You probably think that you need to go to Zambia, Canada, or New Zealand to experience some breathtaking waterfalls or you need to go to the Amazon or Hawaii to experience a jungle. What if I told you that a place in Pakistan, not far from Islamabad has, both, a jungle and a waterfall that will fulfill your desire of going to a jungle and sightseeing a breathtaking waterfall?
I’m talking about none other than the Umbrella Waterfalls in
Sajikot, Abbottabad District! These serene waterfalls are near the town of
Havelian which comes on the way to Abbottabad from Islamabad. The route to the
location is easily available on Google Maps and the destination might be
crowded during peak Summers when students have their vacations. The best time to
visit this destination is perhaps September before the Winter season takes over
or late March before Summer begins to emerge.
Sajikot Waterfall is roughly 175 meters tall and has a picturesque
view. It is not like normal waterfalls and it falls in a surrounding fashion
with rocky boulders overlooking a big basin underneath which collects the water
for the tourists to bathe in. The waterfalls are deep enough for people to use
life jackets to prevent them from drowning but it is shallow towards the edges which
makes it perfect for families to visit.
Personally, the fresh breath of air at the Sajikot
Waterfalls was a feast for the lungs, you just cannot point out where the
freshness in the air comes from – whether it is the coldness of the environment
or the dense oxygen flowing through the woods – one thing is, however, certain;
whoever visits Sajikot will surely fall in love.
Picture this: you walk on a path through a dense jungle, as
the dirt gets wetter and softer, you smell and feel the dampness in the air;
soon as you rustle through the thick bushes covering the path, you find
yourself some steps that walk you down towards a blue oasis in the middle of
the jungle with the water falling from such a big height that it feels like the
rocks are almost flying above the waterbody which collects the falling stream
of water. The very first primal instinct is to just jump in the water and start
swimming – feel the cold water and be visually pleased by the pastel blue
color,
If you ever visit Sajikot, do remember wearing a life
jacket, floating backward in the water, and closing your eyes as you hear the
water droplets fall, the leaves rustle, the wind gushes and the birds sing
their song. Sajikot is nothing short of eternal bliss for nature lovers.
A friendly disclaimer would be that sometimes a large crowd
of bachelors may come to the common area, this is also partially the reason why
the blog recommends visiting Sajikot at a time when students are occupied with
schools, colleges, and universities. A traveler’s pet peeve includes
crowdedness and indeed Umbrella waterfall can get crowded during Summer
vacations. Please do not litter as these nature reserves are a national
treasure and we should never get it dirty.
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