Visit of Kaghan-Naran-Saful-Malook-Jalkhad and Lulusar Lake
We Visited Kaghan,Naran,Jalkhad and Lulusar Lake 12-15 June with 5 of my dearest friends.
Group members:-
Khalid Mehmood
Sajid Hussain
Ghulam Qadir
Hafeez-ur-Rehman
Kamran Shehzad
Muhammad Nadeem
Route:-
Rawalpindi - Hassan Abdal
Hassan Abdal - Haripur
Haripur - Mansehra - Balakot - Kewai
Kewai - Jareed
Jareed - Mahandri
Mahandri - Khanian
Khanian - Kaghan
Kaghan - Naran
Naran - Lake Saful-Malook
Lake Saful-Malook - Naran
Naran - Batakundi
Batakundi - Burwai
Burwai - Jalkhad
Jalkhad - Lulusar Lake
Jalkhad - Naran ? Kewai ? Balakot ? Hassan Abdal ? Wah ? Rawalpindi via GT Road
Road Conditions:-
Road till Naran is in good condition, Lake Saful-Malook road was half cemented and half was very tough and approachable for jeeps only. From Naran to Batakundi, Burwai Jalkhad and up to Lulusar Lake road was good but few very bad patches here and I advised all to hire jeep from Naran to Lulusar Lake.
Places Visited:-
Balakot-Kewai- Kaghan-Naran-Lake Saful-Malook-Batakundi-Burwai-Jalkhad & Lulusar Lake.
Vehicle
Suzuki Van on rent
Jeep for Lake Saful-Malook and Lulusar
Total Vehicle Rent for 04 days:-
PKR-15200 for both jeep and van
Hotel Rents:-
Hotel stay at Imperial Hotel Balakot:-
Rent:-1800.
Hotel Stay in Naran in tent city:-
Rent:-3200 for two nights
Total Rent : 5000.
Gross Expenditure:-
PKR-36750.
Per head : 5250.
REACHED TIMINGS AND DESTINATIONS
Day Wise
1st day 12-06-15
Left Rawalpindi at 1320 hrs Via M-1 motorway reached Hassan Abdal 1500 hrs and reached Balakot 2030 hrs and night stay at Imperial Hotel Balakot. Took our dinner in a hotel at the bank of River Kunhar and play cards in our room in Imperial Hotel, at about 0000 hrs go to sleep for next morning.
2nd day 13-06-15
Left Balakot at 0600 hrs via Naran-Kaghan Road and reached Kewai at 0655 hrs. Breakfast at Kewai and take some snaps of beautiful place and waterfall, reached Naran at 0945 hrs. 2kms ahead of Batakundi there was a broken glacier and road was opened only for jeeps and 4X4 vehicles. We turned back and reached on the bank of Kunhar River and made our lunch at Kunhar bank. Back to Naran 1420hrs and left Naran for Lake Saful-Malook at 1440hrs. We booked a tent for 02 nights in a tent city and parked van here. At 1530 hrs we reached Lake Saiful-Malook, Road is very tough and rough only jeeps are reached there. We spent almost 3 hours there take a lot of snaps there and take tea at lake and reached back to Naran at 1930 hrs, night stay at Naran in tent city and dinner in a hotel.
3rd day 14-06-15
Left Naran for Lulusar Lake at 0750hrs via Naran Jalkhad Road and reached Batakundi at about 0845 hrs. Batakundi is a very beautiful place and in my view most beautiful between Naran to Lulusar Lake. Reached Burwai at 0955 hrs, bought chicken and other cooking items and cold drinks. Chicken is very costly here, one chicken piece is about 550 Rs, so it is good for you to buy chicken and other cooking item from Naran. We reached Jalkhad at 1130 hrs take some rest here and bought breads for lunch and also take some beautiful snaps of River Kunhar and mountain around there. We reached at our final destination Lulusar Lake at 1210 hrs, very beautiful place weather was very fine and cold, and we made our lunch there and enjoy o lot, left lake for back to Naran at 1500 hrs via Jalkhad Naran Road. Reached Naran at 1730 hrs take some rest and then goes to a glacier near city and enjoyed there.
4th day 15-06-15
Left Naran for Rawalpindi at 0650 hrs via Naran Balakot Road take our lunch at Taxila and reached Rawalpindi at 1630 hrs safely.
Advice:-
- Don?t stay at Naran; stay at Batakundi there is few beautiful and comfortable hotels and in my view that is best place between Balakot to Lulusar Lake.
- If you are without family night stay at tent city it is not much comfortable but not much costly.
- Don?t return from Naran by just visiting Saif-ul-Muluk Lake! Go Jalkhad atleast or Lulusar Lake.
Cameras:-
Fujiya 8 mp
Sony HD Handycam
Samsung iPhone
Another Samsung iPhone
Mobile Coverage:-
Balakot Yes
Kaghan Yes
Naran Yes
Lake Safil-ul-Malook No
Batakundi No
Burwai No
Jalkhad No
Lulusar Lake No
Check List for Trekking & Camping Trip to Kaghan
Bag to carry all required trekking gear.
Day Pack to carry camera, snack pack and rain jacket etc.
Trekking boot well broken and durable with strong rubber sole.
Camp sandals to use while in camping and walking around.
Water/wind proof jacket and trousers
Two to thee pair of extra clothing (preferably full length trouser and full sleeve shirts).
Three to four pairs of socks (woolen and nylon stuff).
Sun Hat for shade and to avoid sunburns.
Sun Glasses to protect eyes form shoe blindness.
Walking Stick.
Water Bottles.
Torch with extra Battery cells.
Pocket knife.
Medical Kit (First Aid and basic medicines)
Map of the Area.
