Journey to Fairy Lake Saiful Muluk

Visiting the tourist destination of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naran, Pakistan, without seeing Saiful Muluk Lake is said to be a wasted trip. The lake is known for its beauty and rumored to be a landing spot for fairies. Regardless of whether the fairy tale is true or not, the lake's natural beauty is undeniable.

I will also talk about the beauty of the lake, but first about the way to reach the lake. The more beautiful the Saiful Muluk lake, the more difficult the way to reach it. No normal vehicle can reach the lake, instead you have to hire a special jeep which drives you through dirt tracks, huge boulders and glaciers and all the way you keep praying that this route will pass as soon as possible and we reach our destination.

But it is also a fact that when you reach your destination, every tiredness vanishes at the sight of the most beautiful sight and there is a feeling of freshness that is hard to describe in words. How to describe the beauty of the lake? You can describe it as that a piece of heaven has come down to earth. Regarding the fairies, the local people say that sometimes they have seen fairies in the lake at night. Anyway, Saiful Muluk Lake in the shape of a bowl is the most beautiful lake of the world and whoever comes here, lost in its beauty.

Saiful Muluk is a picturesque mountainous lake located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley, in the Saif Al Muluk National Park near the town of Naran. It is situated at an elevation of 3,224 meters (10,578 feet) above sea level and is above the tree line, making it one of the highest lakes in Pakistan. The lake is located in the Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) north of Naran in the northern region of the Kaghan Valley. The lake is surrounded by the majestic Malika Parbat mountain range, the highest peak in the valley.

Access to the lake is possible during the summer season via the nearby town of Naran, however, during the winter months, heavy snowfall and landslides can make access difficult, and sometimes impossible. The lake boasts rich eco-diversity, with a variety of species of blue-green algae and large brown trout found in the lake, with the weight of some trout reaching up to 7 kilograms. Additionally, there are about 26 species of vascular plants in the area, with the most commonly found species being Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Gramineae, Apiaceae, Leguminosae, Scrophulariaceae and Polygonaceae.

The lake is named after a legendary prince, Saiful Malook, from a fairytale called Saif-Ul-Muluk written by the Sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh. The story tells of the Egyptian Prince Saiful Malook who fell in love with a fairy princess named Princess Badri-Ul-Jamala at the lake. The tale adds a mystical element to the already breathtaking scenery of the lake, making it a popular tourist destination for those seeking natural beauty and a touch of legend and folklore.