Beautiful Spots at Kumrat Valley
It is a fact that a few years ago, perhaps hardly anyone knew about this area, but today it has become the center of attention for recreational people. For the past two or three years, hundreds of thousands of tourists from Pakistan have been turning towards this valley. In this valley with a magical attraction, snow-covered mountains, dense forests, boiling springs, lush expansive fields, cascading waterfalls, gurgling streams, and countless types and colors of flowers can be seen everywhere. Although the entire valley is worth seeing, there are some places that, in my opinion, would be an insult to the beauty of the camera if one were to leave without seeing them.
Jamia Masjid Thall
The Jama Masjid Darul Islam Thall is apparently not known for its beauty, but it is honored for being the oldest and most famous mosque of Der Kohistan. This mosque is located in the last village of Thall, on the banks of the Panjkora River, beyond the Thall bazaar. It has two parts: the upper floor was built with concrete in 1999, while the lower part was constructed in 1865. In 1953, a part of the mosque was damaged due to a fire, but the locals rebuilt it. The special thing about this mosque is that, except for the roof, the entire mosque is made of wood from the local forest. The big branches of trees were used as columns and walls, which were decorated with chisel and colorful paint. It is amazing that during that time there were no machines for cutting wood. The locals did a very beautiful decoration on the walls and columns with their old tools. Thousands of people visit this splendid example of Dardic architecture located on the banks of the Panjkora River every year. There are no restrictions on taking pictures inside the mosque.
Kotgal Waterfall aka Kumrat Valley Waterfall
Leaving Thall Bazaar, there is a climb on the way towards Kumrat Valley, with two or four shops alongside. After that, there is an FC check post. Actually, Kumrat Valley is only the name of that place. The people from outside gave the entire valley the name Kumrat. The area beyond the FC check post is called Siri Mayi, where the Kumrat festival is held every year. Beyond that, there is a field of raw tea, where the smooth field ends, and the Kotgul waterfall falls from a height on the right side. It is visible from the main road, but you have to walk a short distance on foot to see the waterfall. At least half an hour of walking on the smooth path is required, and from a distance, it appears to be a common waterfall, but upon reaching closer, it becomes apparent that it is a beautiful and enchanting waterfall.
Lal Gah waterfall
Lal Gah waterfall is the most famous waterfall of the Kamrat Valley. It falls from a height and its cold snowy water melts from the Glaciers located on the top of the snowy mountains. It's worth seeing the flow of water in the morning. When the cold snowy water falls from a height, hits the rocks and falls on the ground with force, it creates a mesmerizing view that leaves humans enchanted.
Black Water (Kala Chasma)
The Kala Chashma, also known as black water by some people, is a spring located in Kamrat. Its water appears slightly black, giving it the name Kala Chashma. In the local Kohistani language (Gawri Darri), it is called Keshin Dera Os, meaning black stone spring. The word "Dera" is used for large stones in the Gawri language, and there are large black stones around this spring, which make the water appear black. This spring is mentioned in many local folk tales. Elders say that many animals used to live in the area around the spring, including bears, which were hunted ruthlessly and the survivors were forced to flee to distant areas to save their lives. It is also said that this spring is the village of jinns, and they live here. They gather around the spring at night to have a chat. Many people have testified that they have seen jinns here at night.
It's a different matter that we haven't seen any jinn, although I have spent many nights near this spring. Once, we even stopped in the middle of a circle of jinns, hoping that we would meet a beautiful fairy or at least a jinn with magical powers like those in the stories. If we couldn't find a fairy, at least a jinn with a musical instrument like a Daf would meet us. After trying a few times...
Dojanga Kumrat Valley
Dojanga Kumrat Valley is the last stop accessible by car before the road ends and one has to walk further. Dojanga Kumrat Valley plays a significant role in our local history. According to our folk tales, Khazan Kot was the last refuge of our ancestors, and Dojanga Kumrat Valley was the location where they had to travel by foot beyond. It is said that when the enemy (Muslim missionaries and their armed forces) became more powerful, local people moved from the lower regions and settled in the dense forests of Khazan Kot to save their religion and land. Near Dojanga Kumrat Valley, they fought the decisive battle in the field of Batoat to save their religion and land. According to local folklore, the local Kohistani (Gawri Dardi) tribes fought the enemy bravely but were defeated due to the insufficient weapons and the large number of the enemy. It is said that in this battle, the followers of Buddhism, who had been living here for centuries, were mostly killed. Those who survived were captured, some escaped, and some got lost in the dense forests of Dojanga Kumrat Valley. It is known from local tales that three people who escaped were a father and his two daughters. The elderly says that due to the harsh weather and unknown routes, his daughters lost their lives, but their father was successful in escaping towards Chitral. If you want to see Khazan Kot, it is about a 15–20-minute distance from Dojanga Kumrat Valley. On the way, there is a small, colorful bridge in a jungle. Once you cross that bridge, the path continues straight...
The second route leads towards the Chitral region, passing through the Kashkin Pass. The Kashkin Pass is an ancient route that our people have been using for centuries to go to Chitral. Some also consider Jaz Banda to be part of the Kamrat Valley. But in reality, it is a separate area. The path on the right-hand side crosses the bridge over the river, which is built over the Thal Bazaar, and leads towards Jaz Banda, Badogai Top, and Kalam Bahrain in the direction of Swat Kohistan. The path on the left-hand side goes towards the enchanting valleys of Kamrat. The local people of Dir Kohistan are called Dardic Gawri, and besides their local Gawri language, Pashto is also spoken here. The local people identify themselves with the name Kohistani, which is not the name of their tribe or community. It is like people living in Lahore call themselves Lahoris. We are Dardic Gawri and speak the Gawri language, which is related to the Kohistani branch of the Dardic languages. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken not only in Dir Kohistan but also in the valleys of Kalam and its surroundings in Swat Kohistan. We have our own distinct culture. Local people are extremely hospitable. Hospitality is inherited by us. You can go anywhere in Kamrat. There is no restriction anywhere, and in any emergency, you can knock on any door, and you will receive full assistance there. It is a peaceful and tranquil area. We welcome every peaceful tourist coming to Dir Kohistan.
