Thandiani in Nathiagali - - A Heaven for Trekkers and Nature Lovers

Now this is a cool place (literally and practically). Thandiani means cold in the local language. Its around about 1 hour and 30 minutes on a good decent road. Its rises steeply at some places. It is 2700 meters above sea level on a small plateau surrounded by pine forests. This beautiful spot can easily be approached from Abbottabad, which is 24 km away. It is totally unspoiled and has the loveliest of views of all the hill stations of Pakistan. The scenery here is breathtaking and superb. It is pretty high. Just a few kilometres into the road and you start gaining height quickly. One place on the road offers a stunning view of Abbottabad city.



Thandiani is not located in the Galliat Range but some other range. Beautiful trees on the way and also a few small caves which are probably home for the wildlife. Thandiani was discovered by the British but was later neglected and was only rediscovered as a hill station recently so it is completely unspoiled. There are few shops at Thandiani and only one basic guesthouse (no big expectations!). It only gets cold about 2 km before Thandiani. There is also a Pakistan Television Booster at the top and a Pak Air-Force Radar (No Photographs). But the beauty of this area is its views. Stunning views of all the areas around this region. Views of the Galliat Range, Hazara Region, Swat Forests, Chitral region and that of Abbottabad itself. Heard the dawn was beautiful but didn't stay at the guesthouse though. Also heard it gets real cold at night even in summers almost below 0 C. Lots of greenery and some beautiful rocks on the ground. There is also a road at the top which seems to go straight into the sky when you first enter Thandiani but it gives wonderful views. Must visit place!

Hey its Pakistan so how come you think of traditional night life. But you can do it here in the local way. Go to main bazaar which is the most happening place at night. Lot of activity goes on at that time. You would see many people moving around bazaar.

The ideal place for people watching is the open air area of Hilal's. You can enjoy your dinner and later coffee at the same place. Afaq is the other most busy place but its not ideal for people watching.

Alternatively you can arrange a bonfire at the plce you are staying, have some Barbecue and enjoy the night life of Nathia Gali. Some times Greens hotel arrange Bonfire on weekend so its not a bad idea joining them for barbeque where local singers entertain audience with live songs.

Weather is chilly at nights so better wear warm clothes.

Cloudbursts & thunderstorms are very common during summer. Most of time it remains fogy so becomes difficult to predict that when its gonna rain. And when it rains it comes with thunderstorm and lightening does strike!



Some suggestions are:

(1) Trek in group only
(2) Start it early morning when its sunny
(3) Keep umbrella and rain coat
(4) Stay away when it rains and weather get clear. Track would be muddy and very slippery

"Basant": The Traditional Festival of Colours and Hapiness - - Basant (Kite-Flying Festival) is Celebrated to Welcome Spring Season

In Pakistan all seasons have their own festivities, each has a different flavour. Pakistan shares all it's festivities with its neighbouring countries like India.

Lahore is the provincial capital of Punjab. It's a very historical city, Mughals who ruled the subcontinent found this city their favourite if you happen to visit this fascinating city you'll find a lot of monuments still showing that Mughals ruled this part of the world for a massive period of time. Lahore is such a famous city especially in Pakistan that people of Pakistan are used to say that (it's a term in Punjabi language which means) "One who hasn't seen Lahore has seen nothing".

Traditionally its said that Basant is celebrated to bid farewell to the winter season and to announce the arrival of spring season. Basant is celebrated in a big way in Pakistan and has become a very powerful traditional festival of Pakistan. It's a kite-flying festival which had originated from India and now it's famous across Pakistan especially in the Punjab province. In Lahore Basant is celebrated in the month of February usually around 20th of February. Lahorians prepare for the big event with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal. They start the preparation for the festival very early.

Basant is celebrated on Saturday evening which is usually called as night Basant. The night Basant is totally different thing to see. People prepare for the night Basant by putting floodlights on their roofs. If you get a look of sky at the night Basant you find that sky is covered with white kites floating in the sky like stars representing a spectacular scene. People especially ladies wear yellow clothes, which is a traditional dress of Basant. In contrast to night Basant the Basant on day is a totally different experience because unlike night now people fly colourful kites and sky is covered with vivid colours.

In March, Basant is celebrated in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The same is the scene here and same is the passion. In whatever city this fascinating festival is celebrated people love to come and enjoy. Hotels are packed to capacity and quite often it happens that people don't even find a room to stay. The reason for that is that not only people from all across the country come to participated in this festival with the locals but also people from neighbouring countries like India come to Pakistan to take part in this flamboyant festival.

