Shogran is a beautiful hill station located at a high elevation in the Naran Kaghan valley, northern Pakistan at an elevation of about 2,000 metres above sea level. It's located in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. The name Shogran comes from two words, "Sagran" meaning high peak and "Ghan" meaning mountain. This makes this hill station one of the highest and most popular tourist destinations in North Pakistan.
Shogran enjoys great popularity as a mountain resort because of its majestic beauty and wonderful location. Shogran is separated into two valleys: The Shogran valley and the Ishmael valley. In Shogran, you will find three small villages Shogran Bagh, Shogran Chabar and Shogran Kayk. All these villages are located on the valley's eastern slope. The highest point of Shogran peak is around 6500 meters above Ishmael.
The other main attraction of Shogran is the wonderful and amazing Shogran Mountain. Shogran is well known for being the highest peak in the entire North West Frontier. From the top of Shogran, you can see the snow capped mountains of Nimal, situated to the south of Shogran. Nimal is one of Pakistan's famouswinter destinations because of its awesome scenery and magical views.
When you are visiting Shogran, you can enjoy the beautiful view of snow covered peaks of Nimal and then head towards the capital city, Islamabad. Islamabad is an important city for all tourists because of the historical monuments and lively culture. In fact, many people from abroad come to Pakistan to study Baluchistan's history and culture. During your visit to Shogran, you will surely enjoy all the sights and sounds of the beautiful town of Kadhai and surrounding areas.
Once you reach Shogran, the next thing that you must do is to enjoy the beautiful environment of the town. You can take a ride across the mighty Jehangir Lake and visit the beautiful village of Kharan. You will definitely enjoy the night life in this famous town. Most of the restaurants of Pakistan's capital are situated around the lake and offer delicious food. Night life is another great attraction of Shogran, especially for younger travelers.
If you want to see the best sight seeing places of Shogran, then you must plan your trip during the monsoon season (from May to September). During this time, you will find that most of the interesting attractions in Shogran will be less crowded. The main attractions include the Shogran trek, the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, Havelis of Kundal Tal, the golden sand dunes, the Golden Fawn Spring, the Sam Sand Dunes National Park and the amazing Pushkar Lake. All these attractions of Shogran are available on the beautiful roads of Pakistan's capital Islamabad.
As far as cultural experiences are concerned, one must not miss out on the famous Baluchistan dance and art festival. Shogran, on the other hand, has been recognized as the Mecca of Dance. You can watch Baluchistan's best dancers and tapestry artists while enjoying a drink at one of the many restaurants orcoffee shops of Pakistan's capital Islamabad. Many tourists from all over the world come to Shogran just to experience this unique culture.
Shogran serves as an ideal destination for tourists looking for adventure sports. Thereare many places to enjoy hiking, biking and trekking in Shogran. Mountain biking in Shogran starts from a distance of approximately twelve kilometers. It takes about three days to complete this trek. The best time to start mountain biking in Shogran is between May and September.
A small village named Chhota serves as Shogran's starting point. It is a charming village with friendly local people. You can find some excellent restaurants in the area, which serve delicious Baluchistan cuisine. Chhota is also home to a small Hindu temple.
There are many interesting historic buildings in Chhota. They include the tomb of Shah Jehan, the first Shah of Persia, built in 1734 by his son Akbar; the Qutub Minar, which are the largest construction in all of Pakistan; and the tombs of Benazir Bhutto and Muzaffar Attars. These buildings offer a glimpse into thehistory and culture of Baluchistan, and a reminder of its glory during the rule of the Mughal Empire. Shogran is also home to the Zain-e-Khas or Golden Calf or Golden Fawn temples, which are dedicated to the Lord Shiva.
A few kilometers from Chhota is Shogran's main attraction: the Dashang Pass. Thepass is only twenty-two kilometers long but offers amazing views of the mountainous terrains of the upper Jhelum River Valley and the surrounding villages. The Pass offers a panoramic view of the golden sands of the Mehrangarh Valley and the golden wheat fields of Akbar's wheat-producing district of Buland Darwaja. Further up the pass you will encounter the village of Noshahpur, which is famous for the beautiful painted houses (which are also called bazaars) known as Mughal Houses. You will also encounter the tomb of Akbar's grandfather, Shah Jahan.
