A
Visit to Banjosa Lake
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Most of Azad Kashmir still
remains undiscovered by the eyes of the public and
tourists, mainly because of the fact that most of
us know very little about it. Whatever we know today
about AJK is through what is portrayed in movies,
newspapers and documentaries that try to highlight
the beauty of the land. The last earthquake
significantly affected a major portion of AJK, especially
places like Bagh, Muzaffarabad and Gardhi Dupatta.
The names of Rawalakot
and Banjosa Lake were unknown to me; I got to know
about this lake from a friend who has been trekking
for the last 20 years or so and has visited a good
part of Kashmir. Upon his persistence, one day I found
myself packing up my bags and leaving for Banjosa
Lake.
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| Banjosa
Lake is located 17km ahead of Rawalakot, and is not well
known to most people. From Islamabad you drive towards
Kahota, and once on the road, you keep going ahead towards
Azad Pattan, the Punjab-AJK border. The Kahota road gives
you a breath of fresh air; it is in excellent condition
and is covered with trees on both sides. Once you cross
Kahota, you can observe hilltops covered with pine trees
and wild olive shrubs. After crossing the bridge from
Azad Pattan to AJK, you find yourself in a totally different
world. It can take a few hours to reach Rawalakot because
of the road conditions. Rawalakot is about 1981m above
sea level, upon reaching Rawalakot, you are welcomed by
the greenery all over the place, thick forest and beautiful
landscapes. One can also see some of the devastation left
behind by the earthquake. |
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Banjosa
Lake is unlike most of the lakes found in Pakistan;
it is a man-made lake surrounded beautifully by thick
forest from all sides. It is a wonderful tourist spot;
families can come and enjoy the beauty of the lake,
take boat tips and even go fishing. The lake is
well kept and maintained by the AJK tourism department.
There are a few rest houses available on the lake at
reasonable rates ranging from Rs. 600-1500 per night.
One can reserve a rest spot from Muzaffarabad or Rawalakot
by contacting the AJK, PWD and AJK tourism departments.
This lake
was smaller in comparison to the other lakes I have
visited in Pakistan. The first sight of the lake leaves
you in awe; it’s very clean, well maintained and
extremely beautiful. The other thing that surprises
you is the lack of tourists, I saw hardly a few dozen
people there.
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I highly recommend a hike around the area, the view
from the top is breathtaking and well worth the effort.
If you are looking to spend a few days in a stunning
and serene place, then Banjosa Lake may be the next
place for you.
About the Author: Yasir Nisar is
a professional photographer and has been contributing
to The Saturday Post as a special correspondent. To
view more of Yasir's work, visit his Flickr page at
www.flickr.com/photos/yasirnisar
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