Chakwal - Land of Army People (Punjab)

 

Chakwal is located in the Dhanni region in Potohar Plateau at the distance of 90 km from Islamabad, and accessed from Lahore - Islamabad Motorway M-2 near Kallar Kahar. It is also known as land of army people as number of locals are serving in armed forces.

Chakwal is bounded by Rawalpindi, Khushab, Jhelum, Mianwali, and Attock districts. The Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M-2 runs from the center of the district, so all of the locations in the district become easy access. It is also connect with cities of the country by railway as well as air.

Chakwal landscape is attractive for tourists too, and they can enjoy natural lakes around the city on their day trip. Kallar Kahar is one of the most attractive locations for tourists just on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M-2.

Chakwal is located on low hilly area, the southern part of the city runs up into the Salt Range that includes the highest point in the district, the Chali Peak at an elevation of 1,128 meters above the sea. From the foothill, the valley slopes down to 430 meters in the Sohan town, with a plain area cut up by ravines.

The Salt Range is a mountain range in the north Punjab, having the extensive deposits of rock salt. It extends along the south of the Potohar Plateau toward the Jhelum River. It contains the great mines of Khewra, Warcha, and Kalabagh. Fossil of marine life, related Ediacaran period before 570 million years, also found there, which indicated the Himalayas now was once a sea.

The Shri Katas Raj Temples, also known as Qila Katas or Katas Raj, is a complex of several Hindu temples near the town of Choa Saidanshah in the Chakwal district. It is easily accessible via Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M-2. There is a small pond in the complex and it is believed that it was created from the teardrops of Shiva after the death of his wife Sati. These temples are important for Hindus to due discussion in the Mahabharata, the Hindu epic poem, where the location believed to have been the site of the exile of the Pandava brothers. Hindu also believe that the Hindu deity Krishna laid the foundation of the temple.

Tilla Jogian is another Hindu temple on the summit of the Tilla Jogian mountain in the Salt Range in the Jhelum district nearly 100 km from the Katas Raj temples. It was founded by Guru Gorakhnath, who is Hindu yogi founder of Nath Hindu monastic movement in India. It is important for Hindu Jogis as well as for the Sikhs, as Guru Nanak had meditated here for 40 days in early 16th century to understand the ideology of the jogis. Tilla Jogian is also mentioned in the Punjabi poem Heer Ranjha written by Waris Shah in 1766. There are waling trails to access the site, one Sanghoi Jhelum River side and other from Rohtas Fort side.

Kallar Kahar Lake is located near the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M-2 in the Kallar Kahar in the Chakwal district. Kallar Kahar is beautiful and attractive location in the district of Chakwal. Its name was also described by the Emperor Babar in his Memoirs. Kallar Kahar lake is wide blue water lake under the shadows of mountains of the Salt Range. It is a best place for one-day trip due to on the Motorway. Visitors can also enjoy boating and lunch there. TDCP Kallar Kahar is also located over the mountain near the lake.

Swaik Lake, also known as Khandowa Lake, is located at a distance of 48 km from the Chakwal city on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway M-2 near the Kallar Kahar Town. It is just about 6 km from the Kallar Kahar. It is a beautiful lake with greenish brown look due to mountain rocks and it is also a good place for swimming and diving. A small waterfall is also there, which attracts number of tourists from all over the country.

Takht-e-Babri is located at 25 km in southwest of Chakwal near the Motorway. It is flat stage and throne cut out from a stone by the first Mughal Emperor Babur to address his army on the occasion of coming from Kabul to rule on Delhi in India.

Chakwal is famous for high quality oranges, barley, wheat, and sugarcane. It also performs its role in number of industries. Due to limestone in the mountains, number of cement factories are operating in the Chakwal district. It is also famous for making traditional craft such as Zari shoes and Khes weaving.

The weather of Chakwal is moderate warm in the summer season and becomes cool and pleasant in the winter season.