Karori a Best Place in Tanawal Valley, Mansehra

Located at the heart of Upper Tanawal Valley, Mansehra, Karori (کروڑی) is a place filled with history, culture, and breathtaking hilly landscapes. If you have ever wanted to explore this area and uncover its secrets, this blog post is for you! In this post, we will explore the history of Karori, the UC Karori, Karori Bala, and Doga forest, as well as the best places in Karori and its surroundings. We will also discuss the population and essential villages of UC Karori and the meaning of Karori. So, let us discover why Karori is the best place in Tanawal Valley, Mansehra.

Karori a Best Place in Tanawal Valley, Mansehra

Uncovering The Secrets of Karori

Map of UC Karori and Koh Bhingra Tehsil Oghi
The beautiful Indus River is southwest of Karori

Karori is located in the heart of the Upper Tanawal Valley, 14 km south of Oghi and 23 km northeast of Darband (Indus Tarbela Lakeside town). It is surrounded by forests and hills of Koh e Bhingra range (Himalayas outer range). With its enchanting location, Karori has become a popular spot for tourists to visit over the past few years. The views from Karori are simply breathtaking – you can see all of the valleys and peaks of the Tanawal, Agror, Torghar, Buner, Swat Mankial, and even the tallest peaks of Naran, Kaghan, and Alai from up there! The flora and fauna in Karori are also quite unique – be sure to explore the natural gardens or catch a glimpse of some of Mansehra's exotic animals and birds on your visit. The region is organic, and no central tourist facility exists except a cemented road. 

Fascinating view of Koh e Bheengra from Serigoria

Importance of Karori

How to Get into Karori

Beautiful view of Torghar from Oghi-Karori road near Geen Gada

• Mansehra-Oghi-Shergarh-Naryala-Karori

• Mansehra-Oghi-Shergarh-Bandi Parao-Karori (Chamial road)

• Mansehra-Galibadral-Makhan Gali-Karori

• Mansehra-Darband-Shanaya-Karori

• Haripur-Darband-Bandi Parao-Karori

If you want to enjoy the Karori landscape, the best option is a 4x4 rental or personal vehicle and motorbike to reach almost all the best places in the region.

Karori road Tanawal Valley

Karori is a stunning location in the Tanawal Valley, Mansehra. This valley is a great place to spend a day or two, surrounded by lush greenery and traditional cultures and customs. Whether exploring the valley for the first time or revisiting it, here are some secrets that will help you uncover Karori's beauty and culture.

Karori consists of three villages: Karori Pain. Karori Miana and Karori Bala. Karori is a big and beautiful Union Council of Tehsil Oghi. This region is undoubtedly the Murree of Tanawal Valley, but it remained less explored and projected due to less tourism development. This is the big question; I don't know the exact answer. The Karori and its surroundings remain lush and green in summer. In autumn, it is a blaze of orange and red coloured leaves. Thus, one can enjoy snowfall fall and rabbit hunting in winter. The place where you can enjoy cool springs, vast plains, rolling fields, dense forests, flowing rivers, and gurgling waterfalls.

(Interesting Keyword: another Karori is an urban area of Wellington in New Zealand that was settled in 1841 by Europeans. Karori, as referred to from New Zealand in the Maori language, is" “the rope used as a trap for birds snari"g” or The Karori area was used for hunting the birds by traps or snares. However, no fact is found here about Karori in Upper Tanawal Valley)

Using a personal or rented car, there are five different routes to this beautiful region via the three nearest towns: Gali Badral, Darband, and Shergarh. However, the Easiest, most convenient, and cheapest way is to approach via the Oghi-Shergarh-Kanghar-Karori route. You can use rental or public transport from Oghi. The fare for a rental car is 2000 PKR, and the public van fare is 200 PKR.

Other routes are as follows:

Best Places and Top Attractions in Karori, Tanawal, Mansehra

The tourist is also relaxed with mountains, forests, streams, rivers, waterfalls, cold sweet springs, snowy mountains, snowfall, green natural plains, mysterious rocks and boulders, and nature; for him, all this is a source of great attraction and peace. He does not even get tired of travelling miles to get it. You can find all this in Karori; just take a once-in-a-lifetime trip here. Let’s talk about some prominent and best tourist places in Karori:

