Paye Meadows is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in Northern Pakistan, where nature is blushing everywhere. In the spring, the flowers bloom, and these colorful creatures look awe-inspiring with the white backdrop of the Makra Peak. This place is the best for a weekend adventure or even a full-fledged tour away from your stressful routine.
This small hamlet provides the excursion, which makes your day full of joy and excitement. Visiting the place in the summer months allows one to experience the fresh and cool weather amidst the friendly local people. The splendor and the charm of this place will remain embedded in your memory for a long.
You will find yourself in another world as soon as you get into this enchanting and vibrant hideout bountiful thrills, and fabulous treks for visitors. There is a lot to explore about this beautiful haven of Pakistan, and words won’t be enough to express the real beauty of this marvel of nature.
Siri Paye meadows are located 6 km from Shogran, 10 km from Kiwai, and almost 34 km away from Balakot. Getting there is easily accessible through a 212 km metalled road from the capital city of Islamabad. Once you are in Shogran, a jeep ride, hike, or horse ride can take you to the beautiful meadow at an ascend of 3000 meters or 10,000 feet.
The meadow also has a famous lake called the Payee Lake, located in the center of a valley created by the peaks of Makra, the mighty and majestic Malika Parbat, and the Moosa ka Musalla Peak. The lake is located at an elevation of 9500 feet to roughly 2895 meters, but the mountain peaks surrounding the lakes are higher.
The Siri Paye meadows and the surrounding mountains will come under snow cover during the winter months. Therefore, the summer months are the best time to visit the place. However, there are two times to visit them in summer or on the choice of the trip.
At this time, when there is snow left over from the winter; there will be snow not only on the lake but also on the mountains and the passes. This is the time recommended for a visit if you want to see snow and snow-covered lakes and meadows. There will be some greenery, but it will not be that lush.
At that time, most of the snow has melted except at the top of the mountain peaks. So, depending on what the members want to see, the trip can be arranged accordingly. However, during the end of the summer, much of the vegetation will grow rough, and there will be harsh sun. So it is not recommended to travel to these lakes during the last part of summer.
The flora and fauna of the Siri Paye meadows are very diverse, and in various phases throughout the year, many migrating animals and birds also appear there.
The main mammals found in the meadows are marmots, other small rodents, and various varieties of wild and farm sheep. There have been various sightings of leopards, but these have not been recurring, and it is thought that human expansion has driven away the leopards from the area.
The birds in the area are the many birds of prey hawks, ospreys, eagles, and vultures. The small birds such as snow pigeons and blue jays wood cocks are also seen. Various varieties of migrating birds come to nest during the summer months.
The flora consists of many hardwood trees, such as the deciduous and conifer species that make up the vast forests. Also, there are herbs and bushes used as remedies by the local population during the past centuries. The local wildflowers and shrubs of berries are also present in this area, but all trekkers must take care not to consume any of these plants without making sure, these plants may be slightly poisonous to eat. So, proper care should be taken while on the trip as it will help to avoid any problems.