Mansehra is named after Man Singh, its Governor General
under Ranjit Singh. This town is at a distance of 24
km to the north of Abbottabad. It has a very lively
bazaar. The major tourist attraction of Mansehra are
the three granite boulders on which edicts of Ashoka
the Great have been inscribed. This great Mauryan king
ruled this area in the 3rd century BC. After his conversion
to Buddhism he tried to dictate a new morality based
on piety, moderation, tolerance and respect for life.
Out
of the numerous beautiful valleys of Hazara, Kaghan
is the most attractive of all. A holiday retreat with
alluring scenic beauty, the Kaghan valley is about 160
km long and between two to four thousand meters above
sea level at various places. Towering peaks of Himalayan
Range, glaciers, water falls and crystal clear water
of the lakes are still in a pristine state and make
the valley an unspoiled paradise. Kunhar river with
plenty of trout fish flows through the valley and has
the villages of Balakot, Kaghan, Naran on its banks.
The nomads take their flocks of cattle to the high pastures
of the Kaghan valley in spring and bring them down again
in autumn. Their women are colourfully dressed.
Balakot is the gateway to Kaghan valley. Balakot itself
is 72 km from Abbottabad. This beautiful small town
is located on the banks of Kunhar river. Journey from
Abbottabad to Balakot is a charming experience. The
road passes through beautiful green hills and thick
forests. The views are spectacular especially between
Attarshisha and Garhi Habibullah. A famous battle was
fought here between the Sikh Army and Mujahideen in
1831. The Mujahideen leaders, Hazrat Syed Ahmed Shaheed
and Hazrat Shah Ismail Shaheed lie buried here along
with other martyrs.
Shogran,
one of, the most beautiful plateaus in the whole area
is situated at a distance of 33 km from Balakot via
Kawai. From there a jeep track leads to this tranquil
summer retreat of superb climate and spectacular views.
The air is impregnated with the scent of flowers and
the pine forest around. It is at an altitude of 2326
m and mighty peaks of Himalayan Ranges such as Musa
ka Masalla (4419 m) and Malika Parbat (5290 m) are visible
from here.
About
86 km from Balakot lies Naran, the main attraction of
the Kaghan valley. This town is situated on the banks
of Kunhar river at an altitude of 2498 m at a point
where the valley widens. The river is wider and quieter
here. There is a very good view downstream, with some
tree-covered islands in the foreground. It is a starting
point for lake Salful Muluk, Battakundi, Lalazar Plateau,
lake Lulusar and Babusar Pass. Outstanding attraction
of Naran is its air of peace and serenity.