From Our Correspondent
AYUBIA: Feature Pakistan a country with geographical and ethnic diversity has the scenic beauty that is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.
Pakistan is a unique country having five tallest mountains peaks of over 8,000 meters including the world’s second highest K2 (8, 611meters), Nanga Parbat also known as a killer mountain (8126m), Gasherbrum–I ( 8,068m), Broad Peak (8047m), and Broad Peak Middle (8,016m) out of the total 14 peaks of above 8,000 meters height found on earth. The country was also blessed with160 mountain peaks of above 7,000 meters and around 700 peaks of above 6,000 meters height, attracting mountaineers, adventurers and trekkers from worldwide to explore.
Major northern cities of Pakistan in mountains ranges of Hindukush, Karakoram and Hamaliya especially Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Astore in Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Kohistan, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Torghar and Kalam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree in Punjab and Azad Kashmir was most suitable for mountaineering, rocks climbing, trekking and adventure sports. Likewise, Rivers Chitral, Punjkora, Indus, Swat, Hunza, Kunar and Neelam was ideal for rivers rafting, Malam Jabba for skiing and jeep safaris, Thar and Cholistan for camel safaris, Karachi for parasailing, Deosai plains, Malakand, Hazara and Kurram for trout fishing and Islamabad for paragliding.
The northern areas including Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and KP had attracted over two million adventure and mountain lovers last year courtesy to online visa policy and improved safety measures of PTI Government. The upsurge in tourism in the past few years has been aided by the government of Pakistan’s pragmatic policies for foreign tourists seeking to visit certain parts of the country.It merits a mention here that the monsoon season of hovering clouds with an erratic rainfalls over the lush green mountains of Ayubia has started attracting influx of tourists to explore its birds chanting valleys, colonial era walking trails and thick chir pine forests besides a chairlift ride full of thrill and excitement after reopening of tourism by Govt in the wake of significant reduction of coronavirus cases in Pakistan.
Situated in a five-kilometer distance east of Nathiagali on an altitude of 8,000 feet on Abbottabad-Murree Road in Hamaliya region, Ayubia was witnessing great hustle and bustle of mountaineers, trekkers and adventure sports lovers these days enjoying its breathtaking natural beauty, spectacular landscapes, rich wildlife & biodiversity and pleasant weather with cool breeze capturing visitors’ attention. From a single room to a five star hotel, charpai (bed) to guest houses, tents to motels, rest houses to cottages and zigzag hiking to mountains trekking trails at scenic Ayubia, Changagali, Thandiani, Khanspoor, Harnoi, Nathiagali, Jhika Gali, Khanaspoor, Kalabagh and Bagnotar were flooded with nature and adventure sports lovers mostly arrived from KP and Punjab to explore the lush green valleys and mountains of Galiyat.
Tourists along with families were seen enjoying five kilometers long ride on Ayubia chairlift full of fun and excitement while passing over the thick chir pine forests before landing at picturesque Mukeshpuri. The four-kilometer walk òn colonial era Ayubia-Nathiagali trail mostly supervised by local guides, horse and camel ridings besides fast moving swings become a great source of entertainment. Famous Mukshpuri Top and Dunga Gali-Ayubia-Miranjani hiking trails between Nathiagali and Donga Gali on 9,500 feet height were the main centre of attraction for tourists from where the breathtaking natural beauty of Azad Kashmir, Galiyat, Rivers Harnoi and Jehlum could been seen after passing in thick vegetations and chir pine forests.
Tourists could see around 203 species of birds including Golden Eagle, falcons, pheasants Koklas and Kaleej, 104 types of plants including national tree Deodar and 35 species of plants wildlife and mammals including Indian origin leopards, fox, monkeys and tigers in famous Ayubia National Park besides the birds chanting lush green valleys of Khanuspoor, Nathiagali, Donga Gali, Changagali, Bagnotar, Baragali, Harnai, Jhika Gali, Kalabagh and Thandiani clad in thick chir pine forests in a single day trip. The stunning beauty of Galiyat could be seen from colonial era luxury Governor House, Chief Minister House, Karnak House commonly known as Himalaya House, Speaker House and IGP House at Nathiagali opened by KP Government for general public and tourists last year.
