MINGORA: Tourists and trekkers have been flocking to a little-known lake at Kangar Danda in the upper gorges of Sulatanr valley here to enjoy its mysteriously dark and icy waters.

The serene lake is located in a deep narrow gorge surrounded by huge mountains with a long glacier at its one end. The lake is accessed after six hours of climb from Sulatanr valley in Matta tehsil.

“We were surprised to see a small but a beautiful lake after climbing a steep narrow ridge at Kangar Banda while on our way to the famous Saidgai Lake. We climbed down to the lake and sat around, enjoying its severely cold water which refreshed us,” Zaiullah Khan, a tourist from Mingora, said.

The lake is almost hidden and is located about 10,500 feet above the sea level and cannot be seen until one climbs the narrow steep ridge of Kangar Banda.

“I was tired after the four and a half hour steep and tiresome climb from Sulatanr valley. But, all of a sudden I spotted a lake down the valley and shouted to my friends who were coming behind to inform them,” tourist Haroon Khan said.

He said despite exhaustion they ran down, drank water from the lake and stayed there to enjoy the serene atmosphere.

“The water was very cold but had a medicinal effect as it refreshed us,” he added.

The lake is surrounded by different medicinal plants where botanists usually go to pick the weeds and shrubs for their researches. Local shepherds said lake water was also used for remedying several diseases.

“Its water is used for healing stomach and intestine diseases while many people take it for skin diseases,” said Khaney, a shepherd, who was attending to his animals at the lakeside.

Water of the lake disappears at the other end and then appears in several locations down the Kangar valley in shape of springs which is used by shepherds and grazing animals.

The rectangular-shaped lake is one of the beautiful and serene lakes in Swat valley and is visited by a large number of local and national tourists on way to the Saidgai Lake.

“The lake is an enchanting spot where visitors take rest and drink water while on way to Saidgai and Daral lakes,” Yahya Khan from Kabal said.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017