The Haro River flows through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Punjab in Pakistan. It begins in the southern Dunga Gali range, splitting into two branches. The river travels through Abbottabad District, where its main valley resides. It then enters Rawalpindi District and continues through Attock District. Four major tributaries feed the Haro River: the Lora Haro, the Satora Haro, the Dhund, and the Karral. The Khanpur Dam, built on the Haro River in Haripur District, supplies drinking water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
I often take my family to the Haro River in the summer, primarily because it offers the safest natural water location for children. We favor Jabri Bridge, a spot about 50 km from Islamabad via the Margalla Hills route, which we always take. The shallow water makes this a safe place for children. The scenic route and undeveloped natural setting allow visitors to enjoy the natural environment and its beauty.
My most recent visit with family was in May, 2024. We actually visited Khanpur Dam which is built on the Haro River. We spent much of the morning boating and playing in the water there.
Because the water was deep, I had to constantly watch my daughter, so we decided to move to a safer place—the Haro River itself. You can come to Islamabad via Haripur, passing Jabri Bridge along the way. Jabri Bridge sits midway between Islamabad and Khanpur if you travel through Haripur. And here we stoped and spent the day in Haro River. The Haro River always reminds me of the shallow parts of the Kunhar River. I consider it an accessible version of the Kunhar.
Then we returned to Islamabad via Pir Sohawa. This was a 160 km circule around Haripur area, including the most scenic route of Haripur and Margalla Hills.
In late July, we planned another trip to the Haro River, this time with my office colleagues. We aimed to spend the entire day there and prepare our own meals. We had all the necessary cooking equipment, and some of us were experienced cooks. For this trip, we selected a more populated area on the opposite side of the bridge. I spent most of my time in the water. The water temperature was very pleasant, making the Haro River the ideal spot to be on that hot day. We arranged some inner tubes to float on the shallow part of the river.
While returning, I captured photos of the surrounding villages and mountains. I’m sharing them with you to give you a glimpse of the area’s stunning scenery.