For the last few years more and more organizations are celebrating this festival as commercial venture. This year the government has also jumped in to promote the festival so as to promote the culture of Pakistan. It has been made a part of spring festivities which continue for about one and a half month and includes fun fairs, flower shows, food fairs and kite flying competitions.

Kite making has developed into a big industry in Pakistan. Thousands of people are involved in this industry and are earning their livelihood from kites and thread. The small festival originating from Lahore has now spread all over the country enlightening the welcoming festivities of spring.

The Queen of Melody (Mallika-e-Tarranum ): Noor Jehan - - One of The Greatest Singers of Her Time in South Asia

Noor Jehan (Punjabi, Urdu: نور جہاں) was the adopted stage name for Allah Wasai (September 21, 1926 - December 23, 2000) who was a singer and actress in British India and Pakistan. She is renowned as one of the greatest singers of her time in South Asia and was given the honorific title of Mallika-e-Tarranum (Urdu: ملکہ ترنم, English: the queen of melody).

Born in a family of musicians, Wasai was pushed by her parents to follow in their musical footsteps and become a singer but she was more interested in acting in films and graced the earliest Pakistani films with her performances. She holds an astounding record of 10,000 songs to her singing credits in various languages of Pakistan including Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi languages, she is also considered to be the first female Pakistani film director.

In 1957, Jehan was awarded the President's Award for her acting and singing capabilities.



1. Early Life and Background

Noor Jehan was born in Kasur, British India and was one of the eleven children of professional musicians Madad Ali and Fateh Bibi.

The family would often perform at theaters, although only Wasai's eldest sisters would go on to pursue a career in acting. Two of her sisters, Eidan Bai and Haider Bandi, were successful actors at the rural Taka Theatre in Lahore.

2. Career

Allah Wasai began to sing at the age of five or six years old and showed a keen interest in a range of styles, including traditional folk and popular theatre. Realising her potential for singing, her mother sent her to receive early training in classical singing under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan who was also a native of Kasur. He instructed her in the traditions of the Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music and the classical forms of thumri, dhrupad, and khyal. At the age of nine, Wasai drew the attention of Punjabi musician Ghulam Ahmed Chishti, who would later introduce her to stage in Lahore. He composed some ghazals, naats and folk songs for her to perform, although she was more keen in breaking into acting or playback singing. Once her vocational training finished, Wasai pursued a career in singing alongside her sisters in Lahore and would usually take part in the live song and dance performances prior to screenings of films in film theatres.

The family moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in hope of developing the movie careers of Wasai and her sisters. During their stay in Calcutta, the renowned singer Mukhtar Begum, encouraged Wasai and her two older sisters to join film companies and recommended them to various producers. She also recommended them to her husband, Agha Hashar Kashmiri, who owned a maidan theatre (a tented theatre to accommodate large audiences). It was here that Wasai received the stage name Baby Noor Jehan. Her older sisters were offered jobs with one of the Seth Sukh Karnani companies, Indira Movietone and they went on to be known as the Punjab Mail. Wasai would later adopt Mukhtar Begum's way of performance and sari attire.

In 1935, K.D. Mehra directed Pind di Kudhi in which Jehan acted along with her sisters.She next acted in a film called Missar Ka Sitara (1936) by the same company and sang in it for music composer, Damodar Sharma.Baby Noor Jehan also played the child role of Heer in the film Heer-Sayyal (1937). After a few years in Calcutta, Noor Jehan returned to Lahore in 1938. In 1939, Ghulam Hairder composed songs for Jehan which led to her early popularity. She then recorded her first song Shala Jawaniyan Mane for Dalsukh M. Pancholi's movie Gul Bakavli.

Prior to Khandaan Jehan was cast as a child artist. It was in 1942 that she played the main lead opposite Pran. Khandaan's success saw her shifting to Bombay (now Mumbai), where she shared melodies with Shanta Apte in Duhai (1943). It was in this film that Noor Jehan lent her voice for the second time, to another actress named Husn Bano. In 1945 Jehan player the lead role, alongside Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, in the movie Badi Maa.

In 1945, she achieved a milestone, when she sung a Qawwali with Zohrabai Ambalewali and Amirbai Karnataki which was "Aahen Na Bhareen Shikave Na Kiye". This was the first ever Qawwali recorded in female voices in South Asian films.

