ISLAMABAD, July 2: White water rafting in Kaghan Valley's gushing Kunhar River is captivating the tourists, who have thronged this fabulous destination in unprecedented number this season.

Rafting in Kunhar River is the most popular and social adrenalin sports.

White water Rafting are large inflatable crafts specially constructed to carry up to eight adrenalin-seeking participants down rivers of varying difficulty.

Each boat is guided by experienced instructors who are familiar with the river and its obstacles.

Located in northeast of Hazara, NWFP, Kaghan is one of the valleys that are relatively easy to reach from Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The sceneries, lakes, water-falls, streams and glaciers are the main reason to come here. The valley extends for 155 kilometres rising from an elevation of 2,134 metres to its highest point, Babusar Pass. Further north from Babusar Pass, a jeep track leads to Chilas, which is now on Karakoram Highway, the road that connects Islamabad to Xinjiang province of China via Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab Pass.

Before Karakoram Highway was opened in 1978, the only road access to Gilgit was through Kaghan Valley. Naran is the best base for treks and walks in the valley.

Tourism would be on much more greater scale in Kaghan Valley if there were some sincere efforts by the organisations that are executing projects funded by agencies like USAID and some others.

Except Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) which is plying a 30-seat van daily from Rawalpindi to Naran and has a motel there, no serious efforts by any NGO is put in place.

“If we collect signboards of NGOs installed alongside the roads and put them together, we can easily build a roof on Balakot,” a tourist said lightly.He complained that those organisations were lavishly utilising funds on their own needs, leaving the tourism as principal victim. Everything is done locally as at least one person from each family in Kaghan is linked with tourism.

Ever since, security situation has been deteriorated in Swat, which used to entertain a large number of people in the past, tourist arrivals in Kaghan is doubled this season.

If marketed effectively, Kaghan valley could heal up the wounds suffered by country's delicate tourism sector in the wake of recent unrest.—APP