Karori Bala and Kharyal Forest Koh e Bhingra, Tanawal valley Mansehra

• Trekking to the Highest Peaks like Serri Top, Chamial Top, and Ranigat Top
• Visiting Tarbela Lake viewpoint Goriaan De Gali
• Visiting old Rest Houses like Doga rest house and Karori Bala rest house
• Visiting Doga Cricket Ground and Malhar Cricket Ground
• Seeing a big cave under a rock near Doga
• Visiting a Mysterious Rock Lekhi Dhili near Bajji Bang
• Exploring the forest near Karori Bala, Kalu De Basti, and Doga
• Enjoying waterfalls and sweet springs (SPA) near Naryala, Mian Da Doga
• Fishing and Swimming in the lakes of Nambal Katha and Joda da Katha
• Black Granite Mines near Beens Berian, Jodan, and Naryal Dher

Beautiful view of the bridge near Miana Doga

Let’s explore one by one

Trekking to the Highest Mountain peaks

Every tourist feels calm and attracted by Mount Binghra or Koh e Beenghra, an outer sub-range of the Himalayas and a fertile and snowy region due to its high elevation and wet mountains. All its upper reaches are covered with snow several times from late November to March.

Mountains of Karori region

Koh e Bingra range has the six tallest peaks. The famous Sri Top is the highest peak, with an altitude of 8411 feet. The other peaks are the Chamial Top of 7510 ft, the unnamed west of Chamiyal Top of 6730 ft, and the Ranigat Top of 7723 ft on the southern mountains of Karori. Karori Bala Top is at 8170 ft, Doga Top is at 7250 ft, and Binghra Top is at 7208 ft in the eastern mountains of Karori. 

Karori Bala Top (left), Chamial Top (right) and
Ranigat Top (left of Chamial Top)

The other nearest peaks of Shanaya Haldi Gatti are 6516 ft, and Sherdandi is 5043 ft (can be seen from Goriaan De Gali). Likewise, Naryala Dher of 5187 ft, Malhar Top of 5200 ft, Goria De Gali of 5700 ft, and Namshera Gujjran Top of 5450 ft are the prominent summits.

Highest Mountain Peaks of Karori region and Koh e Bhangra Tehsils Oghi Mansehra

What is Serri Top or Seri Ziarat

The peak west of Mansehra town is Sirri Top, 8411 ft. It is the highest and nearest peak of the Mansehra and Tanawal valleys. Here is the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Al-Munir Ghazi. This shrine is called Serri Ziarat. There are two types of tourists on Serri Top. One goes on a pilgrimage to the shrine, and the other loves the peak. The best time to trek is March to September.

The fascinating Serri Top is 8411 ft high peak in Koh e Beenghra of the outer  Himalayas.

When you reach Seri Ziarat or Serri Top, you can see the regional and distant mountain peaks of Attock District, Tarbela Dam and Lake, Haripur District, Abbottabad District, Kashmir, Naran, Kaghan, Serigoria Danna, Alai, Swat, Mankial range, Koh e Kala Dhaka, Buner, and Swabi. You can see it very clearly. There are rooms to stay in, but bring your own food, drink, and bedding. You can also cook, grill, and camp here. An ideal place for photography and nature lovers.

Lekhi Dhilly or Likki Dilli Baji Bang

There is a big rock-like an umbrella. On top of it, some shapes and paintings are made with red paint. There are various speculations about it. Because of this writing and red painting, it is called Lekhi Dhili, which means written stone. One famous mythology is that the wedding procession was going that way when suddenly a strange creature blocked the way. And demanded that they will not let the procession go from there unless they sacrifice their blood. Then a man came forward and cut his finger and wrote something on the stone with his own blood, then this strange creature let the wedding procession go. The approach is straightforward through Doga-Bajji Bang road, departing from Oghi-Karori on Doga Bridge.

Miana Doga Bridge, a Bajji Bang link road, departs from here.

Tarbela Lake viewpoint Goriaan De Gali

With an altitude of 5700 ft, the beautiful Gorian De Gali hill station is located on the southern hill of Karori Bala. There is a cemented road to access the Goriaan De Gali from Bandi Parao-Chamial road. The other highway approaches UC Shanaya, further connecting with Darband and Mohar Road Mansehra. You can see the beautiful Indus River, Tarbela Lake, and Darband Town views from Goriaan De Gali. It is a freezing place around the year. No accommodation for tourists is available. However, it is feasible for camp and necessary refreshments are available.

