Upper Dir Valley: The Land of Hospitality and Peace

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) consists of 26 districts overall, and one of those is the beautiful Upper Dir. It became part of Pakistan in 1969 before this year it preserved its status as a princely state ruled by nawabs. Nawab Shah Jehan Khan was the ruler of Dir at the time of Pakistan’s independence.  It was proclaimed as a district in 1970. It split into the Upper and Lower Dir districts in 1996.  This district is located in the northern side of Pakistan. It shares boundaries with Afghanistan in the west, Chitral District in the North West and Swat District to the east, and Lower Dir District to the south. 

There are a number of opinions and contradictions regarding the name ‘Dir’ among the elders and those who have written about it. Dir has remained the center of various religious orthodoxies and spiritualism and several civilizations have developed and passed through this region. As a result, the valley has been known by different names as well as its present name ‘Dir’ has been used in different meanings from time to time. As per the elders, Dir was referred to by several names in the past, including Goraiy, Yaghistan, Biloristan, and Masaga. It was named after the Kafir (infidels) dynasty that inhabited the Dir Valley's Kohistan area. Between the 10th and the 15th centuries AD, these Kafirs governed the region. After the 15th century AD, the Pashtuns of the Yousafzai Tribe conquered the area and named it Dir. 

It is said that Dir was derived from the Persian word ‘dair’ which meant ‘far off’ and ‘hard to reach’. This name was used for the area because of its remoteness. Apart from the Yousafzai tribe’s other tribes such as Swati Katani and Kohistani Gujur tribes populate district Dir upper. They were known for their hard work and hospitality and all are Sunni Muslims. Upper Dir has a total area of 3699 sq.km with a population of 946,421 which comprises 49% (approx.) male and 51% female population. The literacy rate is 64% in male while the literacy rate is 22% in females. The main crops of Dir Upper are wheat, maize and rice while walnut, citrus, apples, apricots, peach, pears, plums, fig, loquat (Japanese plum), mulberry, and persimmon are the major fruits. The district is famous for its many recreational hotspots in Pakistan. People from all over the country and even foreigners visit Upper Dir to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Katora lake, Kumrat Valley, Jahaz Banda, Saidgai Lake, Laamchar waterfall,  Lawari Tunnel and Bedagai pass. Visitors enjoy camping, swimming, fishing, stargazing, and boating in various Upper-Dir district destinations. Upper Dir is equally beautiful in summers as well as winters. It is home to many experiences and attractions, making your trip well worth a visit in any season. Visitors can enjoy many winter activities, such as skiing and playing in the snow or frozen lakes. The district gets covered with snow, creating a beautiful image for visitors to enjoy. It would help if you remember that the weather conditions might lead to blocked roads creating inconvenience for you. To avoid such hassles, it would be best to check the weather forecast of the location you would be visiting in Upper Dir and the situation of roads and other facilities in that area. The best time to visit Upper Dir in Pakistan is from May through September. In this period, you have a pleasant temperature and little precipitation. Modern establishments, hotels, resorts, barbecue joints, and grill sites may be found throughout the area, particularly near the Panjkora River.

The cost of a single bedroom for one night in a restaurant or resort ranges from 1000 to 8000 PKR. There are additional accommodations with a three-star rating. Several hotels and resorts also accept reservations online. However, hotels and resorts are rarely overcrowded during the off-season, unlike other tourist destinations in KPK, like Swat Valley, Kaghan Valley, Murree, and Skardu. Other than these famous lakes, there are other smaller lakes and waterfalls catching the attention of tourists. So plan a trip this summer to these beautiful and magnetic spots in Dir district in KPK.