Noor Jehan's last film in India was Mirza Sahibaan (1947) which starred Prithviraj Kapoor's brother Trilok Kapoor. Noor Jehan sang 127 songs in Indian films and the number of talking films she made from 1932 to 1947 was 69. The number of silents was 12. Fifty-five of her films were made in Bombay, eight in Calcutta, five in Lahore and one in Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma.

2. 1. Acting Career in Pakistan

After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Jehan decided to move to Pakistan along with her husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi. She left Bombay and settled in Karachi with her family.

Three years after settling in Pakistan, Noor Jehan starred in her first film in Pakistan, Chanwey (1951), opposite Santosh Kumar, which was also her first Punjabi film as a heroine. Shaukat and Noor Jehan directed this film together making Noor Jehan Pakistan's first female director. Noor Jehan's second film in Pakistan was Dopatta (1952) which turned out to be an even bigger success than Chanwey (1951).

Her penultimate film as an actress/singer was Mirza Ghalib (1961).This contributed to the strengthening of her iconic stature. She gained another audience for herself. Her rendition of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Mujshe pehli si mohabbat mere mehboob na maang is a unique example of tarranum, reciting poetry as a song. Noor Jehan last starred in Baaji in 1963, though not in a leading role. Noor Jehan bade farewell to acting in 1963 after a career of 33 years (1930 to 1963). The pressure of being a mother of six children and the demanding wife of a hero (Ejaz Durrani) forced her to give up her career. Noor Jehan made 14 films in Pakistan, ten in Urdu, four in Punjabi.

2. 2. Noor Jehan as a Playback Singer

After quitting acting she took up playback singing. She made her debut as a playback singer in 1960 with the film Salma. Her first initial playback for a Pakistani film was for Jan-e-Bahar (1958), in which she sung the song Kaisa Naseeb Layi Thi, picturised on Musarrat Nazir. She received many awards, including with the highest Pakistani honour in entertainment, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (The Pride of Performance) in 1966, Pakistan's top civil award.

In the 1990s Jehan also sang for then débutante actresses Neeli and Reema. For this very reason, Sabiha Khanum affectionately called her Sadabahar (evergreen). Her popularity was further boosted with her patriotic songs during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India.

Jehan visited India in 1982 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Indian talkie where she met Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi and was received by Dilip Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar in Mumbai.

2. 3. Last Years And Death


In 1986, on a tour of North America, Jehan suffered from chest pains and was dignosed with angina after which she underwent a surgery to install a pacemaker. In 2000, Jehan was hospitalised in Karachi and suffered a heart attack. On Saturday afternoon, December 23 2000, Noor Jehan died from heart failure. Her funeral took place at Jamia Masjid Sultan, Karachi and she was buried at the Gizri Graveyard near the Saudi Consulate in Karachi.

Malam Jabba - - Essential Travel Ski Guides

Arguably Pakistan’s finest ski resort, Malam Jabba is located in the breathtaking Swat Valley, close to the border with Afghanistan. The resort is perched on the slopes of the Hindu Kush range and surrounded by the magnificent peaks of the Karakoram and Black mountains, providing spectacular scenery for visitors to enjoy.

Skiing is a relatively new introduction to Pakistan’s winter activities and while Malam Jabba does not quite match up to international standards in terms of ski trails and facilities, it is nevertheless one of the country’s most enticing winter resorts, with a number of significant historical attractions and superb trekking opportunities on offer in the surrounding area.

Located at a lofty altitude of 8,530-feet, Malam Jabba offers a small selection of powdery ski trails including a gentle beginner’s track and a slightly more challenging slope for experienced skiers. The resort is equipped with two separate chairlifts, one providing transport to the novice track and the other with a capacity to transport more proficient skiers as high as nearly 10,500 feet above sea level.

Accommodation at Malam Jabba is offered in 52 rooms at the Swat Valley Hotel, including four VIP units. Additionally, there are two family cottages located right by the slopes, with stunning views of the snow-covered mountains that enclose the resort. Roller skating and ice skating rinks are also encompassed within the resort and on-site restaurant facilities cater for both local and international tastes.

The Swat Valley has been inhabited for over 2,000 years and several historical sites are located within close proximity to Malam Jabba, including two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries. An ancient mound and a fresh water spring are also located within a mile of the ski resort, offering additional leisure possibilities to fill your off-slope hours.

