Main image: Power22, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There
The distance of Buner from Islamabad is 217 km. From Peshawar you can reach to Buner at a distance of 128 kilometers.
By Air: The nearest airport that can be used for air travel Buner is Peshawar International Airport
By Train: If you want to go to Buner by train from any part of the country, there is no train available to go to Buner and village. So you can get off at Nowshera Railway station or Peshawar station and go Buner by car, bus and Jeep
By Road: Through a car, you can reach to Buner from Islamabad in Four hours. The distance of Buner from Islamabad is 281 km. From Peshawar you can reach to Buner at a distance of 128 kilometers.
What to Expect
Elum Mountains are very popular among hikers due to the amazing scenery it offers while hiking. The mesmerizing sight of streams and lakes while going up the mountain is surely an amazing experience. Archaeologists have also discovered the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization around the Elum Mountains and they believe that there may be some other ancient remains under the mountain.
The locals call the top of the mountain “Jogiano Sar”. The Elum Mountains have great significance importance for the Hindus. The mountain is home to snakes and cobras. A famous proverb associated with the Elum Mountain is “When a snake reaches its youth, it goes to Mount Elum”.
The youth and villagers celebrate a festival of Jashn-e-Elum each year in which they get out of the heat of the valley and stay at the cooler mountain for some days. Elum Mountain being a well-known tourist destination attracts thousands of tourists each year.
History
Elum Ghar, also known as Mount Ilam is a 2,800 meters (9,200 ft) mountain located between the Swat and Buner districts of Pakistan. Elum Ghar is the highest peak in the region and is snow-covered most of the year. It is located west of Pir Baba’s shrine in the Buner district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan.
The mountain was a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus until 1947 and is believed to be the site where a previous incarnation of the Buddha gave up his life. Archaeologists have found ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization around the mountain, and believe that there may still be more buried ancient ruins.
The top of the mountain is locally known as “Jogiano sar”. This site is also significant in Hinduism. The mountain has snakes and cobras near the top. There is a local proverb that says, Maar chey Zwaan shi nu da Elum Ghar ta laar shi, which means, When a snake reaches its youth, it goes to Mount Elum.
According to the Indologist, Giuseppe Tucci’s proposal the rock of Aornos is at the summit of Elum Ghar (Mount Ilam). Alexander the Great’s forces faced a tough battle on this site.
Facilities Available
- Local guides are available
- People of Buner and Elum are very hospitable
- Hotel and Guest House are available in Buner
- Buner can be accessible thought local transport and can book a car on rent.
- Tourism Department helps the Tourist/ Visitors through providing broachers in both Urdu and English languages. The local Police and the local Guides can speak multi languages (i.e local languages, Urdu, English and some of them can speak Chinese also).
- There is a bus stand in Buner for public transportation.
- Filling stations are available in Buner which includes Petrol and Diesel.
- Taxis are available in Buner,on daily rent basis.
- Shops are available near to Eulm in Buner
