Sakesar ( Punjabi,

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

: سكيسر) is the highest mountain in the

Salt Range The Salt Range ( and Namkistan نمکستان) 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 ...

Punjab, Pakistan Punjab (, ) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. With a population of over 127 million, it is the Demographics of Pakistan, most populous province in Pakistan and the List of first-level administrative divisions by popu ...

. Its height is . It lies on the outer fringes of the Soon Valley in

Khushab District Khushab District ( Punjabi: ), is a district in the province of Punjab, Pakistan, with its administrative capital in Jauharabad. The district is named after the historical city of Khushab. The district consists of four tehsils: Khushab, Noor ...

in the Punjab province. The small village of Sakesar is named after the mountain and Uchhali Lake is just below it.

History

The mountain used to be the summer headquarters for the deputy commissioners of three districts: Campbellpur (now Attock),

Mianwali Mianwali (Saraiki language, Saraiki, ) city in Mianwali Tehsil is the capital city of Mianwali District in Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. The Largest cities of Pakistan, 81st most populous city of Pakistan, it is known for its diverse popu ...

, and

Sargodha Sargodha (Punjabi language, Punjabi/; ; ) is a city and capital of Sargodha Division, located in Central Punjab, central Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. It is Pakistan's List of most populous cities in Pakistan, 11th most populous city and ...

. The

Pakistan Air Force The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (; ) is the aerial warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy when re ...

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 () is a district, located partially on the Pothohar Plateau and in Indus Plain, in Punjab, Pakistan. Jhelum is one of the oldest districts of Punjab. It was established on 23 March 1849. Jhelum is known for providing many sold ...

) in the east and spreading westward.

Lakes

* Khabikki Lake – 37 km * Uchhali Lake – 13 km respectively, boating available *

Nammal Lake Namal Lake () is a man-made lake located near Rikhi, a village on one corner of the Namal valley in Mianwali District, Punjab, Pakistan. It was formed following the construction of Namal Dam in . Namal Dam is situated some from Mianwali city. T ...

– 40 km north-northwest of Sakesar * Jahlar Lake – 148 acres

Wildlife

World Wide Fund for Nature The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named th ...

survey carried out in September 2001 noted over 60 species of birds (some of them rare ones) and 10 species of mammals in and around Sakesar.

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

A pre-Islamic

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

temple is located on Sakesar near the Amb Shareef village. The temple complex, built in brick and mortar, consists of two temples facing each other. The main temple has several storeys, roughly 15 to 20 meters high. About 75 meters to the west is a smaller temple, which is two storeys or 7 to 8 meters high.Sakesar temple
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PTV re-broadcasting station

Pakistan Television Pakistan Television Corporation (; reporting name: PTV); also known as ''Pakistan Television'', is the Pakistani state-owned broadcasting, broadcaster founded by the Government of Pakistan, operating under the Ministry of Information & Broadc ...

's re-broadcasting centre is located in the area to provide terrestrial transmissions coverage to adjoining areas.

References

External links

Sakesar temple picture travelogue
{{PunjabGeography Khushab District Hill stations in Pakistan Mountains of Punjab (Pakistan)