In the stunning Northern Valley of Naran Pakistan, my friends and I embarked on an unplanned trip, seeking thrills and excitement. Our goal was to hike to the breathtaking Dodi Patsar Lake. As we set off from the village of Basel, we encountered a zipline local used to cross the river, called “Doli.” without any guides present, we took a risk and crossed the river, eager to reach our destination.
But then, a friend who had been there before realized we were going in the wrong direction. Panic washed over us as we realized we had wasted hours and were now faced with frozen glaciers to navigate. We were unprepared for such a challenge and one of our friends nearly fell off a cliff narrowly saved by our quick actions. Fear gripped us as we wandered, lost and exhausted with darkness quickly approaching.
With no food or water left, we decided to find shelter. The freezing temperatures of -5 degrees made it even more urgent. That’s when we spotted a local man named Kaka Khan. Desperate for help, we rushed to him and explained our predicament. He became our savior, guiding us to his home with incredible kindness. He provided us with warmth, food, and a traditional hot drink called “Qehwa,” which comforted us immensely. Kaka Khan praised our survival, explaining that even locals avoided the treacherous path we mistakenly took.
Grateful and relieved, we spent the night under Kaka Khan’s roof. In the morning, he served us breakfast and directed us back to our hotel where our vehicle was parked. He cautioned us that the hiking trail to the lake was closed due to the frozen glaciers. Trusting his wisdom, we followed his directions, reflecting on our incredible adventure and the invaluable assistance we received from Kaka Khan.
Leaving the Northern Valley behind, we carried with us the lessons learned from our challenging journey. While we didn’t reach the desired lake, our encounter with Kaka Khan reminded us of the power of nature and the generosity of strangers who come to our aid in times of need.
Photos by Jahanzaib Maqsood
By: Jahanzaib Maqsood