Soon Valley (Punjab)

 

The Soon Valley is one of the beautiful valleys in the Punjab Province in the Salt Range and can be accessed through Khushab-Mianwali road via the Khushab district at a distance of 288 km from Lahore. It can also be accessed via Kaller Kahar on Islamabad-Lahore Motorway M2. It extends from Padhrar village to Sakesar having a length of 56 km and an average width of 14 km.

Naushehra is the main town in the Soon Valley, which has all of the facilities for tourists such as hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. It is located at 56 Km from the Khushab city.

Soon Valley offers a very attractive scenic beauty, with lakes, forests, waterfalls, and natural ponds. Mount Sakesar is the highest peak in this area at 5,010 feet above sea level. In the winter season, the temperature falls below the freezing point, and sometimes it receives snowfall around the area near Sakesar. It is the only Mountain in the Soon Valley which receives snowfall in the winter. The Pakistan Air Force has installed a radar station on the top to observe the airspace. Instead of that, Pakistan Television Corporation also built a television transmission center over there. Tourists are not allowed to visit the Sakesar top without prior permission.

The Soon Valley was settled in ancient time by the Awan tribe, which are still the major of the population in this area. They also serves high rank positions in the British Army as well as Pakistan Army after independence.

There are a number of attractive and picturesque saltwater lakes such as Uchhali, Khabikki, and Jahlar, which attract thousands of migratory birds each year including rare white-headed ducks from Central Asia. The waters of these lakes are lifeless. Uchchali lake is situated on the foot of the Sakaser Mountain. Khabikki lake is also a spelendid picnic point for families and situated in southern Salt Range. Jahlar lake is located in a remote village and not easy to access. But its gives more fascinating picturesque view within the calm and peaceful environment.

Kanahti Garden is the the heart of the Soon Valley. It is garden full of fruit trees of different kinds. A trek in the center of the garden leads toward the Kanahti Waterfall with small lake.

Akrand Fort of Janjua is an historical location in the Soon Valley. A trek leads toward the fort from the Kanahti Garden.

Amb Shareef Hindu temple, a ruin of ancient Hindu Temple, is located near Amb Shareef village on the Mountain Sakesar. There are two temples facing each other, but their condition is not better.

About Khushab

Khushab, meaning sweet water, is situated near the Jhelum River in Punjab at the distance of 250 km from Lahore, next to Sargodha on Islamabad-Lahore Motorway M-2, on the left from Bhularwan interchange via Bhalwal or from Sial Interchange on Lahore-Sargodha Road, National Highway N-60 at the distance of 232 km from Lahore.

Khushab geographically consists of different types of landscapes with agricultural lowland plains, small range of hills, beautiful lakes, and a part of the Thal desert between the Indus river and the Jhelum river.

In the lowland plains along the Jhelum River, the land is fertile and suitable for growing various crops such as wheat, sugarcane, gram, and rice. Region is also famous for various fruit especially unique quality of citrus fruits. The natural resources in the Khushab district are abundant, so various industries related to cement and soda ash are common there along with other industries such as textiles, vegetable oil manufacturing, sugar mills, etc.

Another importance of Khushab is the Kushab Heavey Water & Natural Uranium Reactor, a very important part of Special Weapons Program of Pakistan, which makes our country's defense unbeatable.

There are three beautiful and charming lakes in Khushab. Those are Ochali, Khabbaki and Jahlar. There is a lot of forest reserves in the Khushab district, one of them is Kanhatti Gardens near Khabbaki village, and these are one of the main attractions of the Khushab district. This area of Khushab consisting of lakes and forests is also called Soon Valley. The Khabikki Lake, a salt-water lake, is a very beautiful place to visit in the southern Salt Range, it is a one kilometer wide and having length of two kilometers. The Sakaser is the name of the highest mountain in the Salt Range at the altitude of 4946 feet in Soon Valley.

The Uchhali lake, at the foot of Sakaser mountain, is another saltwater lake. The water of this lake is lifeless but has a good picturesque view. This location is best for a one-day trip or picnic, but at the tough walking point

Khushab Jeel, or Khushab Lake, is located on Sargodha-Mianwali Road near the Jhelum River. It can be accessed after crossing the bridge over the Jhelum River on the left side of the road. Most of the area of lake is swampy, so it becomes dangerous to walk more closer to it without precaution. Due to this fact, it is also known as Khooni Jeel due to some fatal incidents in the lake.

Amb Temples, also known as Amb Sharif, is an ancient site of an abandoned Hindu temple complex on the Sakesar Mountain in the Salt Range. It was built in the Kushan Empire, whereas temple complex was built in 9th to 10th centuries during the reign of the Hindu Shahi Empire. It is 15 to 20 metres three stories tall temple and built with brick and mortar on a square plinth. The site was also visited by Alexander Cunningham, who was the British Army Engineer, in the late 19th century.

Warcha Salt Mine is located in the village of Warcha in the Quidaabad Tehsil of the Khushab district. It has over one billion tonnes reserves of transparent and crystalline Sodium Chloride salt. It can be accessed through Sargodha-Mianwali Road by turning right on the Warcha Road. At the end of the road, turn left to access Warcha Salt mine.

Khushab district has number of forest reserve area due to its specific climate and to protect the forests and wildlife in the area. Chukki Forest Reserve Area is located on the right side of the Warcha Road after crossing the Warcha village. It is a lush green area reserved for the growth of various plants and herbs as well as protected various wildlife there. Gurra Forest is another forest reserve area in the Khushab district on the Khushab-Sakesar road. There many more such as Khabbakki, Kotukka, Khushab forest, Hapar, Keri, etc.

Naushehra is the main town of the Soon Valley located at a distance of 68 km from Kallar Kahar. Soon Valley is the beautiful and attractive valley surrounded by high hills, lush green jungles, lakes, and natural ponds. It also have abundant quantity of natural resources and fertile lands. The surrounding areas in the soon valley also has historical importance due to the ancient civilizations. There are various historical sites such as Akrand fort, Amb Sharif, Koradhi, etc. The valley extends from the village of Padhrar to Sakesar that is the highest peak in the Salt Range.

Dhoda is the famous traditional sweets made from milk and sugar, available in all over the area of the Khushab district. It has a unique and different taste and people like its taste well.

The weather of the Khushab district is moderate hot in the summer season due to the vast forest lands around the region, but it increases extreme hot in the area of the Thal Desert. In winter season, weather is mild cold, but it decreases below freezing point in the area of the Soon Valley.