User:RajaAminAfzalKhan

Katkair, Muzaffarabad AJK “If you are in a bad mood go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk” (Hippocrates).

In today’s complex, monotonous and bustling life, trips to peaceful and serene places have become a necessity for humans to enliven their inner beings by feeding on the super quality oxygen that the small lungs placed within their bodies were actually designed for. Whenever people find leisure time (mainly by the blessings of holidays) coupled with economic prosperity, they like to gush out towards a peaceful, relaxing and sober environment. But unfortunately, since this is case with most of the people, most attractive and easy-to-reach tourist spots are found flooded with people, messy traffic jams, heaps of litter, arrogant fleecing staff; and the visit ends up adding to one’s observation no major difference between these places and those one has left in quest for peace and relaxation. In a situation like this, most of the nature lovers hunt for a deserted place where they could find some peaceful time to ease their nerves. A place where only your voice reverberates to you whispering and caressing your ears, and no one else to disturb you. As Ghalib had said: Rahiye ab aisi jagah chal kar jahan koi na ho ham-suḳhan koi na ho aur ham-zaban koi na ho (let us go and stay at a place where there is no one No one to speak to and no one to understand you) If you are also looking of such a secluded place, let me introduce “Katkair” to you: Katkair is at a two hours’ drive from Kohala (AJK); you can follow Kohala Dhirkot Road and then continue on Dhirkot – Rangla – Katkair Road. In Katkair, you find many spectacular views. Katkair is divided into three distinct areas based on their relative altitudes, namely, Uppper Katkair, Middle Katkair and Lower Katkair. The main road leads you to the Upper Katkair, then by following small link roads, one can reach lower Katkair, the most fabulous and charming place. Lower Katkair, being the lowest part of the area, is encompassed by a beautiful zigzagging stream (known as ‘Kas or Aghar” in local language). On both sides of the stream, small green fields stretch across. The cool breeze mingling with dazzling sunlight even in summer moves through your body giving an inexplicable cool sensation. It moves through the lush green grass giving it a ‘wave sine function’ like graphic motion as if a wild wave is traversing through water. The grass is wild, stray grazers mow it, maintaining its wilderness rendering it a carpet of fluffy green grass. These fields and hills on side are studded with beautiful lush green trees and bushes, perching on them sparrows and nightingales giving occasional chirps, that seem an only revolt against widespread silence. During Spring, these trees are clad with beautiful flowers, the wind carries their fragrance all over the place. The stream is layered with hundreds and thousands of small and big stones and boulders. It serves as a natural swimming pool; if you visit it during summers, you can swim here, and try to catch fish as part of your expeditions. The opposite sides of the fields tend to move upwards and are followed by lush green jungle of pine and other trees, steeply moving upwards approaching the top peaks some of which go beyond 10,000 feet in height including the famous peak ‘Se’hri’ that is mostly covered by snow especially in winters. These snow-clad peaks add to overall charms of Katkair. Upper Katkair is mostly covered with snow during winters. From here the views all around are spectacle. One a clear day, the blue sky bewitches you completely with fleecy-fluffy white clouds passing overheads. All four sides, beautiful peaks overlap each other, some covered with snow and others with thick green forests.

The people here are very friendly and hospitable, there are no concerns over security. They will treat you with respect and guide you wherever needed; if you ask for address to a particular place, they will be more than happy to accompany you to your destination. Unfortunately, you will not find any hotels here and you have to plan your trip properly beforehand. You can easily cook outside by collecting stray wood as fuel or request someone to cook for you at their homes against a meager price. Any house can arrange a night stay for you upon request. If nature has blessed you with time and wealth, you must visit this place to thank the nature for its blessings.