From the Karakoram Highway, it’s difficult to have a hint of the grandeur laying over the heights of Havelian. It needs to leave the KKH and drive through the Havelian city to unveil another fantasy land of Hazara. It is not about the waterfalls only but a variety of natural elements in a précised balance.

There are two possible routes to reach the Sajikot Waterfalls. One possibility starts from the KKH before the Havelian Cantonment and passing through the Satorra Valley is a longer option for those who are aiming the waterfalls. The second and better option is to cross the Havelian and just before the Ayub Bridge pick the river-side road on the right. At about 200 meters, a sharp right turn enters into the main city. By moving straight and after reaching the Havelian Railway Station in a short time, the road to the left leads to the Sajikot. Once on the Sajikot Road, keep straight and ignore all side roads and streets. The 25KM Sajikot Road may take about 60 to 90 minutes to reach the waterfalls. The overall road average is fine as its bad near the city and amazingly good on the heights.

Initially, the road conditions are more than the worst in addition to the directionless city traffic. Be patient as the rush area is short and with the end of populated portion the road gets better too. It should not take more than 15-20 minutes to pass through the noisy part of the journey.

Once out of the city, it’s the start of the nature’s playground. The journey starts with a wider view with cultivated fields and trees and converts into a lush green and forested climb. The views are serene while the fresh air is refreshing. The simplicity of the villages along with the abundance of vegetation is awesome. In spring and monsoon seasons, the greenery touches its extremes and flowers spread colors in every direction. There are a number of spectacular spots for rest and photography. A side stream with clear water forms an inspiring waterfall beside the road bridge at about 30 minutes from the Havelian. With the height and time, the scenery gets richer with extended forests and birdseye views of the valleys in the deep.

The road continues with frequent bends and at times it requires good driving skills on the height. It is also important to maintain a careful speed on blind and narrow turns. In any confusion about a side road or diversion, it’s recommended to ask the first available person to avoid inconvenience and to save time. Few shops with supply of soft drinks and snacks may provide some refreshment in village Jandala and Sajikot. A couple of typical restaurants can also be a source of lunch in Sajikot.

The Sajikot is a beautiful small village with a simple bazar, Masjid and sloped roofed houses. The land is being used smartly with cultivation of every possible crop according to the season. Domestic animals grazing on the green slopes and heights add life to the natural views.

It’s only a 5 minutes’ drive from the village to reach the glorious waterfalls of Sajikot. Few parked bikes and vehicles may be the sign of reaching the destination. The waterfalls are on the left of the road in the deep. Some enthusiasts reach the top of the waterfalls by an easy hiking while the most visitors step down on a steep trek to the front of the waterfalls. The Hazara Waterfalls are amazingly picturesque. The height of the fall, water quantity, the greenish pond in which the water is falling, beautiful surroundings and location: everything is inspiring. The water pond is not recommended for bathing as several incidents happened in the past. A board with the caution is also installed before the pond for visitors’ information.

The trees opposite to the waterfalls are ideal with shadow and grassy floor for relaxing and broader views. A side stream under the trees is also good source of water. It can be an ideal full day friends and family trip from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. For camping, there is a narrow place for 2-3 camps in the trees but more space can be prepared on the leveled patches.

The important matter which every tourist has to consider is to keep the areas of natural beauty clean. Responsible tourism is the key to protect the environment and nature for now and for the future.