The Much More Beauty

Dudiptsar or Dudipat Lake is a lake delimited by the half naked snow crowned mountains, grassy pastures and emerald trees in the Lulusar National Park. The lake is at the extreme north of the Kaghan Valley, in the Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The word "dudi" revenue for white, "pat" stands for mountains and "sar" means lake. This name makes it like the “white mountain Lake”. The name has been given to the lake because of the white colour of snow over the peaks. The lake act like a mirror in summer due to its purity and cleanliness. The purity defines the beauty of the lake. The word “sar” is a local name for a lake whether it be of any type. It is a tough and hard hike of six hours to reach the lake.

The summer drags the number of visitors from different parts of the world domestically and internationally as well. The enchanting views of the lake give the sense of purification and spirituality.  The walking to the lake from besel also hides in itself a lot of the spectacular views to shock the mind. The half distance steadily climbing on a clear path opens  a wide& flat meadow land for flora and fauna watching. The lake's water has a hue of greenish blue and very cold at its height. It is located at the elevation of 3,800 metres. The surrounding mountains are home of many wildlifes, Western Himalayan alpine shrub and several meadows. The lake habitats are of much significant ecological importance for resident fauna and itinerant waterfowl. The fauna of the park includes the Snow leopard, Black bear, Marmot, Weasel, Lynx, Leopard, Himalayan Snowcock, and the Snow Partridge.

The Dudiptsar lake & park is reachable only for four months of the year from June to late September. In the summer, the huge number of visitors assembles around the lake to see the scenery. The path for Dudiptsar starts from Besal an hour drive from the town of Naran. The cars and motorbikes can easily ride on this road. The lake is wealthy in its trout but illegal dynamite and net fishing have resulted in a sharp fish population decline. The 2005 earthquake in North Pakistan made it more difficult to access the lake However, the Pakistan government has taken all best steps to restore tourism in the Kaghan Valley, including renewal and new tourism facilities. There are several beautiful Lakes in this valley, which should not be missed if you are visiting the Kaghan valley. Dudipatsar Lake is one among them.

The track is difficult and tough But, when you lastly reach at the lake, I am sure that the lake will mesmerize you that much that you wouldn't complain for the hardship you faced while travelling. It is very striking. Do not even try to swim though the water is not deep but it is very cold. Delicious Trout fish is found here in abundance so take the fishing stick with you. Then heads towards the queen of the lake with a cheap flights to Islamabad. Because it is the nearest approach to your destination.

Chitta Katha Lake

Locally known as "Chitta Katha" lake is the treasure of the Shonter Valley of Azad Jammu Kashmir. The lake has an altitude of 4,100 meters. The atmospheric excellency is born from it. The words like striking, embellishment, charming all are made for it. If you say it a jewel in the crown it would not be wrong seriously. The region is remote and  environs are calm and peaceful might be this is a reason that the lake is pure in its beauty. Remoteness to the nonsenses is also one of the special attribute of the lake. It is a beautiful picnic spot, relaxation  dot, a worthy Birdwatching place, a basket for a day out. The lake takes all the worries out of your mind into its deep silent depth, you could call it a mother of nature.

The common route which followed tourists to the lake is through kel.  There is a good conditioned road from Kel to Shounter Valley. The trek for this lake starts from Upper Domail (referred as Utli Domail by some local people and maps) village which can be reached through a two hour jeep ride from Kel. Regular jeeps take Rs 100-120 per person for a one way ride while the whole jeep can be booked at Rs 2000 – 3000. OK. The name of the Lake is Chitta Katha, wondering your mind, in the local language ”Chitta” means “White” and “Katha” means “water reservoir “. So, it is a white water reservoir. To reach that lake you have to cross to  Shounter nallah(Stream). There is a  hanging wooden bridge over this nalah,  after there will be two more nalah chitta Katha Nalahand Chamar Fall and lastly you reach Chitta Katha Lake . If you are an experienced trekker/climber the total track time is almost 8/8.5 hours but otherwise you will require more time than this. More to the point the track is more steep and abrupt near the Chitta Katha Nalah. And the one most important thing is that the lake is just  accessible from July to September . The overall way to the lake is very very hard, exhausting  and strenuous but its extremely picturesque quality magnetizes the visitors  and offers a colourful amazing surroundings to experience.

What you have to do to reach this lake is first take a cheap flights to Islamabad. Then from here drive a jeep towards the Neelum Valley.rest there, at the 2^nd day drive to kel, reach at shaunter valley and stay at Utli Domeli. The whole journey will be amazing and spectacular. Next day, Start from Utli Domeli to the lake the horse ride option is also there, you just have to hire them from village. On Day 4 take a drive back to Neelum and Islamabad. If you have your own transport the trip will be just about 4 days but if not the one extra day will be charged. It is open for locals but foreigners do need a travel permit from  the Azad Kashmir ministry.

