Saiful Mulook is at an elevation of 3,224 meters above sea level
Lake Saif ul Malook
In a Glimpse:
At the northern end of the Kaghan Valley in the Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there lies a mountainous lake called Saiful Mulook. At an elevation of 3,224 meters above sea level, this lake is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan.
With its majestic self, this lake carries a lot of interesting mystical tales of fairies and princes because of its undefined beauty. Saif ul Malook was formed in the greater Pleistocene Period, almost 300,000 years back. Because of rising temperatures and receding glaciers, the melted water was gathered in a large depression where the glacier once stood.
Accessibility and Climate:
Jheel Saiful Malook is mostly accessible during summer, which is from May to mid-September. The weather in these months remains pleasant. However, the access during winter is limited as heavy snowfall and landslides threaten to segregate the lake from other regions.
The journey to the lake starts from the capital city of Pakistan – Islamabad. From there, one can either opt for the local transport on a tiny budget or choose to travel privately. Expediting the journey on Hazara Motorway, one will reach Mansehra city from Abbottabad.
From the city of Mansehra, one has to take the Naran-Babusar top road, which leads straight to the valley of Naran Kaghan via Balakot. After reaching the Naran valley, tourists can visit Saif ul Malook by a thrilling hike or a 30-minute adventurous and curvy jeep ride.
Nature:
Popular as one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the world, Lake Saiful Malook has left many travelers speechless. It has rich eco-diversity and carries many species of blue-green algae, giving the lake its turquoise hue.
Lying in the mighty shadows of Malika Parbat, tales have it that the depth of the lake remains unknown to date. However, research shows that the depth of Lake Saif ul Malook is around 34 meters (113 ft), and it covers 2.75 km square of surface area. The water temperature of the lake remains below 10 degrees as it mostly receives glacial waters. Large brown trout are found in the icy waters of the Jheel.
Not only does this lake look mesmerizing in shiny daylight, but it also leaves an awe-striking impact on travelers with its nighttime beauty. Those who camp here during the night have witnessed the milky way with billions of stars, hence, this place has many tales of fairies associated with it.
Tales associated:
The story of this lake is linked to Ansoo Lake. It is said that there was a prince in Kaghan named Saif ul Malook, who fell in love with a princess fairy named Badar Jamal. Their love story was not an easy one, as a demon named Duo Safaid (White Giant) was also in love with the fairy princess.
Duo Safaid trapped her, but later it came to his knowledge how she wanted to marry the prince Saif ul Malook. On realizing his defeat in love, he cried; so much that it formed a lake which is now known as the Ansoo Lake. A difficult trek of seven to nine hours from lake Saif ul Malook can lead up to the glorious Ansoo Lake.
Activities at Lake Saiful Malook:
Besides the natural beauty that this place possesses, there are a lot of other activities this area offers. One can do water sports, snow sliding on the glacier, and horse/pony riding near the lake.
The camping adventure is an experience. Travelers are offered boat rides on the crystal-clear waters of the lake by the locals on their small wooden canoes. A simple walk around the lake with the smell of delectable food from the stalls can brighten up anyone’s travel experience. The area has a lot of restaurants offering local cuisine and a beautiful view of the lake.
Besides this, the place has lot of caves that one can find after a few minutes walk. One can also trek to the mesmerizing Ansoo Lake, which is said to be witnessed by a lucky few because it is mostly covered in fog – the reason it was discovered so late.