Beautiful view of Goriaan De Gali from Karori Bala

Beautiful old Rest Houses in Karori

There are two beautiful rest houses available at fascinating places. Doga Rest House is northeast of Karori in Doga Nawab Saheb and easily accessed through Gali Badral-Doga Road. The other is the Karori Bala rest house near the Karori Bala forest. It can be approached through the Oghi-Karori road. Then, a further hike of 15 minutes from Karori Bala. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Jemima Marcelle Goldsmith stayed here in Karori Bala's rest house in 1995. After their marriage, they used to visit here.

The fantastic landscape of Upper Karori Tanawal, Mansehra,

Karori Bala Rest House

High Snowcapped peaks of Naran, Kaghan, and Ali from Karori Bala rest house. You can also view the northern hill of Karori and its villages like Seri Meher Gul and Sanjlila.

A thick forest of Deodar and blue pine east of Karori Bala
You can also find sweet water springs in this forest

Karori Bala Rest House

Bajji Bang Waterfall

There is a small and beautiful waterfall near Bajji Bang. You can access via Bajji Bang link road departing to the left from Doga bridge on Oghi-Karori road.

Doga Cricket Ground

The highest cricket ground of the Karori, at an altitude of 5683 ft, is located in the Doga Nawab Saheb forest. It is natural grassy ground surrounded by tall Deodar and blue pine trees. The local teams played daily and arranged tournaments on different occasions like Eid holidays and weekends. Through Doga Cricket Ground and Karori Cricket Club, tourism can be promoted on the district and provincial levels by arranging tournaments, especially during summer vacations.

Mootra Cricket Ground

It is 5020 ft. and 500 meters west of Karori Higher Secondary School on top of the hill near Safaidede Gali. Lovely places for playing football and cricket games. However, cricket is the dominating game in the area, so tape ball cricket tournaments are being arranged from time to time by local teams and Karori Cricket Club. Mootra Cricket Ground is easy to access for Karori and Malhar teams. Cricket is also a key element to promote tourism in the Karori region.

Karori Cricket Ground

The ground near Karori Bala, a higher secondary school, is grassy. This vast ground may be developed as the main cricket ground for this region, and the adjacent plain may be used as a Karori Park or children's amusement park.

Beautiful view of Karori Higher Secondary School and Karori Cricket Ground

Fishing and Swimming 

Two significant water streams in the Karori region flow down the mountains in two valleys from east to west. The one is  Nambal Katha (the water stream of Kharyala and its surroundings). The other is Chamial Katha or Jodan da Katha (the water stream of Chamyal Valley and the southern face of central Karori Hill). Both streams have small and big lakes and waterfalls. You can enjoy brown trout fishing, Swimming, and photography. You can find a lot of scenic views  along the banks of both rivers (Kathas)

Brown Trout in Karori Water Streams

Both further fall into the Naar River in the west of UC Karori. The famous Naar River is the main river of AGror Valley, upper Tanawal Valley, and the eastern face of the Black Mountain (Kala Dhaka). It is a tributary of the Indus River.

Beautiful Water Stream (Katha) in Karori Region

Big Cave beneath a Big Rock

The cave is located in Doga Forest. Which is among the natural wonders of Tanawal Valley.

Beautiful Forests or natural Botanic Gardens

There is a lush green thick forest towards the southern and eastern upper side of the UC Karori. The three main parts of the forest are the Doga forest, Karori Bala forest, and Kalu De Basti forest. The forest is full of hundreds of herbs, small trees, and tall trees like Deodar دیار, blue pine بیاڑ, and pinus Roseburghii چیڑ. Koh e Bingra forest is full of seasonal edible mushrooms like morels گچھی Termitomyces چھتری نما مشروم, button mushroom کھرکھنے, and full of biodiversity. 

Morels or گچھی mushroom grows during March and April in the Forests of Karori and Tanawal.
Morels have been used as medicinal mushrooms for centuries.
However, this was used as food 20 years ago.
It is now being sold for 400 USD per Kg.

Hazara Universit research shows hundreds of species of birds, Odonata (dragonflies), damselflies, and other insects available in Mansehra's forests, especially in Tanawal Valley. There is an abundance of a particular plant that is utilized as green food or Saag called Kunji Da Saag کنجھی دا ساگ.

White umbrella-type mushrooms called Termitomyces in botany.

This forest is the top attraction for researchers،, traditional medicine practitioners, and herbalists. The abovementioned forest area may be utilized as a natural park and Karori Botanical Garden for future generations.

The other trees are wild olive, oak, and some local Hindko names، کنگڑ، شرول، بینس، بٹنگی، کنکول، بٹکرڑ، پشوڑ.

