66-km Long Track to be open soon for 6-Days Adventure Tourism, Shahid Zaman, Secretary Forests
Staff Report
PESHAWAR: In a joint meeting of the Department of KP Tourism and the KP Forest, it was decided that the Munro Hiking Trail will soon be opened for adventure-seeking trekkers. The meeting was attended by Secretary KP Forests Mr. Shahid Zaman, Secretary KP Tourism Dr. Abdul Samad, Director General Culture & Tourism Authority Habibullah Arif, Director General Environmental Protection Agency Samiullah, and officers from both departments.
Secretary KP Forest, Shahid Zaman stated that the Munro Hiking Trail is located near Jabouri, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of the most beautiful places in Pakistan.
He said this track was developed between 1900-1905 by A.V. Munro, a Forest Conservator in British India. Its purpose was to establish a horse trail from Kund to Kamal Ban (Naran Valley), passing through the mountainous region between the Siran and Kaghan Valleys. The track has been further enhanced by the Forest Department, which has arranged accommodation and other facilities for adventure tourism enthusiasts at its entry point. This 66-km-long track passes through various valleys, forests, and mountainous terrain, serving as a bridge between the Siran and Kaghan valleys. Key points of interest along and around the track include Galya/Darbei, Nadi Bangla, Naga Forest, Mala Meadows, Sharan Forest, Manshi Top, and Kamal Ban Forest.
The Munro Track begins at Kund Bangla (at an altitude of 2250 meters) and concludes at the Kamal Ban Rest House.
Historic rest houses are located along the Munro Track, including Kund Bangla, Shaheed Pani, Nadi Bangla, Sharan, and Kamal Ban Rest Houses, spaced approximately 5-6 hours apart. Kund Bangla and Shaheed Pani.
The Department of Tourism and the Department of Forests have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote eco-tourism, leading to the development of projects aimed at boosting tourism in the province’s beautiful forest locations. The Munro Track is being revived for the purposes of hiking, trekking, and camping.
Dr. Abdul Samad stated that the Department of Tourism will soon begin work on establishing a Tourist Facilitation Center, arranging local guides and pony services, and restoring the historic sites located along this track. He added that, in line with the tourism vision of the Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, the Munro Track will become a premier tourism landmark of Pakistan.
