Elum Ghar
Elum Ghar is a high mountain on the western side of Pir Baba in the Buner District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan. Its height is 2,800 metres (9,200 ft). Mingora, a city of Swat District, can be seen from the top of the mountain. Hiking this mountain is a popular activity due to the many streams and beautiful lakes that can be seen while going up the mountain. Elum Ghar (locally known as da elum ghar) located between Swat and Bunir districts. Elum Ghar is the highest peak in this region which is snow-covered throughout the year except in the months of July and August. During the summer season many people visit this mountain due to its height, beauty, many waterfalls, and small lakes on this mountain. The popular lake is the peryano dand (ghost lake). Local people say that this lake has many ghosts, especially at night and will never let any human alive, but there is no reality in these stories. Young boys go there for picnics and to enjoy the traditional pukhtun music like Rabab Mangey and local singers.
History
The area has some sites that have ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization. Some of them have been roughly dug out by the locals in search of the idols, utensils, and other archaeological items, but most of the historic items are believed to be still lying untouched. There is a great treasure of knowledge awaiting archaeologists and historians in this area. The top of this Mount is locally known as Jogiano sar, about which it is famous that when a Hindu prince Rama Chandra was exiled by his father for 14 years, he spent nearly four years on the top of this mountain along with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman.
The mountain has snakes and cobras near the top. There is a local proverb that says, Chey maar zuan shi nu elum ta zee, which means, when the snake becomes a youth, it goes to Elum.
Festivals
Every year at the end of July or at the beginning of August, the festival of "Jushn-e-Elum" is held. it is celebrated by the youth from nearby villages, mainly by Malakporians. The celebration is an opportunity to get out of the heat of the valley and stay for a couple of days in the cool weather of the mountain.