08 VALLEYS OF KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

district & valleys

Districts & Valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Matiltan

Valley is about 11 km away from Kalam, KP and 112 km from Saidu Sharif Swat. It has large glaciers, thick forests and high mountain peaks. Mostly people are associated with agriculture in summer season but they travel to lower parts of the country during winter as temperature drops up to 12oC. Potato, maize, cabbage, peas and beans are major production in the area which grows only in summer season. While apple, apricot, walnut, pear are major fruits grown in the area. The valley is very vulnerable to the surrounding glaciers and lakes. Matiltan glacier is the main glacier of the valley.

Gabral

Gabral(Utror) is located in Swat, KP at the distance of about 16km from Ka lam. It is surrounded by high mountains, green pastures and waterfalls. Utror can be accessed through a jeep from Kalam side while going through Gabral and passing Badgoi top. It can be accessed through Kumrat valley, Dir Upper. The people of Utror are called Kohistanis, as they belong to the Kohistani Dard tribe. Potato, turnip maize, cabbage, salad leaves are major crops of the area. The mains Gabral and Utror Rivers are the main source of irrigation in the area. The valley is surrounded by a number of glaciers, Kundol. Speen Khwor and Izmis to name a few.

Mankiyal

Mankiyal(Bahrain) valley is situated in north of Swat, KP with a distance of approximately 100 km from the district’s center point. The valley is famous for its high peaks and mesmerizing views. Mount Mankiyal is the highest peak in the valley with an altitude of 18,750 feet above sea level. The valley is abundant in natural resources which are largely left untapped. The valley is home to a number of glaciers, forests and mesmerizing glacial streams. Mankiyal glacier is the main glacier of the area.

Reshun

Reshun is a valley inhabited in the Upper Chitral district of KP. Apart from being famous for its fertile land and fruits like grapes and apples, the valley holds significance in literature, history and Chitrali culture. It is also referred to as the Ruby of Chitral by poets like Baba Siyar. Majority of the people depend upon agriculture and livestock rearing. Reshun Gol, the main river is a source of irrigation for the agriculture lands owned by the people of the valley. Lot Shal, and Beyu glaciers are the main glaciers in the valley.

Madaklasht

Madaklasht valley is situated about 81 km South East of Chitral city. Majority of its inhabitants depend upon agriculture and livestock rearing. The land is fertile and crops like maize and wheat are grown in the area. Peas, potatoes, and other vegetables are grown for domestic use. Dari-Khowar is the language spoken by the rural community. The area is rich in fruit production like apples, apricots, persimmons, and walnuts. The prominent glaciers of the area are Dara e Ailog, Andaveer, and Phushtai Glacier.

Askari

Askari Valley is located at a distance of 70 km from Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. An unpaved jeep-able track is bifurcated near Ruji village on main Garam Chashma-Chitral Road, the only way to access the valley. People living in the valley mostly depend on agriculture and livestock. This valley is divided into two sub-valleys near Seyah Arkari Staring from village Shoal the sub-valley on the right sides ends with Besti Bala sharing its boundary with Afghanistan. Dir/ Terichmir Glacier Warwast Glacier and Mushti Gol Glacier are main glaciers in the area.

Kumrat

Kumrat located in the Dir-Ko-histan region of KP is one of the most scenic yet least explored alpine valleys in Pakistan and is located approximately 3.5 hours from the main Bazar of Upper Dir. Kumrat valley can be accessed by a frequented but un-metaled road from Lower Dir district in the south, and a jeep-able trek between Thal, a town near Kumrat, and Swat’s Utror and Kalam in the east. It offers lush green pastures, deodar forests, sparkling rivers, beautiful lakes and fresh air. Apples, pears, walnuts, apricots and persimmon are common grown in Kumrat along with maize and wheat. Major agricultural product of the valley is potato, as country’s best potato are being produced here. Shahzoor, Kundal payeen, Kun- dal bala, Gorshai, Khesheen Sir, Danoos are the main glaciers surrounding the valley.

Kandia

Kandia km up north from the country’s cap Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following which the Kandia valley in the district of Upper Kohistan, KP 380 ital. It’s one of the last destinations in the province of Karakoram Highway leads its path to the Gilgit-Baltistan province. Kohistani and Pashto are widely spoken in the area whereas some hamlets also have the traces of Shina language as well. This disaster-prone valley is full of picturesque landscapes and untraveled high pastures with a huge potential for tourism but due lack of facilities and the awareness, the valley is yet to be tested to its full potential. The valley is surrounded by Ghatti Glacier, Zarar Dara 1 and Zarar Dara 2