The Restored Swat Museum

After the numerous time of closure damage caused by the armed variance in Swat now the restoration work has been begun. The Swat Museum is finally opened for the visitors. The Italy supports the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Rs 221 million to restore and build the Swat Museum. It is located on the main Mingora-Saidu Sharif Road in the jewel of Swat. 50 per cent of the total budget of the project is dedicated to the renovation of the Swat Museum, while the rest will be spend on excavations, refurbishment, awareness programmes and defense of 11 major sites. The museum will be again served as a popular tourist attraction in Swat, as well as function as a centre for cultural activities. The restoration of  the museum is a huge step towards refurbish of the Swat valley to its former standing as a top tourist destination in Pakistan and the world over. It is of no doubt that the provincial government and other donor organizations are making great effort to promote tourism in the valley again.

The Swat museum was one of the principal tourist attractions in the picturesque glamouring valley of Swat and has a huge compilation of Gandhara sculptures from the Buddhist sites in Swat. The museum was originally constructed by the Wali of Swat and the Italian Mission in 1958. It was the time when  the twin Museum of Rome was also inaugurated named Museo Naziolae d’Arte Orientale. The current building is constructed in different phases. First  the building was severely damaged by the earthquake of 2005 and the 2^nd time the tragic bomb blast devastated the museum in February 2009.

The museum was funded partly by the Japanese.  The excellent Swat Museum has an initial interest in Buddhist Swat.  Butkara No 1 and Udegram  treasures like Gandharan-style statuettes and friezes which depict the lives of the Buddha settled into the museum. In other rooms of the museum the pre-Buddhist artefacts and ethnographic  galleries by traditional carved Swati furniture, jewellery and some wonderful embroideries are also settled.

The Swat Museum is on the east face of the lane, halfway between Mingora and Saidu. Japanese aid gives a new trendy style to a Swat museum with rearrangements and new labelization to illustrate the Buddha's life story. Terracotta figurines and utensils, beads, precious stones, coins, weapons and various metal objects illustrate daily life in Gandhara. The ethnography section displays the finest examples of local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewellery. It is actually under renovation with Pakistan-Italian Debt Swap Agreement funds.

The jewel of Pakistan is again opened for the domestic and international tourist. The cheap flights to Islamabad is an adding flair to the restoration of Swat Valley.

 The Peshawar Museum

With the cost of 60000, in the memory  of Queen Victoria The Peshawar Museum  was built in 1906. The Rs. 45000 was donated by the community of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and  the rest Rs. 15000 was given by the Director General of Archaeology, India. Initially the museum was the house of excavated Gandharan Sculptures from the sites of Shah-Ji-Ki-Dheri, Sahri Bahlol, Takht-i-Bahi and later from Jamal Garhi and other Gandharan sites. The museum has two storey building. It is a union of the fabulous  British and Mughal architectures.  The museum has at first consisted of a major hallway and two side walkways on the ground and first floor, surrounded by four chic cupolas and small pinnacles on all over the corners. Later the two halls were added on both sides eastern and western in 1969. Lately the project of the Extension of Peshawar Museum has added Islamic Block, laboratory, two halls, administrative centre of the Provincial Directorate and a Cafeteria and the project also includes complete modernizing of the existing building by substituting showcases, lighting, tagging and renovation. This new Islamic Block is situated behind the main building that is completed in 2005.

The Peshawar Museum has the possession of 14156 items. It embraces the Gandharan sculptures, Coins, Manuscripts and replica of the Holy Quran, Inscriptions, artillery, Dresses, Jewellery, Kalash Effigies, Mughal era Paintings, family objects, local and Persian handicrafts.  The all collections are divided into five main sections:  the Gandharan, coins, Islamic, Ethnological and Iranian.

The main hall contained the main relic casket with Kharoshthi inscription. Along with it the museum has Buddhist stone sculptures , panels, architectural elements, stucco, sculptures terracotta figurines and toiletry objects . The coin section has 8625 items in total. They are Punch marked coins, and the Indus Greeks coins , Scytho-Parthians, Kushans, White Huns, Hindu Shahis and Islamic coins of the Ghaznavids, Ghaurids, Slave Dynasties, Tughlaqs, Lodhis, Mughals, Durranis, Sikh and British periods. The material of coins are Gold, Silver, Copper and Billon, the shape is also various like round, square and rectangular.

One of the richest museums in Pakistan with a term of huge Islamic collection. The gallery has the wooden porticos of mosques, Arabic & Persian inscriptions, Multani tiles and ceramics, the dress and weapons of Sayed Ahmad Shaheed Brailvi, paintings of the Mughal and later periods, Islamic metal work in bronze, silver and calligraphic specimens. The most important are ten scrolls of 1224 AD, each scroll contains three Paras of the Holy Quran. A further important scroll of  Sultan al Arifin Khwaja Bayazid Bastami which is 915 cm long and 45.75 cm wide. After 2003, the new 29 hand-written copies of the Quran and 65 manuscripts and books has been added to the gallery.

