Kallar Kahar Lake (Kallar Kahar)

Pakistan / Punjab / Chakwal / Kallar Kahar / Kallar Kahar Lake
 sanctuary, lake, resort, reservoir, nature conservation park / area, interesting place
Kallar Kahar lake is situated in a beautiful valley in the southern mountainous area of Potohar plateau in the salt range. It is located at an altitude of about 1500 ft from sea level. It is a natural lake which is fed by a natural fresh water spring at the base of hills. This spring water fills the lake up to a level and then overflows and makes a stream towards the north. The lake is not deep, so a lot of natural vegetation can be seen all around it and even in the middle. It is a natural breeding sanctuary for many birds, so it is an ideal place for bird watching. Some migratory birds can also be seen in particular season. Wild peacocks can be seen wandering around the area. Now and then their particular sound can be heard clearly.

The great Mughal Ruler, Zaheer ud Din Babar, after subduing Janjua Chief, Malik Hast Khan Janjua, visited this place in 1510 AD when he planned to subdue Bhera in his second expedition to Hindustan. He, in his memoirs, “Tuzk-e-Babri” denotes this area as “Kalah Noor”.
According to him:

“We reached at Kalah Noor by ‘Zuhr’ (time immediately following midday) where a big water reservoir nearby lies. This reservoir covers almost an area of three miles which remains filled with rainy water. There is also a meadow and a rivulet near the pond in addition to a spring that sprouts from the foot of mountain. I really liked this place and the surrounding; therefore, I ordered the plantation of a garden and named it as ‘Bagh-e-Saffa’. We left Kalah right in the morning."

This is again the same place where, on his way back from Bhera to Kabul, he planned to subdue Ghakkhar Chief, Hathi Khan Ghakkhar, who ruled the area beyond Koh-e-Jood (an olden disused name of Salt Range) on his principal seat at Pharwala Fort located on the bank of river Soan today near Kahoota. According to his memoirs:

“We started towards Kabul on Sunday of the eleventh day of Rabi-ul-Awwal. On our way back we went one stage of journey at ‘Kalah Kanar’ where heavy showers encircled the whole day.

This narration shows that King Babar twice visited this place twice, one on his way to Bhera and second back from Bhera.

At this stage, Janjua chiefs who were rivals of Hathi Ghakhar, complained against Hathi Ghakkhar that he was a mischievous person who harasses the travelers and in habit of plundering who should be punished as follow out of necessity.

On the next day, leaving the troops under the supervision of Khawaja Meer Miran and Meeran Nasar, I took the initiative for punishing Hathi Gakkhar.”


A large single stone, elevated, carved out sitting place is also present in the garden, known as throne of Babur “ Takht-e-Babri.

Kallar Kahar lake is located at a distance about 135 km from Rawalpindi via Chakwal road. It can be approached from Islamabad by Motorway at a distance of about 100 kms to the south and from Chakwal it is about 30kms to the south-west on Chakwal-Sargodha road.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   32°46'32"N   72°42'26"E

Comments

  • Kallar Kahar lake is situated in a beautiful valley in the southern mountainous area of potohar plateau in the salt range. It is located at an altitude of about 1500 ft from sea level. It is a natural lake which is fed by a natural fresh water spring at the base of hills. This spring water fills the lake up to a level and then overflows and makes a stream towards the north. The lake is not deep, so a lot of natural vegetation can be seen all around it and even in the middle. It is a natural breeding sanctuary for many birds, so it is an ideal place for bird watching. Some migratory birds can also be seen in particular season. Wild peacocks can be seen wandering around the area. Now and then their particular sound can be heard clearly. The great Mughal Ruler, Zaheer ud Din Babar visited this place in 1510 AD. He ordered the plantation of first Mughal Garden here and named it as Safa Garden or “Bagh-e-Safa”. A large single stone, elevated, carved out sitting place is also present in the garden, known as throne of Babur “ Takht-e-Babri”. Kallar Kahar lake is located at a distance about 135 km from Rawalpindi via Chakwal road. It can be approached from Islamabad by Motorway at a distance of about 100 kms to the south and from chakwal it is about 30kms to the south-west on chakwal-Sargodha road.
  • It is very beautiful place. I love to be there
This article was last modified 13 years ago