Soan Valley
وادیِ سُون Soon Sakesar Valley وادیِ سُون سکیسر | |
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  Soan Valley Location in Pakistan  Soan Valley Soan Valley (Pakistan) | |
| Coordinates: 32°58′N 72°15′E / 32.967°N 72.250°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Region |  Punjab |
| District | Khushab |
| Elevation | 1,530 m (5,010 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| Area code | 0454 |
Soan Valley (Punjabi, Urdu: وادیِ سُون) also spelt as Soon Valley is in the north west of Khushab District, Punjab, Pakistan. Its largest settlement is the town of Naushera.[1][2][3][4] The valley extends from the village of Padhrar to Sakesar, the highest peak in the Salt Range. The valley is 35 miles (56 km) long and has an average width of 9 miles (14 km).[1] It covers a 300-square-mile (780 km2) area. Soon Valley has a number of lakes, waterfalls, jungle, natural pools and ponds. The valley has been settled since ancient times, most recently by the Awan tribe, which still resides in the valley.[5][6]
The peak of Mount Sakesar is at 5,010 feet (1,530 m) above sea level. It was once the summer headquarters of the Deputy Commissioners of three districts – Campbellpur (now Attock), Mianwali and Shahpur (now Sargodha). It is the only mountain in this part of the Punjab which receives snowfall in winter. In the late 1950s, the Pakistan Air Force placed a radar station on Sakesar to monitor airspace over north-eastern Pakistan. Also on the mountain is a Pakistan Television Corporation transmission center.[7]
- ^ a b "Soon Valley". Tourism, Archaeology and Museums Department. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Soon Valley-Khushab - Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab". tdcp.gop.pk. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Soon Valley becomes centre of attraction for researchers, news seekers". The Nation. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Soon Valley – Basic Information". visitsoonvalley.com. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- ^ SIR LEPEL H. GRIFFIN writes in his book 'The Panjab Chiefs' (1865 Edition) p.570-571., that "All branches of the tribe (Awan) are unanimous in stating that they originally came from neighbourhood of Ghazni to India, and all trace their genealogy to Hasrat Ali the son-in-law of the Prophet. Kutab Shah, who came from Ghazni with Sultan Mahmud, was the common ancestor of the Awans……. It was only in the Rawalpindi, Jehlum and Shahpur districts that they became of any political importance……..In Shahpur District the Awans held the hilly country to the north west, Jalar, Naushera and Sukesar, where the head of the tribe still resides." H.A. Rose writes,"But in the best available account of the tribe, the Awans are indeed said to be of Arabian origin and descendants of Qutb Shah" 'A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province'A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West ..., Volume 1 By H.A. Rose
- ^ The Soon Valley. http://visitorsheaven.com/Soon%20Sakesar.php Archived 2018-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Complete information for tourists visiting Soon Valley http://visitsoonvalley.com/