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Balakot, located
about thirty
kilometres from the
city of Mansehra, is
a town in the
North-West Frontier
Province of
Pakistan. It is a
famous tourist
destination of the
region is one of the
first stops for
tourists who wish to
visit the secluded
but beautiful Kaghan
valley of the
North-West Frontier
Province of
Pakistan. The river
Kunhar runs through
the city and is one
of the main reasons
for the beauty of
this area. Balakot
is also the main
city in this area,
and is surrounded by
many smaller towns
and villages.
The Sikhs got a hold
of Mansehra in the
year 1818 after a
stiff resistance
from its
inhabitants. When
the whole Mansehra
fell under Sikh
control, it was
annexed to Punjab.
Syed Ahmad Shaheed &
Shah Ismail Shaheed
with the help of the
Mujahadeen,
including the Swatis
of Balakot and Syeds
of Kaghan, led many
revolts and attacks
against the Sikhs.
At last on 6th May
1831 during a fierce
battle Syed Ahmad
Shaheed & Shah
Ismail Shaheed along
with hundreds of
freedom fighters
were martyred. The
central mosque of
Balakot is named
after Syed Ahmed
Shaheed. Qazi Khalil
Ahmed District
Khateeb of District
Mansehra,is the
present Khateeb of
Central Syed Ahmed
Shaheed Mosque
Balakot. The mosque
is destroyed second
time by the natural
disaster, as it was
just reconstructed
again after being
destroyed by 1992
flood in Balakot.
During winter there
may be snow-fall in
the region, but
after March
temperatures rise
and result in a
warmer climate.
The town was
completely destroyed
in the massive 2005
Kashmir earthquake
on 8 October 2005.
The United Arab
Emirates has
volunteered to
rebuild this small
city into a more
spectacular one with
housing colonies,
schools, hospitals,
and other civic
facilities. However
the Pakistani
government has
announced that the
city will be
abandoned, and
rebuilt in a new
location. |
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