Panjkora River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Panjkoraدریائے پنجکوڑہ |
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| Country | Pakistan |
| province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Region | Upper Dir |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hindu Kush Mountains 3,600 m (11,800 ft) |
| River mouth | Swat River Chakdara |
| Length | 220 km (140 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Panjkora River (Urdu: دریائے پنجکوڑہ) is an important river in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in northwestern Pakistan. It's known for its beautiful scenery and ancient history.
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Where the Panjkora River Flows
The Panjkora River starts high up in the Hindu Kush Mountains. Its water comes from melting glaciers. The river then flows south through the Upper Dir District and the Lower Dir District.
Eventually, the Panjkora River joins the Swat River near Chakdara. The Swat River then flows into the Kabul River, which is part of the much larger Indus River system. This means the Panjkora River's water eventually reaches the Indus River.
Ancient Discoveries Along the Panjkora
The Panjkora Valley is a special place because many old sites from the Gandhara grave culture have been found here. This culture existed a very long time ago, and it's linked to some of the earliest people who moved into the Indian subcontinent.
Near a town called Timergara, about 40 kilometers from Chakdara, archaeologists have found ancient graves. These graves are very old, dating back to between 1500 and 600 BC.
On the west side of the Panjkora River is an excavated site called Balambat. People have lived here continuously since 1500 BC. Houses from around 500 BC have been discovered. They also found "fire altars," which were used for special religious ceremonies.
The Talash Valley, about 13 kilometers from Chakdara, has many ancient Buddhist sites. You can see the crumbling remains of Buddhist stupas (dome-shaped structures) and monasteries along the road towards Dir. At the west end of the valley is the Kat Kala Pass. Some historians believe this was the place called Massaga, which was captured by Alexander the Great in 327 BC. There are also old remains of a large fort from the 8th to 10th centuries.
Fishing in the Panjkora River
The Panjkora River is a great place for fishing! It's home to different kinds of freshwater fish, especially trout. Many people enjoy fishing here.
The most common types of fish are called cyprinids. The "snow trout" (Schizothorax plagiostomus) is a popular game fish found in the upper parts of the river, especially in Kumrat Valley. Other types like Brown trout and Rainbow trout were brought here by the British in 1928. Snow trout and other cyprinids are native to the Panjkora River.
Images for kids
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Example of the river Panjkora in heavy stream towards the mouth.
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The Panjkora River flood plains near the swat river.
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Panjkora River, lower Dir. The edges of the river can be incredibly steep creating the high velocity runoff seen during the floods.
