By: Gul Hamad Farooqui
CHITRAL PAKISTAN : Arkari valley is very famous for its scenic beauty. There is also another small valley known as Bhisti. In this valley there is a beautiful tourism spot at a height of 16000 feet above the sea level which is called Tong Shughur in local language. Even in Tongshughur, springs of pure water coming from the foothills of the mountains. This water flows in a circle like a snake, this meandering canal adds to the beauty of the area.
Tongshughur also has a green field and with green grass growing naturally everywhere, it looks like a green carpet has been laid here. There is greenery everywhere which look very handsome. The mountains are covered with snow which presents a very attractive look. Trich Mir mountain looks like a small mound from here. Here in this field, there is medicinal plants like onion grows naturally, which also tastes like onion. Local people say that this onion-like herb was used as medicine in past.
According to the local people, Tong Shughur was also the summer pasture of the people of Bhisti valley where the local people used to bring their cattle for grazing and as it was their summer pasture, they collected milk and made cheese, butter, curd, and milk items from it. They used to make other things, which were taken here from summer and used in the houses. In the past, wild life was also existing here in this tourist spot, which was hunting legally by foreigners in hunting trophy and local people to earn a lot of money by this way. Emeralds and other precious stones and minerals are also found in this area in the surrounding mountains.
Being located at a high altitude of 16000 feet, Tongshughur overlooks the Trich Mir mountain look like mud mound from here. The sound of clear and cool water waterfalls in the nearby areas is like a natural music sound of trumpets. Local people say that this beautiful tourist spot could not become the center of attention of the authorities as well as the media. Our team was the first media team to reach this beautiful area for the first time. The local people demand that the tourism department should pay attention to this area and organize a tournament or a traditional sports event here so that this beautiful area can also attract tourists and this area can also develop by promoting tourism. In this beautiful place, local people celebrated a picnic and also put bhangra and peformed fold dance here.
