Tourism potential of hazara region A Presentation By Mr Allah Dad Khan Agriculture Expert KPK Pakistan

2. Tourism Potential of Hazara
Region
A Presentation By
Mr.Allah Dad Khan

3. Hazara Region
 he region of Hazara is like a door to heaven, opening up
to visitors a world replete with natural beauty. It was a
favourite gateway from the plains into Kashmir during
Mughal, Durrani and Sikh rules. It is a large area some
10,000 sq. km. The world famous Karakoram Highway
starts from Havelian, a town in this region at a distance
of 101 km from Islamabad. The mighty "Lion River"
Indus or Abasin flows through the entire length of
Hazara. It is strategically located between the Northern
Areas, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and the rest of the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. Hill stations collectively known as the
Gallis and the Kaghan valley are the best known parts of
Hazara. Pakistani and foreign tourists throng its cool and
serene valleys during sizzling summer.

4.  Located at 81 km from
Islamabad on Hasan
Abdal-Abbottabad road,
Haripur was founded in
1822 by Hari Singh, a
general of Ranjit Singh's
army. He was the Governor
of Hazara in 1822-23. A
fort built by the Sikhs
called Harikishan Garh is
at present being used as a
police station. There is also
a British cemetery.
Haripur

5. Haripur University

6.  Abbottabad is named after its founder James
Abbot, Hazara's first British Deputy
Commissioner. It is at a distance of 121 km from
Islamabad via Hasan Abdal. It is 1220 meters
above sea level and is situated at the crossroads
of most of the areas of tourist interest in Pakistan
like Nathiagali, Murree, Thandiani, Kaghan
valley, Swat valley, Skardu, Gilgit and Khunjrab.
Taxila, one of the most important archaeological
treasures of the subcontinent is not very far from
here. There are two hills towering above
Abbottabad, Shimla Peak and Sarban Peak.
There are very fine panoramic views of the town
and its surroundings from Shimla Peak. The
famous Pakistan Military Academy is on the hill
to the north-east side of the town. Shimla Park
located on a nearby hill with a pine forest is well
worth a visit. Abbottabad has still a very British
air with its European style bungalows, the club,
the church and the cemetery.
Abbottabad

7. 
Thandiani means "cold" in the local
language. Therefore being a cool
place it got the name of "Thandiani".
It is 2700 meters above sea level on a
small plateau surrounded by pine
forests. This beautiful spot can easily
be approached from Abbottabad,
which is 24 km away. It is totally
unspoiled and has the loveliest of
views of all the hill stations of
Pakistan. The scenery here is
breathtaking and superb.

THANDIANI

8. 
Nathiagali clad in pine, walnut, oak and
maple trees, is the prettiest hill resort in
the Galiyat region. It can be approached
both from Murree and Abbottabad. It is
34 km from Abbottabad as well as from
Murree. Nathiagali is 2501 meters above
sea level and is surrounded by lush green
lofty mountains. The British tried to create
a little England here with its small
timbered churches, parks, bungalows and
the Governor's House. Breathtaking
landscapes, spring water and fresh air
make it one of the most peaceful hill
stations in Pakistan.
NATHIAGALI

9. GOVERNOR HOUSE NATHIAGALI

10. SNOW FALL NATHIAGALI

11.  This beautiful tourist resort
is situated on the slopes of
Mukshpuri Hills. The hills
are wooded and present a
beautiful view.
Behind.Dungagali stands
Mukshpuri, one of the
highest peaks in the area
(2800 m).

Mukshpuri Hills

12. 
A cluster of four small hill stations of
Khanaspur, Khairagali, Changlagali
and Ghora Dhaka is called Ayubia
and was named after President Ayub
Khan who belonged to Haripur
district of Hazara. The complex is
spread over an area of 26 km. The
central place of Ghora Dhaka has a
chairlift, which gives a panoramic
and mesmerizing view of the
surroundings.

