HARIPUR: A waterfall in Jabri union council has potential to promote tourism in neglected parts of Haripur district if it attracts the attention of the authorities.

The Noori waterfall, locally known as ‘Noori de tahand’ (Noori’s pond) is situated near the Peena village, about 60 kilometres from the district headquarters.

In the absence of a proper road, people walk for a couple of kilometres using the difficult hilly terrain to reach the waterfall to enjoy nature. “But only the physically strong young men trained at hiking could do so,” Waqar Ali, a local journalist, said.

Surrounded by green hillocks, the 30-metre-high waterfall presents a unique look by dropping milky water in a roughly 80 by 120 feet pond that changes its colour into dark green. About six to 10 small and large-sized natural springs upstream feed the waterfall.

However, according to locals, water stops falling for a couple of months during winter when snow covers the hills, especially the natural springs in the catchment area.

Ahmed Khan, a resident of Jabri village, said he heard from his elders that the waterfall was over a century-old and was named after Noor Bibi, a woman who used to wash clothes and drowned in the pond under the waterfall, thus the local elders named it as the Noori waterfall.

However, villager Maqbool Ahmed claimed that his grandfather used to tell them that its milky water, especially during night time, prompted the elders to name it as Noori ‘abshaar’ (waterfall).

The eye-catching beauty of the waterfall was explored a few days ago by some young men fond of hiking.

The group of young tourists led by Waqar Ali shared the video clips and pictures on social media that attracted the attention of youngsters.

Scores of young men from different parts of Hazara and even from Rawalpindi and Islamabad have since been thronging the spot to bathe under the waterfall.

“Since seeing the pictures of the waterfall on social media about two months ago, we have been visiting it on every weekend,” Ehtsham Ahmed from Rawalpindi said, adding they also enjoyed food there.

He said the government could earn millions of rupees revenue if a road up to the waterfall was constructed and eateries set up.

He said if the tourism policy introduced by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was implemented in its true sense the area would contribute greatly to the exchequer.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2020