Besham 2007 (4x4 Offroaders Club Karachi)

Ford F1 on the N5

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:46:19 +0500

On the national highway to Lahore from Karachi, parked next to a banana plantation. You see plenty of them in Sindh.

Sign board as you enter Punjab from Sindh

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:56:17 +0500

Brick Kiln

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:58:50 +0500

Travelling at Eid

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:00:42 +0500

We travelled during Eid Holidays - there are crowds of people like this in every small town on the way to Lahore. And there are a lot of towns on the way!

Group Photo at Lahore

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:03:55 +0500

Midway stop on the Motorway - Bera

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:07:05 +0500

Heading from Lahore to Islamabad

Motorway to Islamabad from Lahore

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:39:44 +0500

On the motorway from Lahore to Islamabad - it is a lot better than the N5 National highway from Karachi to Lahore.

CNG line up on the Motorway

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:46:55 +0500

Long line for cars filling up with CNG on the motorway.

On the national highway in Punjab

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:59:16 +0500

There was hardly any traffic due to the Eid holidays.

Camel carts carrying bricks from the Kilns

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:03:53 +0500

Date farm in the background, near sukkur.

Khokas

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:06:01 +0500

Shops on the highway side selling dates (Near Sukkur).

Ford F1 with a newer model Ford SUV

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:07:49 +0500

At the lake near Haripur (Khanpur Dam)

Tandoor at the truck hotel

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:10:22 +0500

The bread was so fresh and good that one really did not need anything else to eat with it!

Some families are still living in tents since the 2005 earthquake

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:14:51 +0500

Buttgram

Enjoying the lunch at the truck hotel

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:16:21 +0500

You cold even sleep at the Truck Hotel if you were tired

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:17:22 +0500

Many truckers do, on one of the many charpais.

On the way to Besham

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:18:45 +0500

Passing through the scenic Shankiari Valley.

Tea garden in the Shinkiari Valley

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:20:48 +0500

A closer view of the tea plants

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:22:15 +0500

On the Thakot bridge over the river Indus

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:23:33 +0500

On the way to besham

Bravely crossing the freezing Indus river on tubes

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:24:30 +0500

Spot the chair lift

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:30:55 +0500

A tent village near Battagram

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:33:59 +0500

All is still not back to normal in the area since the 2005 earthquake.

Monument on the Karakorum Highway honouring those who died in building the road

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:36:09 +0500

Mileages going further north from Besham

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:42:53 +0500

PTDC Hotel at Besham

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:44:01 +0500

The rooms face the Indus river, and there is plenty of space to sit and relax outside the rooms.

Indus river at Besham

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:46:06 +0500

The view from the terrace of the PTDC hotel, Besham

Hydro-electric power station is being constructed next to the PTDC hotel

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:48:21 +0500

The tunnel mouth is visible in this picture.

Rana Lodge

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:49:35 +0500

Another nice place to stay in Besham - it is located on the main road, and has am ore friednly atmosphere than the Govt. run PTDC hotel

Besham Bazaar

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:51:07 +0500

Minor landslide being cleared on the Karakorum Highway

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:51:43 +0500

Near Besham. Travelling on the KKH, you encounter stoppages now and then.

Photo stop

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:56:58 +0500

A photo stop on the dirt track leading off the KKH - some 30 kilometeres from Dubai Bazar - now heading for the Barakayli village in the Kohistan area.

On the KKH

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:59:04 +0500

On the Karakorum highway about 25 km from Besham.

End of the dirt track to Barakayli

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:00:06 +0500

The road was damaged in the 2005 earthquake and than the heavy rains in '06, and has yet to be repaired.

We parked our cars and then walked to the Barakayli village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:01:25 +0500

About a hours walk either way.

Walking to the Barakayli Village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:02:33 +0500

Barakayli Village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:04:16 +0500

Everyone turned out to welcome us! We had gone to see how they live, and they were equally keen to see us city people.

Waiting, and resting for high tea at Sami's Maiman Khanna

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:08:57 +0500

Group photo

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:10:59 +0500

A group photo with the children of the village - grown-up Kohistani women are not supposed to meet outsiders or have their picture taken!