AYUBIA

13. AYUBIA

15. AYUBIA

16. 
Mansehra is named after Man Singh,
its Governor General under Ranjit
Singh. This town is at a distance of
24 km to the north of Abbottabad. It
has a very lively bazaar. The major
tourist attraction of Mansehra are
the three granite boulders on which
edicts of Ashoka the Great have been
inscribed. This great Mauryan king
ruled this area in the 3rd century BC.
After his conversion to Buddhism he
tried to dictate a new morality based
on piety, moderation, tolerance and
respect for life.
MANSEHRA

17. 
Out of the numerous beautiful valleys of
Hazara, Kaghan is the most attractive of
all. A holiday retreat with alluring scenic
beauty, the Kaghan valley is about 160 km
long and between two to four thousand
meters above sea level at various places.
Towering peaks of Himalayan Range,
glaciers, water falls and crystal clear water
of the lakes are still in a pristine state and
make the valley an unspoiled paradise.
Kunhar river with plenty of trout fish
flows through the valley and has the
villages of Balakot, Kaghan, Naran on its
banks. The nomads take their flocks of
cattle to the high pastures of the Kaghan
valley in spring and bring them down
again in autumn. Their women are
colourfully dressed.
KAGHAN VALLEY

18. Lake Safe-ul-Malook

19. 
Shogran, one of, the most
beautiful plateaus in the whole
area is situated at a distance of
33 km from Balakot via Kawai.
From there a jeep track leads to
this tranquil summer retreat of
superb climate and spectacular
views. The air is impregnated
with the scent of flowers and the
pine forest around. It is at an
altitude of 2326 m and mighty
peaks of Himalayan Ranges such
as Musa ka Masalla (4419 m) and
Malika Parbat (5290 m) are
visible from here.
SHOGRAN

20. SHOGRAN

21. MALKANDI KAGHAN

22. BATAKUNDI

23. SHOGRAN

24. 
About 86 km from Balakot lies Naran, the
main attraction of the Kaghan valley. This
town is situated on the banks of Kunhar
river at an altitude of 2498 m at a point
where the valley widens. The river is wider
and quieter here. There is a very good
view downstream, with some tree-covered
islands in the foreground. It is a starting
point for lake Salful Muluk, Battakundi,
Lalazar Plateau, lake Lulusar and Babusar
Pass. Outstanding attraction of Naran is
its air of peace and serenity.

NARAN

25. 
Balakot is the gateway to Kaghan valley.
Balakot itself is 72 km from Abbottabad.
This beautiful small town is located on the
banks of Kunhar river. Journey from
Abbottabad to Balakot is a charming
experience. The road passes through
beautiful green hills and thick forests. The
views are spectacular especially between
Attarshisha and Garhi Habibullah. A
famous battle was fought here between the
Sikh Army and Mujahideen in 1831. The
Mujahideen leaders, Hazrat Syed Ahmed
Shaheed and Hazrat Shah Ismail Shaheed
lie buried here along with other martyrs.

BALAKOT

26. 
Babusar Pass is at a distance of 80
km from Naran. It is on the way to
the pass that the Kaghan valley's
scenery becomes most dramatic.
Battakundi is at a distance of 16 km
from Naran and provides access to
Lalazar Plateau, lake Dodiputsar and
lake Lulusar which is the biggest
natural lake in Hazara and the source
of Kunhar river. From Babusar Top
mighty Nanga Parbat (8126 m) can
be seen on a clear day.

BABUSAR PASS

27. 
It is situated at a distance of 10 km
from Naran at an altitude of 3500 m.
It provides an excellent view of the
5290 m high Malika Parbat (Queen
of the Mountains). The lake and its
surroundings have a touch of unreal
about them and are breathtakingly
lovely. There is a charming legend
about a prince called Saiful Muluk
who fell in love with a fairy of the
lake. The lake is named after the
prince. The best way to reach the lake
is to walk but you may also take a
pony or a jeep.
LAKE SAIFUL MULUK

28. ANSOO LAKE NARAN

29. SIRI PAYA MANSEHRA

31. BATTAGRAM HAZARA

32. BATTAGRAM HAZARA

33. BATTAGRAM HAZARA

34. BATTAGRAM HAZARA

35. BATTAGRAM HAZARA

36. HAZARA KOHISTAN

37. KOHISTAN
 The District lies between 34° 54′ and 35° 52′ north
latitudes and 72° 43′ and 73° 57′ east longitudes. It is
bounded on the north and northeast by Ghizer and
Diamer Districts of northern areas, on the southeast
by Manshera District on the south by Battragram
District and on the west by shangla and Swat
Districts

38. PALAS VALLEY KOHISTAN