The Eastern gallery is Ethnological section exhibited the culture and mode of life of the major tribes of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and the Kalash of Chitral. It exhibits 348 items in which the major item is kalashan female and male figures. It also has the commemorative effigy, jewellery, agricultural tools, household objects of Bronze wood and leather, wooden stools, baskets, dresses, swords, daggers, spears, bows, arrows, shields, muzzle loaded guns, revolvers, pistols and gun powder boxes. The Iranian Consulate donated 97 pieces to the Peshawar Museum in 2003 which include modern calligraphic specimens, paintings, photographs, ornamental objects in silver bronze, ivory and glass, toiletry objects and pen holders. These objects are separately displayed in the eastern aisle on the first floor. Let take a cheap flight to Peshawar to have fun and explore the originality of the Pakistan.

The Banjosa Lake is one among the many amazing man made artificial lakes which never flows but still has clear turquoise water. It is located at Poonch district which is 20 kilometres far from the district city of Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir.  The road named is metallic. The Banjosa lake is also very convenient and approachable from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Its height is 1,981 meters. It is oval shaped surrounded all around by pine forest and mountains. The view is charming and romantic at a time. The weather mold the scene of Banjosa lake throughout the four seasons. The summers keep the atmosphere cool and pleasant, the winter surprised with extreme cold and icy. The months of January and December are best to see the snow fall. The scenic beauty and clear water to maintain the ambiance of the Banjosa lake.

Banjosa Lake is only planned tourist resort in the northern Pakistan. It offers spectacular views  from the windows of the hotel to the wide open plain along the lake. The lush forests reflection gives the awesome view at the daytime, in night the house lighting glitters over the water.  The arched wooden bridges over the lake gives it some uniqueness. The lake has been maintained very carefully as the domestic and international tourists make the huddles in a pleasant weather.

Take a cheap flight to Islamabad. The drive from Islamabad to Banjoosa lake takes at least 4-5 hours. The road is accessible and wide. Basically it is a jeep track. The track starts from the highway Islamabad  to Kahuta road  then Azad Pattan  to  Guine Nalla road  then the valley of Rawlakot is in front  of you. Banjosa is just a few miles away. The lake at the day time laden with the spectacular views. The water shines when the sun rays dance over the waves. The green emerald leaves waving along the cool breeze to kiss the water.

One of the best activities is boating here. People of all ages appreciate it a lot. When the boat starts its  journey, the children become less scared with water but as it further goes the beauty and enjoyment comes over the fear. Young and old both enjoys a lot while dipping their fingers in water, or splashing over one another. The sweet noise of visitors mingles with the water splashing the increase the harmony and beauty of the Banjosa Lake.

Gandhara Civilization

The Influence of the Greek culture came to Pakistan because of the invasion by Alexander the great. The religion of Buddhism was approved as the state religion which flourished for over 1000 years. At that time the cities of Taxila, Swat and Charsaddah were three important centers for traditions, trade and education. Taxila was filled with hundreds of monasteries and stupas. These centers have been the origin of unique sculpture art lately known as Gandhara to all over the world.  Now a days these sculptures have a well known position in the museums of England, Germany, France, USA, Japan, Korea, China, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. When the Buddha passed away, people built 84,000 stupas for veneration.But, lately it was replaced by sensitive human imagery. One of the prominent and the zenith sculpture of "Fasting Buddha" display in Lahore Museum, Pakistan. Soon, the light of Islam broke in in this part of the world and thousands of Mosques, Madrassahs, tombs  were created to worship only one GOD.

 Pakistan’s national heritage is so rich and diversified  which makes the Pakistani feel proud. It is also from one of the treasures of Pakistan. Gandhara civilization can be seen in the cities of Peshawar valley, Mardan, Swat, Dir, Malakand, and Bajuaur agencies, Taxila and Jalalabad. The fascinating record of Gandhara civilization, revealed in the 20th century, at the sites of Taxila and Swat. The rock carving has been found along the Karakoram Highway. Among many other arts the footprints of the Buddha were also found in the Swat valley which later placed in Swat Museum.

The land of Swat is celebrated throughout the world as the holy land of Buddhist learning and faithfulness. Swat attained reputation as a place of Buddhist pilgrimage. According to one record the Swat valley  is filled with fourteen hundred beautiful stupas and monasteries. The site of Butkarha-I, contain the original relics of the Buddha. Some of the famous stupas are:

Dharamarajika Stupa is the oldest Buddhist monument in Taxila. The Dharamarajika Stupa contained the silver scroll commemorating the relics. Takht-i-Bhai wealthy Buddhist remains right about 10 miles northeast of Mardan. It has an architectural diversity and romantic mountain setting.

The Gandhara's language was of Middle Indo-Aryan dialect, usually called Gāndhārī. Gandhāra education was controlled by the dynasty of the Persian empire. The Gandharan Buddhist texts are both the Buddhist and South Asian manuscripts discovered so far. Most are written on brisk and clay port.

If you are interested to visit that ancient civilization of Ghandara. The Pakistan International Airlines is operating domestic flights to Peshawar. It will be easy and comfortable too.