.
Hired another taxi Mehran for Naran @ the cost of 2000 as jeeps were asking 5000 for Naran drop. stopped at Kewai for Abshar hotel and made some pics then continued till trout fish farm and again made some snaps to move forward for Naran, reached Naran on evening 1830 HRS(81KMs Balakot to Naran)
weather was very pleasent and cool as snow is there left right with beauty of greenish view and sound of Kunar river always side by side on all the way to till from Balakot left.
Stayed at Green Park Resturant @ cost of 1000Rs Excellent hotel with 24 Hrs Electricity and Hot Water in morning 8-12.
Next day hired jeep for Jheel @ cost of 1400Rs and started journey at 930 HRS reached half of te way to Jheel 1030 Hrs and then hired horses and after and hour reached near jheel, walked for 20 minutes to approach the jheel it was raining all the way to jheel and cold was teasin so we hired jackets shoes sticks from base camp which help us a lot.
When Jheel is in front of our eyes i cant expain the beauty of that view snow on the moutains and water in lake flashing its amzing everyone should visit in lifetime.
Made lot of snaps and returned after 2 hours on return stayed at hotel for another night and again moved to shogran next day because Lalzar is closed due to landslide.
On return we stuckin very start of Naran Glacier where landsliding jammed the road becaused whole night raining. We stucked there for 1 hour and lastly driver towed his car with jeep and we crossed this hinderence. after 6 kilometer another major block was ahead due to landslide after 6 hours struggle of peoples some way was made for jeeps only and they passed after 6 hours so after tried cars and alll passed but bumpers and suspenstion of vehicles severely damaged by stones. Our card radiator was also damaged so we traveled with rewatering again and again till mid on Naran Kaghan whrere another obstruction of Mud stopped us for one hour more, hoever reached kewai at 1600 Hrs and hired Jeep for Shogran and Siri Paye for Two days at the cost of 4500 and stayed Shogran for night next day visited Paye and returned to Balakot and Rawalpindi.
Suggestions Learnings
Always Hire Jeep from Balakot if you are in early season travelling or Raining season.
Start your journey early in the morning.
Should carry some medicines pain killers and bandages.
Should carry some eating material for emergency in landslide.
Avoid infant childrens less than 5 years alongwith you because tracks are very dangerous and tough may create problems for you.
Some Snaps Naran Lake Saif-ul-Malook and Shogran Siri Paye
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