Jahaz Banda is a beautiful place with mind-blowing scenes. The natural Jahaz Banda Meadows is a rich green and pleasant hill station in the upper limits of Kumrat Valley, Upper Dir District KPK, Pakistan.
Jahaz Banda is at an elevation of 3,100 m above sea level, and it is no doubt a hidden gem of Pakistan. People call this place Jahaz Banda as it is as high as an airplane locally called Jahaz in Urdu. Mountains filled with snow, natural beauty, waterfalls, lakes, and forests full of greenery surround this amazing meadow.
How to Reach Jahaz Banda Meadows
I started my journey from Thal and parked my motorbike in Gamser. Then I started walking towards Tiki Banda. But, unfortunately, the Hotel of Tiki Banda no more exists now.
It took 45 minutes to reach me, Tiki Banda. Now, there is a proper track to reach Jahaz Banda from Tiki Banda. One can quickly go alone on this track. One can have the option to travel by foot or have a horse.
If you are more of a visual person, then please watch the following video, which summarizes my Jahaz Banda trip:
It takes 3 to 4 hours to reach Jahaz Banda from Tiki Banda. Therefore, one should be mentally prepared to travel such long distances on foot. There are many small tuck shops throughout the track. They are used to cool down the water bottles and juices by natural water flowing through lakes.
There are a large number of horses here. After some time, one enters an open ground. This pasture is called Kundail Shai Banal. After crossing the area, the distance from Jahaz Banda becomes very close. The view of the meadows is unique from each angle. One can enjoy horse riding, camping, and the facility of trekking here.
Best Time to Visit
A person becomes closer to nature as he comes here. The place remains covered with snow from October to May. The ideal weather to visit this place is from June to September. This place has become famous for the past few months. This place is a favorite spot for not only hikers but also for tourists now.
The credit to introduce this place to the rest of the world goes to Mr. Taj Muhammad. He also runs a private museum in Jandrai. Jahaz Banda is among the famous pasture in Kohistan. It is a good option for the people who come to visit Kumrat Valley. Banda is where 5 to 10 houses exist, and people take their cattle in the summer season.
Locals took their cattle to Jahaz Banda in the summer season and came back in winter.
Jahaz Banda on Bike
Bikers who visit Jahaz Banda have to park their bikes in Gamser, the new parking area for motorbikes. After parking motorcycles in Gamser, the hiking starts towards Tiki Banda, the base camp of Jahaz Banda. I also parked my motorbike in Gamser village. The ticket for bike parking is 250 Pakistani rupees.
The jeeps fare from Thall to Takki Top Jahaz Banda and back to Thall are between Rs.10000 to Rs.12000.
Jaz Banda waterfall
If you ever visit Jahaz Banda, do go to Konar Waterfall. The height of this waterfall is 100 to 150 feet. It is among the beautiful waterfalls of Khyber Pakhtun Khwa.
Jaaz Banda Hotels
Now the hotels are opening in jaaz banda in large numbers. My stay was in the Taj Mahal Hotel. The medical students from Peshawar were my hosts here. Unfortunately, only the network of Telenor works in the area.
Some Advice While visiting Jahaz Banda
1. One must respect local traditions.
2. Always take permission while flying a drone.
3. The people are tourist-friendly, so do not hesitate while asking for help.
4. Always check the weather while coming to these areas as the weather is unpredictable here.
5. Avoid throwing wrappers or garbage.
6. One must make up a mind to walk for at least 10 hours.
7. Keep a light jacket as the area is cold in summer also.
8. Avoid bringing small kids.
The weather of Jahaz Banda Kumrat Valley
During May, the temperature of Jaz meadows is around 11 Degrees. It becomes impossible to reach here at the end of September. I visited the jazz meadow in July, and I kept wearing a jacket.
Camping
There are a lot of camping sites now in the jaaz banda. So one can do his camping also, but the rates are pretty cheap for hotels and camping sites.
Jahaz Banda to Katora Lake Distance
A stay in Jahaz Banda is an attractive option if you plan to visit Kund Banda and Katora Lake.
The true beauty of the area is Katora Lake which is 5 kilometers away. The people of the area of tourist-friendly. Most people come here on weekends. If you ever plan to visit Kumrat Valley, do go to Jahaz Banda.
Jahaz Banda to Kund Banda
Kund Banda is also another beautiful spot near the jahaz banda. It usually takes 30 to 40 minutes to reach the kund banda from the jazz banda. However, the time duration may vary depending upon the stamina of each person. The famous spot of the kund banda is the snake river. It also includes a waterfall.
Distance From Islamabad
The distance of Jazz Banda from Islamabad is almost 400 kilometers. At the same time, the base camp of jahaz meadows is 20 kilometers from kumrat valley.
Necessary items
Trekking Shoes
Jacket
Rain Coat
Woolen socks
Sunglasses
Water
Trekking stick
Torch (in case of the night)
Personal Medicines
Hopefully, this blog will inspire you to visit Jahaz Banda. Also, if you have any questions on KPK or my experience traveling on a bicycle/motorbike, please comment below or email me. I’ll try to reply to you as soon as possible.
