SHANGLA: Local people thronged the upper parts and peaks of Shangla district for picnic amid the closure of major tourist sites in the country due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Local and the surrounding districts tourists have reached the scenic places in large number located at the upper parts of the district for celebrating Eid Ul-Fitr.
The nature lovers from different parts of the district and those nearby districts visited the upper mountainous parts of the district in groups during the festive days.
Areas seen buzzing with picnickers and local tourists included the tehsil Alpuri’s Lilonai, Jaba, Sorband, Kandaw, Bahadar Sar, Amnay, in tehsil Kana, Brejo banda, Takht Behram Khan, Ajmeer, Logay, Braim Banda, Kopar sar, and tehsil Chakesar and Bisham, Kapar Banda, Peer Sar, and Kandaw.
Tariq Rauf, a nature lover from Shahpur, said they visited Braim Banda in a group of over 20 friends and enjoyed the natural beauty and bonfire, barbecue at the high altitude.
Braim Banda is located in Shahpur valley of Kana tehsil and two hours walking distance and accessible to visit from Lilonai of Alpuri too.
Mr Rauf said, there was an amazing pedestrian track leading to Speen Ghar and lush green vast meadows.
Ashraf Khan, a local said the mountains of Hindukush and Karakoram can be seen from the valley, and there were heart touching landscapes and natural beauty he witnessed.
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Haider Ali Khan, a local of Ganshal, who rushed the historical Takht Behram Khan along with his around 40 other cousins and elders, told The Northern Post that spending time in nature and a relaxed environment had refreshed them.
He said cooking foods in an open place where cold and fresh winds blowing was a new and incredible experience for him, while later they enjoyed the folk music arranged by other parties.
“After half-hour travel in a jeep from Ganshal to Sero started the walk towards the breju banda and after 40 minutes we were at the destination,” He said.
The local tourist suggests to non-local tourists to must bring tents and other essentials along whenever visiting the Kana valley tourist places, however, the foods stuff available on the way in local shops.
Ashraf Ali, a local living at Swat, said he had planned a tour to Gilgit in this Eid vacations but due to the COVID-19 pandemic he postponed the plan and turned to Breju banda with family members.
He said that he witnessed the natural serenity surrounded by thick forests and widespread meadows and waterfalls which has doubled their Eid joys.
He said, their friends from the Mardan, Peshawar, Mansehra and Swat also accompanied by them and they also enjoyed a lot.
Umar Rehman, a local tourist visited in a group to Amnay Malam Jaba where they had slaughtered a goat and enjoyed the moments while having the barbecue at the high altitude valley.
Ikramuddin a tourist from Swat, said, the beauty Shangla possesses he never witnessed in his life anywhere else but it needs the government heed to develop it by taking initiatives in sort of communications and other facilities that could also help the government in generating huge revenue.
