Soon Valle: A Must Visit Place
How far is Soon valley Sakesar from Lahore or Islamabad? Where is Uchali lake, Daip Shareef located? What is Soon valley is famous for? are very common questions so I have come up with my second blog about all these questions and queries of the Soon Valley Sakesar series.
Pakistan is rich with unlimited natural beauty. Amazing lush green valleys add to this natural beauty. We have to visit Northern Areas of Pakistan like Swat, Gilgit Baltistan, Naran Kaghan, or Azad Kashmir to see valleys. This is wrong. If you want to visit a beautiful valley without going to Northern Areas, you have to go to Soon Valley Sakesar district Khushab in central Punjab.
Soon Valley Distance
I would say Soon Skesar valley is the best place for one day trip with friends and family. You will have to come on the Islamabad-Lahore motorway. You will reach Naushehra by taking right from the Kallar-Kahar interchange after about 75 kilometers.
You can reach there in 3-4 hours from Islamabad. Soon Sakesar is about 225 kilometers away from Islamabad. From Lahore, it is about 330 kilometers far. You have to cover almost 100 kilometers from Sargodha. If you are from Mianwali it will take about 100 kilometers to reach.
Soon Valley is famous for
Soon Skesar valley is situated in the district Khushab of central Punjab. It's about 56 kilometers long and its width is 14 kilometers. Hills, lakes, waterfalls, natural springs, ponds, and thousands of years old temples make this valley a tourist destination.
The highest mountain, Sakesar, is 5010 feet high. It is the only mountain in central Punjab which sees snowfall in winters.
The famous tourist places of Soon Sakesar valley are Skesar mountain, Uchali, Khabeki & Jhalar lakes, Kharomi & Kufri waterfalls, Kinhati Garden, Daip Sharif, Springs of Sultan Mehdi, remains of Khamb Sharif, and hundreds of years old Hindu temples.
Places to Visit in Soon Valley
Either you come from Kallar-Kahar or Khushab, you will reach Naushehra first. The Uchali lake and Daip Sharif are located in the West of Naushehra. Uchali lake is 18km away. For Diap Sharif, we will turn left, 6km before Uchali lake.
Uchali lake is the largest lake of Soon Skesar and tourists like it very much. This lake spreads over 9.5 hectares in the footstep of Sakesar mountain.
There is no river or ravine in this valley that's why rainwater does not drain out, this water formed a lake. Due to saline water, there's almost no life in this lake.
Siberian Birds
It becomes the largest center of the birds which come from the Russian area of Siberia in winters. It is about 56 kinds of birds on Uchali lake during the winter season as International experts have confirmed. That's why it is called heaven for bird lovers. Hunting is strictly prohibited here.
Its ecosystem is in danger as International Union for Conservation of Nature has included Uchali lake in its Red List.
Facilities for Tourists here
We have been complaining about the lack of facilities on this lake. The government has done a lot Alhamdulillah. Now, it's our turn to take care. It was a rough road couple of years ago, they have facilitated a lot by making carpeted roads, seating arrangements, road guiding's, etc.
I think they have stopped boating here. Normally I do not do boating but that time I visited Soon valley I had decided to enjoy boating but Allah SWT saved me yet another time.
You can get a local coaster to come Uchali lake from Khushab.
You can also get local buses from Islamabad. There is no facility like hotels or tent villages to stay at nite, that's why you will have to go back 18km to Naushehra. There you can see some canteens which offer tea, snacks, burgers, etc. Mobile phone signals are also available.
Best Time to Visit Soon Valley
The best time to visit this lake is from November to February because the weather is cold then and there are no trees here for shade. It becomes the largest center of Siberian birds in Punjab. You see birds all around.
You find everything from Naushehra city and you also find a couple of villages on your way. You should keep an umbrella and a cap with you. Uchali lake It's all about Uchali Lake here from m side there is a lot more about which adds to its beauty will discuss later. Let me tell you about Daip Sharif now.
There is a Sakesar Airbase and a rest house as well. Imagine, you are there and 10km long Uchali lake is in front of your eyes. I have planned to spend a night in that rest house and see the sunrise from that rest house.
It is a request to please adhere to cleanliness.
Daip Sharif
While traveling from Uchali lake to Naushehra Its about 6 kilometers from where you have to take right. You have to cover 1.5 to 1.75km in the car and then you will cover a track of about 10 to 15 minutes.
When you reach there, you see a board of Daip Sharif. Park your vehicle at the end of the road. People are very hospitable and welcoming. On the way to Daip Sharif, you will see such a beautiful mosque.
There cannot be better water than that one. I drank water from that pot after a long time. The air is cold and will refresh you greatly. You do a mini-adventure here. You can cover the walking distance in 15 minutes at the most.
There are 2 springs on this route and you can stop and enjoy there. Believe me, this place is so beautiful, scenic, pleasant, and quiet. Cool air is blowing. Due to more rains, it might be greenery is way more than usual.
I planned to rest there for a while. Tree leaves were moving with air. I thank I was the only visitor there. When you cross the stone path after parking your car, you see a spring. Most of the tourists turn towards this mountain thinking that water will be flowing from Daip Sharif. But it is not reality.
They get lost. You have to choose fields where you'll see a small track. Daip Sharif is the name of a pond and it is related to a Sufi saint Siraj u Din. White mountains have encircled the pond of Daip Sharif.
The atmosphere we study in books is available here You can enjoy nature by sitting silently here. Sound of the spring will be creating music. This calm and green scenery will pay you for your hard work.
Once you reach beautiful Daip Sharif you will see the small but very deep pond. In fact, more rains have grown more plants and these plants have covered the roads.
We complain about the government but we do not take care of the facilities which have been provided to us. Bottles and litter can be seen everywhere. So I urge all of you please keep your trash along with you that will become our symbol.