Paradise On Earth! 

Ishtiaq Ahmed 

London: My visit to the lake Banjosa and Tolipir in Rawalakot was very much inspired by the recently published travelog “Come! see my Kashmir” (!دیکھ میرا کشمیر) by my friend Yaqub Nizami.

When the opportunity came, I could not resist taking up Yaqub Nizami’s invitation. 

Although, the areas that fall within the district of Mirpur are frequently trodden by me as many of my friends in the UK come from these areas and there are always ample reasons to visit these areas, however,  in the past I never dared to venture beyond ‘Tata Pani’. Already motivated by Yaqub Nizami’s travelog, when my niece Isha, a teacher at a local school, suggested that we should make a short visit to the Lake Banjosa and Tolipir as part of our Eid Ul Azha family celebrations, I very willingly obliged  and extremely glad that I did.

Kashmir is fondly described by the lovers of natural beauty as the paradise on the earth. Believe me this is no exaggeration or some far fetched imagination of a romantic. Seeing it is believing it. 

Although, for many of us the part of Kashmir under Indian control is inaccessible, the part that falls under the Pakistan administration and referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), is more than sufficient introduction to the breathtaking natural beauty of this historical land and its people.Banjosa is a man-made lake and tourist resort located approximately 18 kilometers from the city of Rawalakot in the Poonch District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The area has an estimated population of about 60,000.

The Lake, presents a popular family resort for those wanting to escape from the scorching temperatures of the nearby regions, located at an altitude of 1,981 meters (6,499 ft) in the Pir Panjal range of mountains of Kashmir about 160 kilometers from Rawalpindi.

Banjosa is surrounded by dense pine forests and mountains. The locals told me that the lake freezes over in winter, allowing people to walk and skate on the ice.

During my current visit two days ago, the weather was cool with midday and evening temperatures around 27 and 17 in the evening and 15 at the early hours of the following day. These compared to the temperatures of 45 and above around Rawalpindi provide a most pleasant  soothing contrast to the body and the soul. Generally, the weather in the area remains cool in summer and cold in the winter. In December and January with snowfalls , the temperature falls to -5 °C and in the summer it remains around 16 °C to 25 °C.

The local people are extremely courteous and welcoming. The local language  is Pahari but people are equally proficient in Punjabi and Urdu. 

While in the area, I took the opportunity to visit Toli Pir, a hilltop resort popular with hikers, located about 30 kilometers from Rawalakot. Toli Pir has an approximate elevation of 9,000 feet above sea level.

The hill station is named after a saint, with monuments to his shrine located at the top of the mountain.

Toli Pir offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding vast stretches of mountains, never failing to intrigue and thrill visitors.

The author is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with a keen interest in Pakistani and international affairs.