Hay stocked for the winter month

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:13:32 +0500

Up a tree, to keep the goats from eating it before winter!

River

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:30:24 +0500

A part of the mountain stream is divided upstream to channel water to the village - a common sight in the Kohistan valley.

Grinding corn and wheat

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:31:56 +0500

Water diverted from the river drives the grinding stones - thats how it has been done since centuries past.

Water channeled inthe the corn grinding room

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:35:29 +0500

Generator supplying electricity to the village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:36:23 +0500

Run by the water coming from a 12 inch pipe

Water turbine used to drive the generator

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:38:08 +0500

Locally made knives for cutting grass for fodder

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:39:21 +0500

Local tailor's shop in the village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:41:24 +0500

Barakayli Village to Manakhel Village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:42:01 +0500

Some six hours walk up!

Another view of the climp UP to the next village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:44:56 +0500

Donkeys on the trail

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:46:27 +0500

Donkeys are able to carry only two sacks up the trail - horses or mules cannot go on these trails.

Only some 2 hours UP - a view of the valley below

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:51:49 +0500

Trekking up the mountain at night

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:53:54 +0500

It got dark soon and we had to make most of the way in the light of small torches

Manakhel Bela village

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:01:00 +0500

The houses are quite far apart - view of the stepped cord fields. Corn is the major crop of this area.

View of the Kohistan mountains

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:13:22 +0500

From the place we stayed at night.

Walls

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:15:57 +0500

A house reconstructed after the earthquake, with the walls now reinforced by wooden beams

Cows at our host's house

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:25:31 +0500

Every household has a pair or two for their milk supply, and to plough their terraced fields

After a good nights sleep

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:28:08 +0500

Contemplating the early morning light while waiting for the much needed cup of coffee

Shamu still asleep and refusing to get up as usual!

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:30:40 +0500

Breakfast

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:31:54 +0500

Was corn wheat 'paratha' (bread) with 'desi ghee' (clarified butter) and tea/coffee

Tents pitched on the roof

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:43:02 +0500

5-Star sleeping arrangement inside the tents

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:45:09 +0500

Even coke was carted all the way up to the mountain top for us city people!

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:49:37 +0500

According to Shah Alam city people cannot live without the Coke.

Shoe being given the bandaid treatement

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:53:54 +0500

Advice - do not take a old shoe on long treks!

Terrace field being tilled

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:55:19 +0500

People cut down trees in the summer

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:59:44 +0500

to use for cooking food and for heating in the winter months

Making our way down through a greener part of the mountains

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:05:46 +0500

Coming down was more difficult, one needed to be really careful not to slip

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:12:53 +0500

Relatively good part of the trail

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:14:16 +0500

Gazing

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:15:50 +0500

A local we met at the side of the trail - perhaps he is wondering where all the trees have gone!

Local wild berries

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:16:43 +0500

Up the tree picking berries

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:18:12 +0500

Pumpkin

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:19:06 +0500

Amongst the few vegetables grown in these hills

Wild berries

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:21:02 +0500

Walnuts

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:21:39 +0500

grow wild in many parts of Kohistan

Winter approaching, these are the last remaining fruits still on the trees

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:25:12 +0500

Drying corn

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:30:47 +0500

The corn is dried on the roof of the mud houses and stored for the winters till the next crop grows again.

Taking a much need break

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:32:26 +0500

A local Kohistani villager

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:35:20 +0500

Filling up our drinking water from a spring

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:37:10 +0500

The water tasted really good!

Many of the mountains in Kohistan have been deforested

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:38:24 +0500

Children

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:39:01 +0500

A cow had fallen down the mountainside - the villagers rushed down and salvaged its meat. The children are carrying part of the cow back to their homes.

The way down

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:40:13 +0500

On the last legs of our way down - at last we can see the stream below and looking forward to the tea at the village.

Hayman

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:42:49 +0500

Videoing

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:44:07 +0500

Men and children would gather all round us keen to be photographed - and to check out us city folks!

Group photo at the Rana lodge Besham

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:46:00 +0500

All the people who trekked to the village.