Saidgai Lake

About

Saidgai Lake (Pashto, Urdu), also known as 'Saidgai Dand', is situated in the upper reaches of Ushirai Dara in the Upper Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Positioned at an elevation of 11,500 feet (3, 500 m), it lies northwest of Gabin Jabba. During the warmer month, temperatures range between 5°C and 10°C. The lake is a popular tourist destination, especially from June to August, attracting visitors from Dir and other regions. For the remainder of the year, the lake is typically covered in snow. Saidgai Lake is close to the border between of Dir Upper and Swat. Saidgai Lake is located approximately 7–8 hours on foot from Ushirai Dara. Residents of both Upper Dir and Swat District claims administrative rights over the area. Surrounded by high mountains and lush pastures, the lake spans roughly 1 km in length and 0.5 km in width. Its waters flow into nearby streams that eventually join the Panjkora River in Dir. There are numerous legends and myths about the lake. Jinn's are popularly believed to live there.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.