Lake Saif-ul-malook is a mountain-framed lake in the Kaghan valley’s northern part of the Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is 3,224 metres above sea level. The snow exudes a sense of mystery and wonder as it falls softly into the depths of Lake Saif-ul-Malook.
The lake, standing in majestic grandeur, is a testament to its alluring and enigmatic beauty, full of fascinating tales of fairies and princes. Geologists believe the lake was formed thousands of years ago during the Pleistocene epoch, when melting glaciers carved out its basin. The thawed water accumulated in a sizable depression that the glacier had once occupied as a result of the interaction between rising temperatures and retreating glaciers.
Lake Saif-ul-Malook, one of the most alluring tourist locations in the world, never fails to amaze visitors. The lake is home to a diverse population of blue-green algae and glacial sediments, which gives it a captivating turquoise hue.
Beauty of Lake Saif-ul-Malook
The lake’s depth, wrapped in mystery and the subject of enduring myths, nestles beneath the commanding grandeur of Malika Parbat. However, according to a recent study, Lake Saif-ul-Malook has a large surface area of 2.75 square kilometres and a depth of about 113 feet. The lake often freezes during winter, with air temperatures dropping below –10°C.
This lake’s attraction extends beyond the day’s brightness; it also mesmerises travellers at night with its allure. Campers who spend the night here witness a glorious display of the Milky Way, adorned with countless stars. A tapestry of fairy tales surrounds this beautiful location due to an ethereal encounter. Named after Prince Saif-ul-Malook, the lake attracts both international and local tourists.
The Depth Mystery
One of the most enduring myths is that the lake is bottomless. According to local beliefs, anyone who tries to measure the lake’s true depth meets a tragic end. Some claim that the lake is over 1.6 kilometres (1600 metres) deep. Others suggest that a powerful spirit or demon inhabits the lake’s depths, causing anyone who dares to swim into it to be pulled down. The myth likely persists due to the lake’s stillness and the way it mirrors the mountains, giving an illusion of infinite depth. Some stories from the locals also suggest that the depths of the lake are inhabited by a powerful demon or spirit, and whoever tries to swim or measure it is pulled down.
Historical and Literary Significance
The lake derives its name from the famous Persian folklore “Qissa Saif-ul-Malook”, written by Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, a 19th-century sufi poet of Punjab. The poetic tale, written in Punjabi, tells the story of Prince Saif-ul-Malook, an Egyptian prince who fell in love with Princess Badi-ul-Jamal, a fairy he saw in his dreams. The story represents the spiritual journey of the soul in search of divine love and is considered an allegory rooted in Sufi mysticism. Many believe that the lake, shrouded in fog and silence, was the very site where the events of the legendary love story unfolded — hence Lake Saif-ul-Malook.
Mian Muhammad Bakhsh describes the tale of an Egyptian prince, Saif-ul-Malook, who fell in love with a fairy, Badi-ul-Jamal. He saw her in his dreams, and after waking up, the prince at once set out in search of his beloved fairy. Until he met a saint, he was clueless regarding his journey. The saint explained the methods and locations for finding the fairy. The saint informed the prince about the hurdles he would face before finding and marrying Badi-ul-Jamal, explaining that she was a fairy while he was merely a human being. The prince started the journey in the name of love for a fairy, but after facing many challenges and with his courage and valiance, his journey turned into a spiritual exploration.
He eventually reaches a mystical lake, surrounded by tall mountains. He sees seven fairies bathing in the lake, and among them is Badi-ul-Jamal, the most beautiful. After he finds Badi-ul-Jamal, a jealous white giant, Deo Safaid, who also loved the fairy, intervenes. The giant’s rage causes the dam to break, creating a new lake called the Ansoo Lake. The prince and the fairy, after overcoming many of these obstacles and trials, eventually flee into a hidden cave, which is said to still exist today. Some legends say they live within the lake. Having personally visited the lake, I find it truly emerald-coloured and surrounded by the lushest mountains. The lake overshadowed by the Malika Parbat is the perfect sight of nature, one that you are bound to fall in love with.
To this day, some locals believe that the couple resurfaces on the full moon night every lunar month and warns tourists not to travel to the lake during that time. This belief stems from the locals living nearby, who claim to have heard mysterious sounds coming from the lake on full moon nights.