 

Wildlife, herbs, and valuable mushrooms are disappearing due to the indiscriminate felling of trees for building timber and money and decreasing spring water, snowfall, and rain, causing climate change. Crops are also disappearing in the area. 

I request to all stakeholders and residents of Karor" "if you want to restore these natural luxuries and ecosystems, then protect the forests and plant new trees to leave a better region and country to future generations.

Black Granite or Mansehra Granite Deposits

Overall, Mansehra region, particularly the Tanawal region, is entire of granite deposits from the plain of Darband to all over the Tanawal valley; you will see black granite everywhere.

Tanawal Granite formation belongs to the Ordovician to Devonian age (as per US Geological Survey 1964). However, the mining of granite started in the area after 2001. To date, there are 100 plus mines in Upper Tanawal. The prominent mines are the Jodan Da Katha granite, Beens Berian Granite, and Dher Top granite near Naryala and Makhan Gali.

However, the granite mines benefited or not only know a little about. From my perspective, mines are a killer of the ecosystem, are dangerous for minimizing the green landscape, and produce a lot of pollution. After a visit to the area, you will see the residual debris filling the lakes and flowing into the nearest Tarbela Lake. Alternatively, the dam bed level is rising, and capacity will be decreased after some time if remedial actions have not been taken.

Mansehra Granite or Black Granite mines in the Karori region

Famous big villages in UC Karori

On the northern mountains near Dher Top, the villages are Naryala, Sarai, Salabat, and Makhan Gali. Other villages are Seri Bololiaan, Seri Meher Gul, Thakra, Doga Nawab Saheb, Sanjliala, Kharyala, and Bandi. Villages on the western side of Karori are Geen Gada, Lohar Banda, Nambal, Dhanda Kholian, Lassa (former Chairman Royat e Hilal committee Mufti Muneeb ur Rahman belongs to Lassa), Malo Bandi, Buchi Bandi, Dil Doga, Pathan Bandi, Bajji Bang, and Haryala Syedaan. 

The villages along the main Karori road and central hill are Karori Bala, Karori Miana, Karori Pain, Malhar, Tareri, Kotla Saderhn, and Dhok Khanan. The villages located along the Bandi Parao –Chamial road are Shildar, Batli, Beens Berian, Akhun Bandi, Jandaan Seri, Badal, Betarwai, Chamial, Namshera Gujjran, Giddo Bagla, Gorian De Gali, and Kalu De Basti. Jodan Da Katha is also in the UC Karori constituency, located in the western foothills on Oghi Darband Road, just below the Malhar.

Government Institutions and Amenities in Karori

There are three Higher Secondary Schools for boys at UC Karori, Karori, Salabat, and Thakra. The high schools for boys are Chamiyal, Nambal, and Bandi Parao.

Fogirls' education is a Higher Secondary School at Dhanda Kholian and two high schools, Karori and Chamial.

Government Higher Secondary School for Boys Karori Bala

There are three basic health units in the Karori region: BHU Karori, BHU Bhandi Parao, and BHU Nambal.

BHU Nambal Karori, Upper Tanawal Valley Mansehra

Electric power supply, PTCL exchange at Karori, the footprint of mobile operators, and internet connectivity are also available in the region. Moreover, multiple water supply schemes are available to facilitate the residents of Karori.

General Information about Karori

The people of Karori are simple, warm-hearted, and hospitable. The dominant is the Tanolis. However, other castes, such as Gujjar and Pathans, also live here.

The main three languages spoken in the Karori region are Tanoli, Gojri, and Pashto. The population of Karori is 30,000. Registered voters are 22,000.KPK constituency is PK-33 (the present winner is Nawabzada Farid Khan PTI), and the National constituency is NA-14 Mansehra 2 (Muhammad Sajjad PML-N).

The dominant profession is agriculture and livestock. However, other sources of income are government jobs, construction work, granite mines, and overseas workers. 

Favorite foods and Tanoli Cuisine

Dominating cuisines are local and based on vegetables, milk-based products, and beef. However, some adapted dishes like Biryani, Nihari, Haleem, Chapli Kebab, Pulao, and Daal Chawal are common. For entertaining a guest with Murgh Curry, PUlao with raita or Chart is common. Sometimes, people honour the guest with the Cury of Desi Murg (organic chicken).

Local rice, Desi ghee, and Shakar (brown sugar) have been favourite dishes for centuries. Saag, Curry, and yoghurt-based dishes are also being prepared in the area. Chai Paratha is a typical breakfast. The most used beverages are milk tea, lassi, green tea, and herbal tea.