Malam Jabba’s ski season usually runs from January to March, with approximately 16 feet of snow falling during this time. The resort is accessible by road transportation from Islamabad, with a journey time of about 6 hours.



Skiing in Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba is an all-round summer and winter resort, offering a variety of adventure and leisure activities. Located in close proximity to two striking Buddhist stupas and six ancient monasteries, the region offers many alternative activities. The region is home to the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Black mountain ranges and a number of exciting treks through the pristine scenery surrounding the skiing area so visitors are sure to enjoy much more than just skiing.

Visitors to Malam Jabba should not expect to experience skiing on par with international ski destinations. While impressive in terms of Pakistani resorts, the resort presents a very small selection of runs, with a single groomed run suitable for beginners and another suitable for experienced skiers. However, Malam Jabba’s high altitude ensures dry, powdery snow and the region’s spectacular scenery and great adventure activities more than make up for any deficits in the skiing department.

In addition to two skiing platforms, Malam Jabba also features roller and ice skating rinks that provide alternative leisure opportunities, while those interested in the history of the area should visit the numerous archaeological sites in the area including two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries dating back roughly 2,000 years. Two gorgeous trekking trails begin from points close to the resort and pass through breathtaking mountain scenery, though these are far more enticing during the summer months.

For visitor convenience, the resort is equipped with telephone facilities, while a police post and hospital are situated in the town of Saidu Sharif, roughly 25 miles from the resort. Skiing accommodation is provided in 52 rooms at the Swat Valley Hotel as well as at two family cottages located next to the slopes at Malam Jabba.

Weather conditions permitting, skiing is offered at Malam Jabba between January and March. The resort can be reached by car, bus or shuttle bus, with road transportation from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad taking approximately 6 hours.

Transportation to Malam Jabba

Malam Jabba is located in the Hindu Kush range of northwestern Pakistan, just over 186 miles from Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, and only 25 miles from the town of Saidu Sharif. An airport is located at Saidu Sharif, from where road transportation is the only direct means of reaching the resort.

Malam Jabba can be reached by road transportation via the Saidu Sharif-Kalam road, located just off the Karakoram highway, one of the country’s major thoroughfares. The journey to the ski resort takes roughly 6 hours by road from Islamabad and under 1 hour from Saidu Sharif. The road leading to the resort is of a high standard, a pleasant rarity in Pakistan.

Islamabad is the main port of entry for visitors arriving by air from foreign destinations and connecting flights to Saidu Sharif are available from the capital as well as from Peshawar. From the airport at Saidu Sharif, the 30 miles away ski resort of Malam Jabba is quickly and easily accessible via road transportation.

Malam Jabba - - The Finest Skiing Resort in Pakistan

Malam Jabba is perhaps the finest skiing resort in Pakistan. Malam Jabba is located about 300 kilometres from Islamabad near Afghanistan border in the Swat Valley. It takes about six hours to reach Malam Jabba by road. Malam Jabba is also well connected by air with Islamabad and Peshawar. You can take flight from Islamabad to reach Saidu Sharif, which is the nearest airport to Malam Jabba. From the airport, Malam Jabba is about 45 kilometres.

Mala Jabba Ski Resort is the joint effort of the Pakistan government with its Austrian counter part. Well equipped with modern facilities, Malam Jabba has fine infrastructure and offers a number of facilities like roller/ice-skating rinks, chair lifts, skiing platforms, telephone facility and snow clearing equipment. Accommodation is also available and restaurants offer local and international cuisine.


Perched about 8,700 feet above sea level, Malam Jabba is an excellent skiing resort. The mighty Karakoram range and black mountains surround the resort and offers excellent views. Apart from presenting wonderful scenic views, the Malam Jabba Ski Resort has some monuments that add to the excitement of a traveller.

Malam Jabba has two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries that are scattered around the resort. The presence of the monuments at such a height clearly indicates that the area was inhabited for over 2000 years.

Malam Jabba also offers two exciting trekking trails that offer excellent scenery. Passing through the Ghorband Valley and Shangla Top is one of the treks, which is about 18 kilometres from the resort. The other trek passes through the Sabonev Valley and is about 17 kilometres from the resort.

Malam Jabba is a complete adventure tourist destination. You can enjoy skiing on the powdery slopes of the Malam Jabba Skiing Resort, trek to the some spectacularly beautiful places or simply sit outside your cottage and enjoy the scenic beauty that the resort has to offer.

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