The Marvel of Chitta Katha Lake

By Amna Arshad

The thought of leaving behind the congestion of the city, the uproar and tumult, the intolerable noise of traffic and the mundane routines of this urban life brings a bracing effect on the mind. Going on an “All girl’s trip” and travelling miles and miles in the company of friends was my dream for years. But the hustle and bustle of life never gave me the chance, until I joined KMC Hiking Club. The moment I joined it, the traveller inside me took a deep breath of peace knowing that some good has been done.

Our hiking club decided to take 38 girl trekkers to the Chitta Katha Lake, Shounter Valley, Azad Kashmir. Azad Kashmir is often called as “Heaven on Earth”. It is situated in the north of Pakistan.

The

Majority of locals speak Pahari language. The valley is mainly known for their handicrafts, poetry and carpet weaving. A trip to the valley made us witness stunning wooden architecture in house and shops in middle of green fields.

Chitta Katha in regional language means “White Stream”. It is 13,500 feet above sea level. The lake is accessible from July till September.

The Route

We followed the route from Peshawar to Rawalpindi to Muzaffarabad to Arang Kel to Chitta Katha Lake and then returned from Shounter to Taobut to Kheran to Islamabad and finally back to Peshawar.

Start of the adventure

Day1:

On first day, the girls gathered in the ground of Khyber Medical College at 4pm. Luggage was loaded in our bus, snacks bought and cable fitted. The whole night was spent in travelling; the quiet atmosphere, cool breeze and a sky full of stars were a meditation on its own.

Day 2:

Around 7am we reached Muzaffarabad and stayed at a hotel. A breakfast alongside Neelum River amidst the pleasant weather just purely complimented it. After our short stay at Muzaffarabad hotel, we continued our travel to Kel.

On reaching Kheran, our journey came to a temporary halt with an unfortunate land sliding few kilometres away from our bus. Hence the team decided to rent few rooms in Kheran for the night.

Day 3:

Early morning at 5am, we left for Kel and reached there at 4pm. Mingling with the locals and enjoying the famous Kashmiri Chai (Pink Tea) with them was indeed an experience. We also got a change to wander around the local market and buy souvenirs.

Day 4:

Our journey started towards Arang Kel. It is a heavenly meadow 2km away from town of Kel. It is 8379fts above sea level. The trek to Arang Kel is very steep, curvy and rocky. It is quite challenging at few spots. You can also take a ride on a horse if it becomes too hard to handle but the struggle is all worth it in the end.

Day 5: We left Kel for our true adventure early morning. We hired jeeps to Chitta Khata Base camp. It is a rough single track of 20km. After reaching the camp, we mentally prepared ourselves for the REAL ARDUOUS TREK. Before starting we hired our guide as the trail is properly chalked out. We hired six porters and one guide. The route passes through stony mountains, you have to trek up the mountain and then down. On your way you will find a stream.

Arang

Kel

Coming back from Arang Kel was quite an adventure as on our way back we were caught by heavy shower, yet another adventure! Rain made the already very difficult trek very slippery. After quite a few slips and bruises we decided to take the famous chairlift as it was getting dark and late. The chairlift is no joke. It is a handmade metal cuboid with two benches on either side that can only lift six to seven people. It’s just like a toy hanging 200+ feet above ground. The chairlift gives a mesmerizing aerial view of dense green forest, the sound of gushing water flowing underneath and the refreshing air makes it a once in a lifetime experience.

Chitta Katha Base Camp

As we moved ahead the trek became steeper. Now we had to climb not only with feet but with our hands too. On the way one can see purple flowers all around that give a pleasant touch to your experience. As we moved ahead the trek got steeper but no one ever claimed reaching Chitta katha is an easy job. We had to cross a patch of snow to reach the main place. It took us almost eight hours to reach our destination but the view is unimaginably beautiful.

We pitched our tents for the night and camped. The weather was chilly and freezing. We spent the night under the stars. This is the scene I can never get out of my head.

Day 6: Next morning after breakfast we headed back to the base camp. Besides all these pleasures of hiking, the opportunity of having mental peace in the wilderness is one of the best and healthiest things.

From Base camp we took jeeps towards the Shounter valley. The zigzag road was so narrow it barely had space for two vehicles to cross. However, our driver was quite skilled.

From our camp area we could see the Hariparbat peak. It stands 5000m high in the south of Nanga Parbat. It is the second highest peak in Neelum Valley on the edge of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Witnessing this majestic monstrosity will give you goosebumps.

Day 7: After making beautiful memories at Shounter we headed back towards Taobut. The road to Taobut is rough but accessible. It is the nearest location from where Neelam River enters the Pakistani territory. At this point we were all drained, having no energy to move even a single muscle but in order to reach our hotel we had to cross the bridge. It’s a beautiful suspension bridge but also terrifying at the same time. Taobut is insanely beautiful with greenery all around bordered by snow covered peaks.

Day 8: Stay at Taobut was our last in the valley of Azad Kashmir. The grandeur of this area, the aesthetic of local buildings, all just felt like a dream. Taobut has fish farms, specifically of Trout. You can literally go to any nearby area and find one. The serenity of this place is unimaginable.

In morning we had our breakfast, played some games and explored the area. Then packed our luggage and sat in our vehicle to start our journey back.

And this is how our journey came to an end with loads of memories stored in our hearts. We hit the roads back to Peshawar sunburnt, tired, sleepy yet glowing with happiness.

The early morning sunrise, the shimmery snow, the chirping birds, the cloudy sky and the cold breeze, this is what a regular morning in “Beautiful Azad Kashmir” looks like.

About the Author

Amna Arshad has served as the Joint Secretary of Khyber Medical College Hiking Club from 2021 to 2022. Being an avid traveller and trekker, she loves to explore the natural beauty of Northern areas of Pakistan and its people.