Sakesar (

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British Th ...

, ur, ), is the highest mountain in the

Salt Range The Salt Range ( pnb, ) is a mountain range in the north of Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends along the south of the Potohar Plateau and the north of the Jhelum River. Th ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...

Pakistan. Its height is 1,522m. It lies on the outer fringes of the Soon Valley in Khushab District in the

Punjab Province Punjab Province may refer to: * Punjab Province (British India), a former province of British India from 1849 to 1947 In Pakistan * Punjab, Pakistan, a province in Pakistan from 1970 onward * West Punjab, a province of Pakistan from 1947 to 195 ...

. Uchhali Lake is just below it. It is a good picnic spot and moderately tough walking point.

History

The mountain used to be the summer headquarters for the deputy commissioners of three districts -

Campbellpur Attock ( Punjabi and Urdu: ), formerly known as Campbellpur (), is a historical city located in the north of Pakistan's Punjab Province, not far from the country's capital Islamabad. It is the headquarters of the Attock District and is 61st larg ...

(now Attock),

Mianwali Mianwali (Punjabi/ ur, ) is the capital city of Mianwali District in Punjab, Pakistan. The 81st largest city of Pakistan, it is known for its diverse population of, Punjabi and Pashtun ethnicities. History Mianwali District was an agricult ...

and

Sargodha Sargodha (Punjabi and ur, ) is a city and capital of Sargodha Division, located in Punjab province, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's 12th largest city by population and one of the fastest-growing cities of the country. Sargodha is also known as ...

. In view of Sakesar's ideal location and height, the PAF selected it in the late 1950s as the site for a high-powered radar which would provide air defence cover for the northeastern part of the western wing. The hilltop of Sakesar is located in the Salt Range - starting from Sohawa (in

Jhelum District Jhelum District (Urdu and pnb, ), is partially in Pothohar Plateau, and partially in Punjab Plain of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Jhelum is one of the oldest districts of Punjab. It was established on 23 March 1849. According to the 1998 ...

) in the east and spreading westward.

Important lakes

* Khabikki Lake - 37 km * Uchhali Lake - 13 km respectively - Boating available * Nammal Lake - 40 km North-Northwest of Sakesar * Jahlar Lake - 148 acres - Birds from Siberia travel here from distant places

Wildlife

WWF Survey carried out in September 2001 indicated that over 60 species of birds (some of them rare ones) and 10 species of mammals exist in and around Sakesar.

Villages

The main villages in the valley are: Amb Shareef (location of mountain temple), Dhadhar (Oldest Village of Valley) Anga (2nd Oldest Village of Valley),Jahlar, Chitta, Dhaka, Jaba, Khura, Khabeki, Uchalla, Khotakka, Koradhi, Kufri (currently known as Sadiq Abad), Mardwal, Sabhral, Shakarkot, Sirhaal, Sodhi, Surrakki, Ugali, Noshehra and Uchhali. These all names were given to the areas by the peoples (who migrated to India) here before the separation of Pakistan and India. Some old shrines, temples and buildings are still there in every village. Now soon Velly is famous for fresh vegetables.

Climate

*May–June Summers Min 15 to 22 °C; Max 28 to 38 °C *Nov–Feb winters Min –3 to –4 °C; Max 6 to 22 °C *July-Aug Rainy Season

Amb Shareef Hindu temple

AMB Temple in Soon Sakasar Valley by Usman Ghani

The ancient pre-Islamic ancient Hindu temple, is near the Amb Shareef village, on the Sakesar mountain in the Soon Valley. The temple complex, built in brick and mortar, is complex of two temples facing each other. The main temple is several storeys high, roughly 15 to 20 meter tall. To the west about 75 meters lies another smaller temple, which is 2 story or 7 to 8 meters high. It is located on the Sakesar mountain, near Amb Shareef village.Sakesar temple
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PTV re-broadcasting station

Pakistan Television Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore. Background Historical c ...

's re-broadcasting centre has been installed to provide terrestrial transmissions coverage to adjoining areas.

References

External links

Sakesar temple picture travelogue
Geography of Punjab, Pakistan Khushab District Hill stations in Pakistan Mountains of Punjab (Pakistan) {{Khushab-geo-stub