Kumrat Valley
Kumrat is a valley in the Upper Dir District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, of Pakistan. It is one of the scenic valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a picturesque spot for travelers. Every summer season thousands of tourists from different areas of the country visit to Kumrat valley and enjoy the greenery and cool weather.[1]
Kumrat is covered with green pastures, snow clad mountains, the river Panjkora, foggy mounds and forests are attractions of the region, which serve as habitats for variety of flora and fauna.[2]
It is located in the Upper Dir Kohistan region at the back side of which Swat Kohistan area of Gabral is located.
Geography & Climate
Kumrat valley is located in the foothills of Hindu Kush mouantains range, surrounded by Chitral to the north, Kalam Swat valley to the east, Ayun valley Chitral to the west & Lower Dir to the south. The landscape of the valley is featured by hilly terrain, green meadows, snow clad mountains and streams cut through the region. The weather of Kumrat valley is alpine climatic in nature and mild cool summers are common throughout the area, with an average temperature ranges from 20 °C to 25 °C. While in winter the temperature is very low due to heavy snow fall i.e. is 3 to 11 feet and the temperature ranges from -4 °C to -10 °C. The maximum rain fall is 255 mm and minimum is 100 mm. In comparison with other plain parts of Khyber Paktunkhwa, Kumrat valley enjoys a more moderate climate but weather conditions are unpredictable in monsoon season & winter due to which movement is restricted to it.
Access
Kumrat Valley is located in the upper reaches of Dir Kohistan and can be accessed through four-wheel drive due to lack of proper metalled road beyond Sheringal. After crossing the Kalkot region, the commercial center and gateway of the valley comes up which is known as Thall.[3]
Camping
Kumrat is a picnic spot and relatively undeveloped. So, the region is popular spot for camping and most of the people bring their own tents and pitch for lodging. The valley provides options for mountaineering, trekking and rock climbing. Similarly, it provides a base camp for a hike to an alpine glacial Katora Lake which is located at an elevation of 11,500 ft on a trek of 3-4 hrs from the main valley. Jahaz Banda, Patrak, Kalkot, Lamutai, Seri and Thal are popular areas.[4]
Flora & Fauna
Diverse species of grasses and trees are found in Kumrat valley. In trees Deodar, Cheer, Kail, Fir Spruce, Chalghoza, Pines, Oak, and Alpine pastures are covering huge area of the land in the form of forest.
The valley has green grasses, most common species are Polygonum spp, Saxifrages spp, Potentilla spp etc. In case of shrub vibrmum, cotton ester (khawra) etc. and in grass Agropyron, Canalicilatum, epoasoides etc. are common. Many of the medicinal plants are also found here, they are Atropa Belladroma, Artemisa Martima, Saxifrage spp etc. in case of fruit tree the most abundant are walnuts (Juglans Regia), Amluke (Diosphyeslotus), Mulberries, Chalghoza, toots, Cherry (Prunus Padus) etc. while in fauna, Brown Bears, Snow Leopards, Monkeys, Porcupines, Ibex, Markhor, Musk, Deer, Jackals, Chakores and Monal Pheasants etc.
