Kumrat Valley

Kumrat is an alpine valley in the Dir Kohistan tehsil of the Upper Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. There is around 45 minutes drive to Kumrat Valley from the town of Thal on the banks of the Panjkora River. The valley is mainly populated by the Gawri people.
It is among the most popular tourist spots in the Malakand Division. Every summer season, thousands of tourists from different areas of Pakistan and abroad visit Kumrat Valley for its greenery and cool weather. Around Eid al-Fitr holidays, around 2,000 vehicles enter the region on a daily basis. It can only be accessed via four-wheel vehicles, as the road leading to it is unmetalled.

Features

Kumrat is covered with green pastures and snow-clad mountains. The river Panjkora, foggy mounds and forests are attractions of the region. These forests serve as habitats for variety of flora and fauna. It is located in the Upper Dir Kohistan region at the back side of which Swat Kohistan area of Gabral is located. Another feature of Kumrat Valley is its towering Deodar forest trees located on level ground adjacent the Panjkora river. At several places, the Panjkora River divides into channels, on the banks of which a few makeshift camping spots offer accommodation to tourists. There are several waterfalls there as well. Kala Chashma is also located there.

Deforestation

Deodar forest is fast depleting in Dir Kohistan Valley and it continues unhindered as the locals claim that they have no other source of fuel for heating and cooking purposes in the harsh winter season. The people of Kohistan Valley had offered the government in the 2010s that they were ready stop cutting Deodar trees if they were provided with a natural gas facility. However, the government did not pay any heed to their demand.