Pakistan is a country which is naturally blessed with great spans of water bodies, along with which there are vast mountain ranges which act as a source point to all of them. If we generally analyze some of the big and small rivers and streams in Pakistan, then one can easily see that they are tailor made for the sport of rafting. Unfortunately, it is among the most neglected sports in Pakistan. Just a little effort and focus is required, which could definitely make this country a popular rafting place locally and globally. The Kluchit Travel Team has also identified some potential rafting places within Pakistan which are as follows:
Kunhar River
The first on our list is the breathtaking Kunhar River which is also famous with the name of Nain Sukh. It is 166 kilometers long and is located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Northern Pakistan. The Kunhar River comes under the Indus River watershed bowl. The river originates from Lulusar Lake, almost 48 kilometers upstream from Naran Valley. Waters of Dudipat and Saiful Muluk Lakes add to the flow of the stream. Besides this, cold waters from Malka Parbat and other high peaks enter this river as well. The Kunhar River routes through the whole Kaghan Valley, Jalkhad, the Naran Valley, Kaghan, Balakot and Garhi Habibullah. The Kunhar River’s conversion with the Jhelum River takes place outside Muzaffarabad, in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region of Pakistan.
Neelum River
The second on our list is the stunning Neelum River which originates from Krishansar Lake, and runs through the entire Kashmir region. After starting from Krishansar Lake in the vicinity of Sonamarg, it then moves northwards to Badoab village where it meets a tributary from the Dras side and runs westwards along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. On its way, it is nourished by many glacial tributary streams. Later, it enters Azad Kashmir in the Gurais sector of the Line of Control, and then runs west until it meets the Jhelum River in Muzaffarabad. The Neelum River is 245 kilometers long, covering 50 kilometers in Jammu and Kashmir and the remaining 195 kilometers in Azad Kashmir.
Indus River
The third on our list is the mighty Indus River. Also called the Sindhu River, it is one of the longest rivers in Asia which flows through Western Tibet (China), Jammu and Azad Kashmir and then into Pakistan. The river starts from the Tibetan Plateau in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar, the river runs a route through the Ladakh region of Jammu and Azad Kashmir towards Gilgit-Baltistan, and then flows southwards along the entire span of Pakistan to merge into the Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi in Sindh. The total length of the Indus River is 3,180 kilometers and it is Pakistan’s longest river. The Indus River is the most significant provider of water resources to the Punjab and Sindh plains, and it forms the backbone of agriculture and food production in Pakistan.
Hunza River
The fourth on our list is the beautiful Hunza River. The location of this river makes it an attractive place to visit in the northern areas. This river is created through the joining of the Khunjerab and Kilik gorges (nalas), which are mainly nourished by the glaciers from the mountains. It enters Gilgit River and Naltar River before finally falling into the Indus River. The river crosses Karakoram highway near Nagar and Hunza Valleys.
Braldu River
The fifth on our list is the gorgeous Braldu River which flows in the Skardu District of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. It joins the Basha Basna River and together they form the Shigar River, which is a tributary of the Indus River. In length, the Braldu River is a 78 kilometer long river, which originates from the Baltoro Glacier and flows 25 kilometers to the west where it receives the melted waters from the Biafo Glacier. The Baltoro Glacier and the Biafo Glacier are among the largest glaciers outside the Polar Regions. The Baltoro Glacier gives rise to four Eight-Thousander mountain peaks like K2, which is the second highest mountain peak of the world.
Contributed by Ahmed Raza.
