1,524mValleyLakeForestWildlifeScenicMountain

Soon Valley (Sakesar)

About

A hidden gem in the Salt Range of Punjab - a lush, forested valley dotted with three lakes (Uchhali, Khabeki, and Jhalar) and crowned by Sakesar, the highest peak in Punjab at 1,524m. The valley is a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance, sheltering hundreds of thousands of migratory birds each winter, alongside rare wildlife including the Punjab urial and woolly flying squirrel.

History

The Salt Range, in which Soon Valley sits, is one of the geologically oldest exposed rock formations in South Asia, with layers going back 600 million years. The area was part of the ancient Gandharan civilisation and later came under successive empires - Mauryan, Kushan, Ghaznavid, and Mughal. Emperor Babur camped near Khushab on his march to Panipat in 1526 and described the Salt Range's landscapes in his memoirs. The Uchhali lake complex was declared a protected area in 1987 and listed as a Ramsar Wetland in 1996 for its critical role as a winter stopover on the Central Asian Flyway.

Nearby Places

Viewpoints, food, and stops nearby (approximate distances).

Landmark1.0 km
Soon Valley Road
The winding approach road from Khushab through the Salt Range escarpment into the valley - dramatic views at the descent.
Viewpoint5.0 km
Sakesar Peak
The highest point in Punjab at 1,524m - a Pakistan Air Force radar station occupies the summit but the approach road offers sweeping Salt Range panoramas.
Viewpoint8.0 km
Uchhali Lake
A saline Ramsar wetland lake at the heart of the Soon Valley, famous for flamingos, pelicans, and thousands of migratory waterfowl in winter.
Park8.0 km
Uchhali Wetland Complex (Ramsar Site)
Pakistan's internationally recognised wetland reserve protecting three saline and freshwater lakes critical for the Central Asian Flyway.
Viewpoint12.0 km
Khabeki Lake
Freshwater lake adjacent to Uchhali - excellent for birdwatching, boating, and camping on the shores.
Viewpoint15.0 km
Jhalar Lake
The third of the Soon Valley lakes, smaller and more sheltered, surrounded by scrub forest and rocky Salt Range ridges.
Viewpoint35.0 km
Namal Lake
A reservoir lake near Mianwali on the edge of the Salt Range, backed by rocky ridges - peaceful and less visited than Uchhali.