Field guides / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Lake Saiful Muluk
Field guide · Nature
Lake Saiful Muluk
Lake Saiful Muluk sits at 3,224 m at the head of the Kaghan Valley, above Naran, mirroring the snows of Malika Parbat in still glacial water. It is one of Pakistan's most photographed alpine lakes and the heart of the Prince Saiful Muluk folk legend.
Lake Saiful Muluk sits at 3,224 m at the head of the Kaghan Valley, above Naran, mirroring the snows of Malika Parbat in still glacial water. It is one of Pakistan's most photographed alpine lakes and the heart of the Prince Saiful Muluk folk legend.
Why go
- ✦Alpine glacial lake
- ✦Malika Parbat views
- ✦Saiful Muluk legend
- ✦Jeep track from Naran
On the Ground
Boats cross to the far shore in summer, and a cluster of tea stalls sits by the water. Mornings are calm and reflective; afternoons bring cloud and crowds. Acclimatise in Naran first, the altitude is felt quickly on the climb.
The Legend
The lake takes its name from Prince Saiful Muluk, whose romance with a fairy queen is one of the best-loved stories of the Kaghan Valley. Local guides still tell it lakeside, and it colours how the place is experienced.
Plan It with GreenPak
GreenPak's Riverfront Naran is a practical base for an early start to the lake. Use Plan a trip to pair Saiful Muluk with Babusar Top and the wider Kaghan Valley once you have dates.
Planning tip
When to go, Mid-June to September, once the jeep track from Naran clears of snow. The water is coldest and clearest early in the morning.
Getting there, Reach Naran via the Kaghan road from Mansehra, then take a 4x4 jeep (about an hour on rough track) or trek up. The road is seasonal and closed through winter.
Allow, A half day from Naran; a full day if you walk in.
