Every nation has their own culture, they represent themselves in the different way. But Pakistan has quite a different culture from another countries and nations. Pakistan has 5 provinces and every province has a different culture. Today we are talking about the most famous places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dir

Upper Dir District is 3,699 square kilometers in area and former part of the former Malakand Division, lying along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border between Chitral, Bajaur Agency and Lower Dir. It is connected with the Kohistan District via the Badawi Pass and Chitraln District through Lawari Pass. It is connected with Afghanistan through Bin Shahi Pass. The topography of Upper Dir is dominated by high mountains. The most important mountain range is the Hindukush. It runs from north east to south west along the northern borders with Chitral District. In winter the whole area remains covered in snow. The mountains in the western part of the district are covered with forests, while the eastern mountain range, Dir Kohistan is barren. Panjkora River is the main river of the district, which originates from Dir Kohistan. Upper Dir headquarters is connected to all tehsil headquarters.

Laram Top

Laram Top also known as “Laram Sar” is a hill station in the Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at a distance of 30 km from Chakdara and 180 km from Peshawar. It is located at elevation of 7345 ft (2239 meters) above the sea level. It is the highest peak in Dir (lower) and often known as “radar” because of multiple Radar being instilled there especially for communication purposes.

Shahi Bin Shahi Dir Lower

Shahi and Bin Shahi in Samarbagh tehsil of Lower Dir district along the Pakistan border with Afghanistan is a scenic beauty. Shahi Rest house is located on the border of Afghanistan.

The best place to visit in summer and if you want to enjoy snow fields, you should visit there in winter, in December and January. When you visit Dir Lower, never forget to visit Shahi bin Shahi and remember to stay in Chinar Rest House Timergara, one of the best hotels in Lower Dir.

Ushirai Dara

Ushrai Dara (also spelled as Usherai) is a sub-valley in Upper Dir District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is located at a distance of 25 km from the main town of Darora. The Ushirai Valley is jeepable from Darora Bazaar to Batal and culminates on Gurr Kohi where vehicular track of Ushirai Dara ends. The real adventure starts from Gur Kohi, where different tracking trails can be followed to the hill tops. The mountains around this valley are covered with tall cedar and pine trees and meandered by different streams and waterfalls. The famous and beautiful lake of Saidgai Lake and comprising hospitable people attracts tourists from far to visit this scenic area. It comes under the administration of upper Upper Dir.

Famous Caps Of Lower Dir

“Khall is famous for its caps but caps are also made in Serai area of Upper Dir besides Mayar Jandol and Rabat areas of Lower Dir,” he said. The trader said that the caps were being sold from Rs60 to Rs450, depending on its material and quality. He said that the caps made in a house at Serai were sold at Rs700.

A market at the entrance of general bus stand of Timergara has been specified only for caps and summer is considered a right season for the business.

Rashid, another shopkeeper, said that they earned Rs10 to Rs50 profit per cap. “These caps are made by women in Khall. First they used to make caps with hands but now they also use sewing machines,” said Amjad Ali Shah, a local.

Every woman in every home at Khall knows the art of cap-making. “Now it has been turned into a profitable business. Women work for hours to prepare a cap. They also do other domestic work and whenever find time, they start making a cap,” he said. Abdul Wahab, a customer buying cap in a shop at Khall, told Dawn that he liked the cap due to its white color. According to him Prophet Muhammad also liked white colour. He said that he belonged to Dir Kohistan and was studying in Peshawar. “I am going to Peshawar where one of my friends asked me to buy a cap for him,” he said. Haji Gul Zarin, who has been engaged in the business since 1968 and owns two shops at Khall, said that traders from Afghanistan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Dir women turn cap making into profitable business Karachi and Swat had been coming there to buy caps. Jehan Badshah, another dealer, said that they bought caps from local traders, who visited houses in the area to get the commodity. Mahmood Syed, an elderly man, said that he had been dealing in caps for the last 35 years. He said in the past women of Khall used to make cap with golden silk embroidery. “Its material was imported from Delhi but it is not available now,” he said. Saeed Jan, another dealer, said that use of white caps was increased when garment factories started work in Faisalabad. “Our parents and influential people like Nawab of Dir used to wear colorful silky caps, which are now no more used,” he said. Although cap making has turned into an industry in the district, yet it lacks patronage of government and donors.