MANSEHRA: The national parks, Saiful Muluk and Lolusar-Dudipatsar, which are home to exotic and endangered species of flora and fauna, remain blanketed in snow, making those ideal destinations for nature lovers seeking soothing weather and serene surroundings while fleeing away from the scorching heat gripping the plains in the country.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had divided the valley into two national parks, Saiful Muluk and Lolosar-Dudipatsar, on April 28, 2013.
Later, in a move aimed at improving management, it increased the number of protected areas to four by adding Kamal Ban and Malkandi national parks, which largely consisted of reserved forests.
The changing weather patterns continue to affect the valley’s natural beauty and ecology as rains now occur off-season and snowfall no more following its traditional schedule.
Saiful Muluk National Park emerges as top tourist attraction
The Saiful Muluk National Park along with Saiful Muluk and Ansoo lakes attracts over a million visitors from within the country and abroad annually.
The number is almost double that of visitors to the Lolusar-Dudipatsar National Park and this time around that number seemed to be increased significantly until July this year.
The Saiful Muluk National Park also houses Malka-i-Parbat, the highest peak in the Hazara division, rising to the elevation of 17,500 feet above sea level.
According to the Wildlife Department, the Saiful Muluk National Park, spread over 12,026 acres of alpine land, is a natural habitat for endangered species including the snow leopard, marmot, brown bear, Himalayan ibex, snow cock, snow partridge, Himalayan griffon vulture and Himalayan monal.
The Lolusar-Dudipatsar National Park, however, has nine more unexplored lakes, most of which remain inaccessible despite visitors spending days and nights trekking on foot.
“I have never experienced such a soothing environment amid fairy-tale destinations wrapped beneath snowy white shawls,” Naseer Khan, a local who visited Lake Saiful Muluk said.
He said that high mountains and Babusar Top had received heavy snowfall compared to the previous years.
The Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan, has been reopened to traffic after remaining closed since November last year following the season’s first snowfall in Kaghan Valley.
The tourism season has gradually gained momentum, particularly during the Eidul Azha holidays, as people from the plains rushed to the valley to escape the scorching heat while enjoying the cold and pleasant weather.
The National Highways Authority reopened the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, accelerating the influx of tourists to the valley.
“We cleared the MNJ road and the artery connecting Naran with Lake Saiful Muluk after cutting glaciers and removing snow. Visitors have now started thronging the valley to enjoy its natural beauty and soothing environment,” assistant commissioner Hasrat Khan said.
Situated at the foothills of Malka-i-Parbat, Lake Saiful Muluk, according to eyewitnesses, remains blanketed with snow due to changing weather patterns affecting rainfall and snowfall in the valley.
Thousands of tourists from across the country have thronged the picturesque valley to enjoy snow-capped mountains, serene lakes and lush green meadows spread across the region.
The Kunhar River, which originates from melted snow near Babusar Top and flows into the River Jhelum in Muzaffarabad after flowing through Balakot and Garhi Habibullah, has also experienced a decline in water flow as the snow has not yet melted, therefore, the area was still in the grip of cold.
“This river usually turns ferocious like an electric current during the summer season, but this time its traditional charm seems somewhat faded as the valley is still under the grip of cold,” Mohammad Fareed said.
Adventure activities such as river rafting and zip lining on the Kunhar River are also proving to be major attractions for tourists near Naran, the commercial hub of the Kaghan valley.
Eateries across the valley have witnessed a surge in customers, with tourists enjoying local and traditional cuisines amid the chilly mountains.
“Visitors in large numbers come here to enjoy traditional cuisines and natural beauty since the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road reopened after remaining closed for over five consecutive months,” Hussain Deen, owner of the chain of Moon restaurants in the valley, said.
The police department has already made operational its posts established across the valley along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road to provide security and services to tourists and passengers travelling between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
“We have been welcoming visitors and passengers travelling to and from Gilgit-Baltistan since the reopening of the MNJ Road before Eid. Our force remains vigilant in providing safety and security to every individual visiting this picturesque valley,” Balakot SP Sabir Khan said.
The member of provincial assembly from Balakot, which also covers the Kaghan Valley, Munir Hussain Lughmani, welcomed the influx of tourists, saying the government took extra measures to clear the MNJ and link roads in the tehsil.
“The government has earmarked Rs15 billion for tourism promotion in the province and Kaghan Valley also has an attractive package for the exploration of more destinations and promotes tourism,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2026