The Naran Kaghan valley of Pakistan is the true beauty of nature providing heavenly views. It has many beautiful spots but Jheel Saif ul Malook is one we are going to talk about.
Jheel Saif Ul Malook locates in the Mansehra district near Naran Kaghan Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Lake Saiful Malook is one of the most popular tourist destinations where it has visited by millions of visitors each year. It is located in the shadows of the killer mountain of Nanga Parbat. Saif ul Malook Lake covers a surface area of 2.75 square kilometres with an elevation of 3224m (10,578 feet). The Lake Saif Ul Malook is usually known as Jheel Saif Ul Malook with numerous stories and myths. The Lake Saif ul Malook depth has a maximum number of 34 m (113 ft.).
Saif ul Malook Lake closes from October to the end of April due to heavy snowfall and landslides. In summers the weather of jheel remains very pleasant and its good time for visitors to tour this place. The best time to visit Saif ul Malook is between May and the end of July due to pleasant weather. The lake has 10 degrees of water temperature, which is cold as the lake comes from glaciers that melt during the summer months. With the beautiful surroundings of the mountains, you can visit the lake in the daytime and at night. The lake leaves a shiny reflection that marks the beauty of Jheel Saif ul Malook at night, which many tourists prefer to camp and visit the lake in the dark.
The Story Behind Lake Saiful Muluk
The lake is popular for Saif ul Malook story where it has an unfolding fairy tale about an Egyptian Prince called Saif ul Malook who fell in love with a fairytale princess named Badri-ul-Jamala. A Sufi saint and Punjabi poet called Mian Muhammad Bakhsh adapted this story into a poem.
When that prince saw the picture of Badri-ul-Jamala, he fell in love instantly and went to search for her for six years. A saint approached Saif in a street of Cairo, presented a Suleiman cap, and told him that it would transport him to the desired location.
The saint told him that he has to pass several tough tests and pray to get to her. As she was a fairytale princess and he was a human. Saif arrived at the lake and prayed for 40 days without food and rest. It was the 14th night of the month and assumed he might see her. He saw her and she was beautiful with long black hair and gleaming blue eyes. He learned from her that a white giant captured her in a castle in Koh Qaf for ten years. He seized her and head off to the valley after hearing her story. When the white giant found out, he generated turbulence with rage and caused the flood in Kaghan Valley. Saif and Badri-ul-Jamala sought refuge in a cave near the lake and took a few miles from Naran.
It was said the Ansoo Lake in Kaghan Valley has created by the white giant tears after discovering the fairytale princess has vanished. The prince and the princess continue to live in a cave and dance above the water’s surface on the 14th night of each lunar cycle. This lake marks the name of Saif ul Malook and that was how the lake got its name.
Things you can do at Lake Saiful Muluk
Visiting Jheel Saif ul Malook is worth a breathtaking attraction where you can enjoy the peacefulness and the beauty of the surrounding mountains and trees. After long hours of walking and driving, visiting the lake gives you a breathtaking view where you can relax and enjoy the natural beauty. You can do several activities such as camping, boating, snowboarding, fishing, trekking and photography!
The most recommended activity to carry out is camping, fishing and boating as camping at night leave an exotic view of the clear moon, countless stars and the reflection of the lake. You can go for boating, which offers two options that are half lake visit and full lake visit. The charges of the boating depend on the size and the number of people. The boat can fit up to 8 to 10 people in which the prices of the full boat round cost around 1000 to 1500 PKR and the half boat costs 500 to 800 PKR, which depends on your bargaining.
The food at Saif ul Malook is mostly of average quality and be sure the food you purchase must be hygienic. Having tea with French fries is the best combination to enjoy the view of the lake and mountains. You can walk and hike around the local area for different sights of mountains. In addition, a relaxing walk is enjoyable to walk around the lake and the nearby mountains. If walking is inconvenient, they provide ponies and horses that take you to nearby caves and a small trip around the lake and mountains. You may also experience snow sliding off the lake’s glaciers to have a lifetime experience.
How to Reach Saif ul Malook Lake?
Reaching to Saif ul Malok is accessible by jeep, which fits up to 6 to 7 people. The cost for one jeep is around 2000 to 2500 PKR which you can bargain for lower rates. The distance from Naran to Saif ul Malook is 8km and takes 40 to 45 minutes to reach there. You can access the lake through Mansehra via Balakot and Kaghan in 14km and by foot is around 4 to 6 hours.
One can travel by personal car; rent a taxi or local bus service to Jheel Saif ul Malook from Islamabad and it takes around 4 hours, 35 minutes. The personal car approximately costs 4,000 PKR. The rented taxi might cost around 15,000 PKR. Many flights options are available from Islamabad to Naran Kaghan Valley.
Wrap Up
The trip to Jheel Saif ul Malook is one of those places, which you must visit once in a lifetime. The natural beauty and panoramic landscape make one of those places where you will not take your eyes off the beautiful lake! It marks one of the most exhilarating destinations in Pakistan. You must explore this gleaming lake in the Northern region!
