Further notes on Utror valley:
1. The road to Gabral valley was risky and shorter than Utror road. Gabral is a small village, at 3 hrs drive from Kalam. It is accessible from upper dir route too. A Kashmiri friend, who had gone to celebrate eid with his family while accompanying with me from Mingora to Kalam journey and worked at Gabral valley into land. He advised me not to proceed towards Gabral valley as dangers of land slide loomed there, risky and dangerous short non metalled road and I was travelling with family. He told me when he was travelling towards Kalam and going to Azad Kashmir on the 25 th Ramzan, he saw en route a truck had fallen into river because of land slide. Two persons had drowned. So I preferred to abandon plan to see Gabral valley.
2. The hotel owners had their own taxis to run on Ushu or Utror valleys; but told the guests that they had contacts of taxi drivers which demand so and so much amount and if you agreed than better, otherwise, on sharing basis you might go with another family. In that way they cheated the families by minting more money on one trip.
3. The road to Ladu was destroyed because of previous flood and rains. It took nearly 2 hrs to reach Kundol Lake from the Kundol point some distance before Ladu where the road ended. There were other families too. The women and kids were asked to wait at that point along with drivers. The able bodied men, however, started journey on foot towards Kundol Lake through a guide who was living in a nearby village. The mountainous path is narrow at some points; but within reach and easy to cross.
4. Kundol Dhand, is a lake in Swat Valley located in the north of Utror valley, at a distance of 19 km away from Kalam. Kundol Lake lies at an elevation of (9,950 ft).The locals say about its magic emergence during sunset time.I forgot to take camera with me so could take some snaps of Kundol lake through mobile...
5. The sumptuous lunch was made at Dhamaka jheel with trout fish. It had become precious after flood and rains because its generation became depleted by its poisonous water. We were asked to get it Mahodhand; because at all other places we found it as Farmi. The original and natural trout has red spots on its body. That is its recognition. At Mahodhand, we got it but the owner said that he had caught only three fishes in a whole day. Of which, he sold two at 2500 rupees per kg fried; and remaining one was for his own guests. We persuaded him; but he did not agree. Izat gul said to seek and eat it at Dhamaka jheel. There was same situation at Dhamaka jheel. The hut man had two large fishes and eight smaller ones. He insisted to have taken money in advance 500 hundred rupees as token, and desired to get smaller ones. We after long efforts succeeded in getting one larger fish of them. The deal costed to the tune of Rs.3000/- We ordered him 1 ? kg fish (one large and three smaller ones: 1 kg for us and ? kg for Izat gul), and gave 1000 rupees in advance as token money. On return from Kundol Lake, we stopped to eat it. It was a very nice and delicious. We shall remember it till long.
6. There was also an interesting story about Dhamaka jheel, of its creation and destruction. It spread far and wide. The locals named it Dhamaka; but the real Dhamaka came from Qudrat; and was run away in floods waters.
7. The break –up for second day expenses(two persons and one kid) are given below:
Breakfast: 200 rupees (50 rupees halwa+60 rupees chana plate+20 rupees puri x2+20 rupees tea x2+10 rupees naan).
Utror trip fare: 4000 rupees.
Lunch at Dhamaka jheel: 3000 rupees.
Kalam- Bahrain car fare: 1500 rupees.
Bahrain hotel rent: 1500 rupees.
Dinner: 240 rupees(one mash daal plate+ one lady finger plate+4 roti+salad+raita+3 tea cups)
Total: 200+4000+3000+1500+1500+240= 10440 rupees or say 10,500 rupees.
