Old Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

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Parachinar in 1950's

Swat Valley in 1970's

Tarbela in 1960's

 

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Saif-ul-Malook ; The Lake of Fairies in 1870's

Lake Saif-ul-Malook – ranked by The Guardian as the fifth best tourist destination in Pakistan – seems like heaven on earth. The greenish-blue crystal clear and freezing water, surrounded by giant glaciers, including Malika Parbat, reflects the beauty of Saif-ul-Malook.

Fairy tale of Saif-ul-Malook

The history of this exquisite lake is much famous and attracts the tourists from all over the world. The story is about a prince, Saif-ul-Malook, who fell in love with a fairy princess, Badi-ul-Jamal.

The tale was transformed into a poem by Sufi saint and Punjabi Hindko poet, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh. The same poem was translated into Urdu language by a resident of Balakot, Ahmed Hussain Mujahid. According to the locals it is a place of fairies and demons, who through the extremity of weather display their anger.

A story teller narrated: “I have not seen the fairy, but I’ve seen the glory of God. Every month, on the 14th night of the lunar month, the lake is like a mirror – cradling the mountains, the sky, the innumerable twinkling stars, the glowing orb of the moon – so still, so clear, you can scarcely tell the between reality and reflection. It is a sight to behold! Many a night I have also seen lights, floating lights, a thousand floating lights, here on the slope, where and watched them disappear under the rocks. I have not seen the fairy, Badi-ul-Jamal, but I have witnessed the glory of God.”

Saif-ul-Malook was a prince of Egypt. He had a handsome amount of treasure which he inherited from his forefathers. Inscribed on the treasure were two seals; one bearing the image of Said and the other one being that of Badi-ul-Jamal.

When Saif saw the picture of the fairy he immediately fell in love with her. He then left his home to search for her, a journey that took six years to complete. One day a saint met Saif in a street of Egypt and gave him a Sulemani cap, telling him that it will take the prince to his desired place. The saint told the prince that he would find the fairy in a lake but he had to pass several daunting exams and also pray in order to achieve her, as she was a fairy queen and prince was human. A human eye can never see a demon or fairy as they are “fire borne”.

Saif reached the place and started a Chilla (pray for 40 consecutive days). Day by day his health get worst but he didn’t give up and prayed. After praying for 40 consecutive days without food and rest he became exhausted and weak. It was the 14th night of that month and he thought, “Maybe tonight I’ll see her.” Then suddenly he saw the fairy queen coming along with her maids towards the lake for bath. She was extremely beautiful with dark black hairs and radiant eyes. She was truly a sight to behold.

After talking to Badi-ul-Jamal, Saif came to know that she was trapped in a castle at Koh Qaf by Safaid Deyo (white giant) for the past 10 years. The white giant was also in love with the fairy. After listening to the story of the fairy queen, Saif took her and tried to escape from this valley. When the white giant came to know of this he created turbulences out of anger in this lake, as a result of which flood came in Kaghan Valley. They (the fairy and the prince) hid in a cemetery few miles away from Naran, but due to the flood Saif and Badi-ul-Jamal took shelter in a cave near the lake.

Legend has it that the Ansoo Lake in Kaghan Valley, a few miles away from Saif-ul-Malook, was created out of the tears of the white giant when he found out that the fairy was gone. According to the classic fable, the prince and the fairy queen still live, to this day, in that cave and dance above the water surface on the 14th night of every lunar month.

 

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Waziristan in October 1937

Abbottabad

Wali of Swat Miangul Abdul Wadud signs the Instrument of Accession enabling Swat to join Pakistan in 1947. On the right are his son Miangul Abdul Haq Jahanzeb, his grandson Miangul Aurangzeb and the Chief Secretary of Swat, Mr Attaullah.

 

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Abbottabad c.1920's

 

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Islamia College Peshawar c.1910...

My college.

 

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1910

1920

Landi Kotal, Khyber Pass c.1918

 

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For those who are curious about what is written on these documents, these are the general orders of the ruler of Swat district in Pushto (when it was an independent state until it merged with KP Pakistan in 1969). The translations are as under (click to expand):

Translation: if a person went to someone's place to offer condolences, they will not (stay there to) drink tea or eat food.

Translation: A shopkeeper cannot sell cigarette, snuff or cannabis to a minor. If these items were sold to a minor, that shopkeeper will be fined Rs 200/-. If a person saw a minor using cigarette, cannabis or snuff, that person is allowed to slap the minor once or twice.

 

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Boats bridge in Nowshera

Kalam, Swat

Mr. Ataullah Khan his early days as a junior engineer at Warsak Dam.

 

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Naran Valley

1940

Post Office Nowshera c.1930's

 

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Peshawar saddar 1950

Falak Sher Cinema Peshawar in 50s

Arbab Road Peshawar 1957

 

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1900

 

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View Of The Khyber Pass From Shagai Fort.

Chitral

Looking up the Khyber from Shagai fort

 

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Peshawar in 1950

 

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Peshawar saddar

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RAF Peshawar Camp Swimming pool in 1947

 

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Landi Kotal, Khyber Pass in late 1960's

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Peshawar in 1950's —

Peshawar c.1920's