LANDI KOTAL: Scores of residents and travellers in Landi Kotal and Jamrud thronged the natural spring in Ali Masjid and a waterfall in Chaar Bagh near the Torkham border, the two scenic points in the region, to beat the heat.

The natural spring passing through a narrow gorge at historic Ali Masjid is the most frequently visited place by both local residents and passengers travelling on the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway as the narrow gorge also falls on the same highway.

Groups of young, middle age and elders alike are seen taking a dip in the self made pools at the sides of the natural spring in order to beat the heat and take respite from the sizzling sun. With no facility of a manmade shade, the narrow gorge also provides natural respite from the blazing sun with its shadows. The point is also considered as the narrowest portion of the historic Khyber Pass.

Most of the people visiting Ali Masjid take cooked and raw food along for Iftar while most of the visitors prefer to cook food themselves. Mutton and chicken barbeque along with mutton Karahi and mutton Yakhni, a local delicacy, are the most favoured food along with chilled soft drinks.

Afghan and local travellers make a stop at the Ali Masjid natural spring while travelling between Peshawar and Torkham. They take the clear and refreshing drinking water along to their homes after taking a dip in the small pools.

A natural fall at Chaar Bagh is another attraction for local residents, mostly youth. The spot is at a distance of two kilometres from Landi Kotal Bazaar towards the Torkham border. The local residents also take drinking water in tankers for their domestic consumption from the said location.

The surroundings of the fall, however, offer no recreation facilities to the visitors and it becomes difficult to approach the exact narrow location of the fall when the area is hit by flashfloods.

The local residents believe that it has the potential to become an attractive scenic point if the local administration builds a proper road and also constructs some shaded points for visitors’ convenience.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2019