| Babusar Valley | |
| Elevation M: | 4173 |
| Traversed: | N-15 National Highway |
| Map: | Gilgit Baltistan #Pakistan |
Babusar Valley or Babusar Region (Urdu: درہ بابوسر) (elevation 4173m (13,691feet))[1] [2] is a mountain pass in Pakistan at the north of the 150 km (93 miles) long Kaghan Valley, connecting it via the Thak Nala with Chilas on the Karakoram Highway (KKH). Babusar Top is the highest point in Kaghan Valley that can be easily accessed by cars.
The Babusar Pass connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan.[3] It is one of the more dangerous routes in Pakistan. Every year, a number of casualties in road accidents are reported from this mountainous terrain. The most common reason for accidents is brake failure of vehicles in this steep landscape due to inexperience. Babusar Top was originally known as Babur Top, originating from the fact that the Mughal emperor Babur passed through this area in the early 16th century. Nowadays however, it is commonly referred to as Babusar Top.[4]
The Kaghan Valley, with its summers from May to September, typically experiences a maximum temperature of 11°C (52°F) in May, with a minimum temperature of 3°C (37°F). From mid-July until the end of September, the road north of Naran remains accessible all the way to the Babusar Pass. However, movement is limited during the monsoon and winter seasons. The Kaghan area is well connected by road to Islamabad and Peshawar.
During winter, the Pass often closes due to heavy snowfall and harsh conditions. Instead, travellers typically use the Karakoram Highway to access the northern regions of the country.
The mountain ranges that enter the Mansehra District from Kashmir are the offshoots of the great Himalayan system. In the Kaghan Valley, the mountain system is the highest in the area, including the Babusar Top. This range flanks the right bank of the Kunhar River, and contains a peak called Malika Parbat, which is over 17,000 feet high [5] and the highest in the valley.[6]
On the mountains, the grasslands are also where Gujjars and other nomads migrate during the summer for grazing by their sheep, goats, and other animals. On the north side, there are mountains that are extensions of the same mountain system as the Kaghan Mountains. This range diverges from the eastern side at Musa ka Musalla, a peak at an elevation of around 13,500 feet, which skirts the north end of the Bhogarmang and Konsh valleys and sends down a spur to divide the two. Here also, like Kaghan, thick forests are naturally present, especially on the higher slopes. However, due to extensive exploitation, thick forests are now usually found in unapproachable areas.