Assalam O Alaikum
Dear Friends, We group of 6 members just came back from Heaven on earth ?Kumrat Valley?
Kumrat valley is situated in Upper Dir District KPK & adjacent to Swat Valley. Both valleys are connected via a high pass between Thal & Utror. It is fully jeep track used by locals.
Kumrat Valley is very less explored due to security concerns, Valley is Lush Green with many Meadows & full of trees in whole valley. Main River of the valley is River Panjkora which flows throughout the valley & then meets River Swat near Malkand.
Valley is now safe & there is no security issue for tourists just respect the local traditions & avoid photography in towns.
Initial plan was made by Mr. Shahbaz Zain to explore Kumrat valley & track to Jahaz Banda Meadows & Jahaz Dand / Katora Lake situated in Upper Dir district KPK.
Our team was consist of following members,
[LIST=1]
[*]Mr. Shahbaz Zain --------------- @Shahbazzain (From Rawalpindi)
[*]Mr. Imran Arshad-----------------@?u=38785"]imarshad (From Islamabad)
[*]Mr.Rana Sher Dil-----------------@?u=124952"]ranasherdil (From Multan)
[*]Mr.Rashid---------------------------@emmaar (From Faisalabad)
[*]Mr. Murtaza Mahmud-----------@?u=49850"]m_Mahmud(From Islamabad)
[*]Me (Muhammad BILAL)-------@BILAL3538 (From Sialkot)
[/LIST]
Initiary
Day-1 28-June 2013 Friday
Track to Jahaz Banda & night Stay @ Jahaz Banda Rest house in camps.
We reached Upper Dir @ 05:30 am after unloading our luggage first of all searched for Nashta but unfortunately most hotels were still closed & rest don't have standard food so we decided to move forward to find some good place on the way to Kumrat.
So jeep hired on rental basis with our own fuel & started our journey for Jandrai Village @ 07: 00 am. @ 08:30 am we stopped at Sheringal for Nashta. Sheringal is one of the main town of Kumrat valley.
After Nashta we started our jouney again & reached Jandrai Village @ 12:00 pm, Major town we passed were Sheringal ->Brekot->Biar->Patrak->Kalkot->Darwaza-La Moti ->Jandrai.
For Jahaz Banda you have to left main Kumrat road from Darwaza & enter in Lamoti Villege than ascend to Jandrai Village, Jeeps will offload you at Jandrai than you have to track till Jahaz Banda.
Upon reaching Jandrai we visited Local Museum owned by Raja Taj Muhammad(main key person of Jahaz banda track & owner of Jahaz banda Rest House).
After arranging porters we started our track @ 01:30 pm, it was drizzling when we started our track but we decide to move on.
when we tracked just 1 km heavy rain started so we stopped under the shaddows of trees. Rain stopped after some time but stopped us many time on the track 
Stopped for Lunch @ 04:20 pm & Reached jaz Banda Top @ 06:45 and Jaz Banda rest House @ 07:15 am
Day-2
Track to Jahaz Dand Lake & return to Thal, night Stay in Kumrat Forest Rest house
Day-3
Explored Kumrat Forest till Kala Chashma & return to home
Route & Directions
When you travel on Timar Garha-Dir Road, there is a right turn just few Km before main Upper Dir town goes to Kumrat Valley. Road condintions are suitable for 4X4 only. so for hiring Jeeps first you have to go Upper Dir Bus stand & then return to main Kumrat road.
For Jaz Banda Meadows & Jaz Dand Lake, leave main Kumrat road from Darwaza (small town) just before Thal & passing through La-Moti Village take Jandrai Village Track to reach last Jeepable stop.
Distances
Upper Dir ======>Darwaza (Jeep)============>85 Km (Travel Time 4.5 hrs)
Darwaza ======> Jandrai (Jeep)============>80 km (Travel Time 0.5 Hrs)
Jandrai =======>Jaz banda (Tracking)========>12Km (Tracking Time 5.0 Hrs)
Jaz banda=====>Jaz Dand Lake (Tracking)=====> 06Km(Tracking Time 3.0 Hrs)
Thal=========>Kumrat Rest house (Jeep) ======> 15Km (Travel Time 40 Min)
Rest House===>Kala Chashma(Last Point)(Jeep)==> 25 km (Travel Time 2.0 Hrs )
Main Key Person at Jahaz Banda/ Lake
Mr. Raja Taj Muhammad
He is voluntarily promoting this area as tourist spot by many years, he is very jolly person & can arrange every thing for tourist i.e., Night Stay, Food, Porters, Guides etc etc.
Jandrai Museum & Jaz Banda Rest house also belongs to him, so he is very handy & only key person when you visit this place!
His Contact # is 0321-9176378 & Landline # 0944-705906
Rest the picture will tell the story...
Group Photo @ Jahaz Dand lake(Katora Lake)
Left to Right: Imran Arshad, Shahbaz Zain, Muhammad Bilal, Rashid, Rana Sher Dil, Murtaza Mahmud
Group Photo with Locals @ Jahaz Banda Meadows
