For many years now, local tourists, as well as travelers from across the world, have been visiting Pakistan to explore its scenic beauty of Northern areas. Our homeland has so much to offer especially to those possessing adventurous spirits and wanderlust. The country is blessed with valleys, lakes, springs, dense forests, enriched archaeology, and prehistoric sites. Soon Valley is among the most scenic places in Pakistan.
Soon Valley is located in the Khushab district of Punjab, Pakistan. Surrounded by lush green mountains, salt ranges and dense forests in some areas, Soon valley also provides shelter to different species of birds migrating from the extreme winters of Siberia. For someone planning a one-day trip or a weekend getaway, exploring everything the place has to offer is impossible but proper time management and transport arrangements can get you to visit multiple places.
Places to Visit in Soon Valley
For someone visiting the valley to enjoy the peace of lakes or prehistoric sites, here are some of the locations that are quite popular among tourists.
Uchali Lake
Uchali lake is the most popular sightseeing spot in the valley. It is the biggest lake in the area surrounded by mountains. The lake is formed due to the lack of a drainage system in the salt range and because of its high salinity, the lake is lifeless but the picturesque scenery in different weather conditions is what beautifies it.
Things to do at Uchali Lake:
There are multiple activities one can do at Uchali lake. Given Pakistan’s geographic location, the country falls in the crossroads of migratory winged visitors and provides a shelter to these beautiful creatures from the extreme winters of Siberia. One can enjoy watching these birds flying, swimming, and singing with their melodious voices and enjoy the wonders of nature.
Moreover, for tourists to enjoy the lake, boat rides are also available which cover the farthest points of the lake. For the people who like to read, they can easily find a spot where they can read a book and enjoy the tranquility of the place.
Khabeki Lake
For people visiting from nearby areas like Lahore and Islamabad, Khabeki lake provides a perfect spot for one-day trips and picnics. Khabeki lake is a perennial lake that covers the area of about 1421 acres and has water suitable for fishes.
Like Uchali lake, it also has the view of green mountains for families going for a weekend picnic. It is easily accessible by road and surrounded by greenery and birds in the season of winter when birds are migrating.
Things to do at Khabeki Lake:
Khabeki lake is better developed as compared to other lakes in the valley. Tourists visiting the lake have plenty of things to do there which includes gazebos for people to sit and enjoy nature, a boardwalk, a proper track for cycling near the lake and small hiking trails. There are benches also for tourists to sit and watch the birds flying and sightseeing the lake.
These developments have been made recently by the government to facilitate and promote tourism in these less visited places.
Jahlar Lake
Jahlar lake is another significantly important place to visit in the Soon valley which is considerably less visited. The total area covered under water is approximately 148 acres and gives closer to the mother nature vibes. Located near the salt range, Jahlar lake is still in its raw form with respect to developments. Although the road network is not very good, the site is worth all the hassle.
Quick fact: In past, the total number of species of birds that migrate to Pakistan was more than a hundred. In recent years this number has significantly dropped to no more than 15 species in the season.
At any given instance during the season, visitors can see about 50,000 birds scattered all over these lakes in Soon Valley.
Kanhati Gardens
Unlike Uchali, Khabeki, and Jahlar lake, Kanhati Gardens have a much different landscape and beauty to offer. This part of the valley comprises green beauty and home to stunning waterfalls and ponds.
The history of Kanhati Gardens is older than the formation of Pakistan as a country on the world map. Kanhati word is derived from the word ‘kanhat’ which means a special rock found in natural springs. The gardens were developed in the early 1930s and fruits that grow here include almond, apricot and pineapple among others.
The gardens are surrounded by densely populated forests. The gardens themselves are home to thousands of birds in the salt range area. The development projects to attract more tourism are still underway. It is included in the plan to develop camping facilities, rest houses, camel riding, and hiking trails.
Anmb Shareef
Anmb Shareef is considered to be a part of Soon valley which holds historic significance due to the presence of a fort and a temple. The place holds a special value from the archeological point of view.
Built on Kashmiri architecture, the place was originally a fort which had one palace and two temples. Currently, there are just the remains of the palace and an empty temple that mark its historical background.
The palace has three floors but only two of them can be accessed by visitors. This particular place has huge archeological importance but unfortunately for many years the place has been excavated and many unique and priceless artifacts have been smuggled and stolen by the smugglers and locals.
If efforts are made, there is still a lot that can be dug up from the dirt including the old coins, artifacts and maybe old walls just like the restoration of Shahi Hamam in Lahore.
These were the few most popular sites to visit in Soon valley. Stay tuned to Zameen blog for more exciting tourism pieces and travel guides. If you have already been to Soon Valley, we’d like to hear about your traveling experience. Feel free to get in touch with us at blog@zameen.com.
