Visitors make the most of the long weekend by taking advantage of the last snow season before the ice melts
Snow-capped mountains and snow-capped structures attract tourists to the Kaghan Valley. Photo: Express
KAGHAN:
Amidst the laughter, excitement and gently falling snow, 10-year-old Anaya Bibi could barely contain her joy as she experienced snowfall in the picturesque Kaghan Valley for the first time – a dream she had since childhood.
A fifth-grade student at a private school in Peshawar, Anaya arrived in the picturesque town of Kaghan with her grandfather just as snowfall, which began early Thursday morning, covered the valley in shimmering white. Wearing a black overcoat, a woolen hat and holding an umbrella in her right hand, Anaya was fascinated by the scene unfolding before her on the snow-covered hills of Malika Parbat.
The magic of the moment was made complete when she caught a freshly grilled trout and enjoyed a warm winter treat at Kaghan Bazaar amidst the cold breeze emanating from the snow-covered Malika Parbat mountains.
“Watching the snowfall in Kaghan Valley was my childhood dream, and today my Baba Jan made it come true,” Anaya said with a wide smile, adjusting her dark glasses as the snowflakes landed gently around her. She said snowfall in Kaghan was more than other tourist destinations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that grilled trout and chappli kabab “warm hearts as well as bodies” in such mesmerizing weather.
Kaghan’s charm extends far beyond its breathtaking landscapes. In winter, the valley transforms into a foodie’s paradise, where sizzling chappli kababs and fried golden trout become an inseparable part of the snowfall experience. On Thursday, restaurants in Mansehra district, especially in Naran and Kaghan, were crowded with tourists following the rainy weather forecast issued by the Met Office.
As rain and snow fell on Kaghan, Naran and the famous Saiful Malook Lake, the aroma of spices and fried fish filled the crisp mountain air of these breathtaking parts of Pakistan. “After Kaghan, we plan to visit Saiful Malook Lake once the weather improves,” Anaya said, adding that Pakistan’s beautiful northern regions should be highlighted on digital media to promote adventure tourism and attract foreign investments.
Like Anaya, tourists and locals strolled through the bustling markets, drawn by the food stalls proudly serving the freshest catch from the Kunhar River. Trout, especially the prized rainbow and brown varieties, has become a cornerstone of these valleys’ winter cuisine. Alongside local species such as Mushka, Raho, Simon, Pomfret, Mahseer and even lobsters, trout plays an essential role both in local culture and in the economy.
“During winter, we receive a steady supply of trout from private fish farms in Kaghan and Naran valleys to meet the growing demand,” said Sajid Ali, a seasoned fish seller with over 15 years of experience in Mansehra. “For many visitors, the taste of trout is deeply tied to their memories.”
