Written by: Muhammad Awais
Posted on: July 14, 2021 | 
Shumber waterfalls in Shahdara Village
Islamabad’s Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) has always been a place of picturesque beauty and a much needed escape from the fast-paced life of the city. Even if one is a regular visitor to its trails, there are still parts of the wider Hill area that have yet to be known to the public, but nevertheless carry the same charm and wonder as the more popular paths.
Shumber waterfalls are located in Shahdara Village near the town of Barakahu, between Islamabad and Murree. It is one of the many waterfalls located around the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area, including Bruti, Shahpur, Angoori, and Neela Sandh. Compared to some of the other waterfalls, the path to Shumber is straightforward and family-friendly, and one can often see families out on picnics.
Shahdara Village
To get there, one has to drive to the little ‘river café’ in the village, and continue on a bumpy track for about 5-10 minutes; currently the road is under construction, but will become user-friendly with the completion of construction. After parking on the track, there is a 30-45-minute trek to the actual site, with the first 20 minutes on a smooth path, and the last few on a rocky one. If the water is not flowing, walking along the riverbed is an easy, manageable option, and good trekking shoes will help navigate the otherwise slippery boulders.
A trail leading to the waterfall
We started our trip early in the morning, so we came across only a few people on our way. However, later in the day, the students of Quaid-e-Azam University often gather in throngs around the waterfall. They can get loud and the area can become crowded, so visitors must proceed with caution if they arrive at a later time.
The seasonal waterfall itself looks like a natural waterslide that ends in a cool, clear pool of water. Its source comes from Khyber Pakthunkhwa, and the water begins to pick up pace around March, when the snow on top of the mountains starts to melt.
Though it is not very tall, the waterfall is surrounded by massive rocks and dense trees growing out of the crevices, much like a typical Pothohar waterfall. Now that the monsoon season has arrived, the water level will slowly increase before drying out in the summer. Visitors either sit on the edge of the pools, swim around the pool or dive into the water from the top of the boulders.
Sights along the trek
While people from Islamabad claim that the falls are not as breathtaking as the views on the Margalla Hill treks, the waterfall and the path still have serene and charming views that are perfect for a short weekend adventure, different from the regular weekend trekking routine. The landscape is still pristine and verdant, with natural beauty and very little garbage. It is peaceful simply to sit by the waterfall, and listen to the sound of gushing water and the chirping of local birds.
Aerial view of Shahdara Village
Shumber waterfalls have also been home to some wild leopards who come to the pool at night to drink water. People have reported instances of leopards coming down from the Hills at night to feed on the village goats. However, they also claim that there used to be more wild cats, but since people have cleared the area of natural vegetation, their numbers have decreased significantly.
At the end of our trip, we sat at the river café for some tea and snacks on charpais (traditional beds made with jute rope), with our toes dipped in the cool water, while we looked through each other’s pictures of the day. Margalla Hills have been a vital part of the Islamabad landscape, with many beautiful sites yet to be discovered and explored. Sites like Shumber, which are not as well known but still have wonderful views and pristine beauty, are worth the journey. However, the adventure comes with a stark reminder to not litter, ruin the landscape or disturb the local villagers.
River cafe in Shahdara Village
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