Balakot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balakot (Urdu: بالاکوٹ), located about thirty kilometres from the city of Mansehra, is a town in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is a famous tourist destination of the region is one of the first stops for tourists who wish to visit the secluded but beautiful Kaghan valley of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The river Kunhar runs through the city and is one of the main reasons for the beauty of this area. Balakot is also the main city in this area, and is surrounded by many smaller towns and villages.
The Sikhs got a hold of Mansehra in the year 1818 after a stiff resistance from its inhabitants. When the whole Mansehra fell under Sikh control, it was annexed to Punjab. Syed Ahmad Shaheed & Shah Ismail Shaheed with the help of the Mujahadeen, including the Swatis of Balakot and Syeds of Kaghan, led many revolts and attacks against the Sikhs. At last on 6th May 1831 during a fierce battle Syed Ahmad Shaheed & Shah Ismail Shaheed along with hundreds of freedom fighters were martyred. The central mosque of Balakot is named after Syed Ahmed Shaheed. Qazi Khalil Ahmed District Khateeb of District Mansehra,is the present Khateeb of Central Syed Ahmed Shaheed Mosque Balakot. The mosque is destroyed second time by the natural disaster, as it was just reconstructed again after being destroyed by 1992 flood in Balakot.
During winter there may be snow-fall in the region, but after March temperatures rise and result in a warmer climate.
The town was completely destroyed in the massive 2005 Kashmir earthquake on 8 October 2005. The United Arab Emirates has volunteered to rebuild this small city into a more spectacular one with housing colonies, schools, hospitals, and other civic facilities. However the Pakistani government has announced that the city will be abandoned, and rebuilt in a new location[1].
[edit] External links
 |
This North-West Frontier Province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
