Some trips change your camera roll.
Some change your mood.
And then there are trips that quietly reset your nervous system while feeding you karahi so good you start rethinking all your life choices.
That was Naran for me.
After our Kashmir trip, we weren’t even tired — we were just full. Full of views, full of moments, full of that soft post-travel happiness that makes you want to keep going instead of going home.
So we packed up and headed toward Naran without overplanning, without expectations, and honestly… without realizing how much this place was about to grow on us.
I thought it would be another scenic stop.
It turned out to be one of the most comforting places on the entire trip.
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Arriving in Naran: That First Breath Moment
The first thing I noticed when we entered Naran wasn’t even the mountains — it was the air. That cold, clean, mountain air that instantly makes your lungs feel like they’ve upgraded to a premium plan.
Then I looked up.
Mountains surrounded the town from every direction, layered like someone had carefully arranged them for aesthetic purposes. Clouds floated low enough to feel touchable. The river ran alongside the road like background music. And suddenly, my brain — which normally runs 47 tabs at once — went quiet.
Not sleepy quiet.
Not bored quiet.
Just… peaceful.
And the best part? Naran gives you this peace without taking away comfort. We had electricity, internet, proper roads, transport, restaurants, markets — all the things that make travel easy — but wrapped in pure mountain calm. It felt like nature and convenience finally shook hands and said, “Okay, let’s work together.”
We checked into our hotel, opened the curtains, and there they were — mountains right outside our window. No effort required. No hiking. Just vibes.
That’s when I knew:
This stay was going to be special.
First Walk Through Naran Market: The Beginning of My Shopping Spiral
Once we settled in, we did what any sane traveler does — went straight to the market. Not because we needed anything. Just to “look.”
Naran Market is one of those places where everything feels alive but not chaotic. It’s busy, but not overwhelming. Loud, but not stressful. Shops lined with colorful shawls. Stalls overflowing with dry fruits. Traditional caps hanging in rows. Jewelry glinting in the sunlight. Dresses with embroidery so beautiful they look like they belong in a museum, not a shop you accidentally walk into.
The smells hit first — nuts, spices, street food, chai. Then the sounds — shopkeepers calling out, tourists bargaining, locals chatting, laughter everywhere. And suddenly, I wasn’t just walking through a market — I was experiencing it.
At first, I told myself, “Let’s just see what they have.”
Ten minutes later, I was mentally assigning gifts to people who hadn’t even crossed my mind before.
My mom? Obviously.
My siblings? Of course.
Friends? Definitely.
Friends’ moms? Why not.
My future self? Absolutely.
Because shopping in Naran doesn’t feel like spending money — it feels like collecting memories in physical form.
Dry Fruits in Naran: The Day I Became Emotionally Invested in Walnuts
Let me tell you about the dry fruits.
I’ve seen dry fruits before. I’ve bought dry fruits before. But nothing prepares you for Naran dry fruit stalls — massive sacks of walnuts, almonds, cashews, raisins, figs — all fresh, fragrant, and shockingly affordable.
One shopkeeper poured walnuts into my hands like he was offering treasure. Another let us taste almonds straight from the sack. Everything smelled earthy and clean, like it came straight from the mountains — because it basically did.
We asked the price casually.
“PKR 3,000 for 8 kg walnuts.”
I paused.
Mentally recalculated.
Looked at my friend.
Looked back at the walnuts.
Eight kilograms.
For PKR 3,000 — which is about USD $10.70.
I didn’t even hesitate. I didn’t negotiate. I didn’t question it. I simply said yes like someone who had just discovered free happiness.
We ended up buying almost the same quantity of almonds and cashews too. By the time we were done, I was holding bags thinking:
✔ I did not plan this
✔ I do not regret this
✔ I now emotionally identify as a walnut supplier
And the best part? Even after buying dry fruits for family, friends, and ourselves, we still stayed under PKR 10,000 (≈ USD $36).
Budget travel win.
Souvenir win.
Snack-for-the-next-three-months win.
Traditional Clothes & Handmade Finds: Where Bargaining Became a Personality Trait
After the dry fruits, we moved to clothes — and that’s where things got dangerous.
Shops were filled with:
- Beautiful threadwork dresses
- Soft joot fabric outfits
- Warm shawls with delicate embroidery
- Traditional caps and accessories that made me feel like I belonged in a mountain village Pinterest board
Everything looked handcrafted. Everything looked cozy. Everything looked like it belonged in my wardrobe — even though I live nowhere near mountains.
But here’s the thing about shopping in Naran:
Prices are suggestions, not facts.
This is where bargaining becomes a sport.
You admire something.
You ask the price.
You gasp dramatically.
You smile politely.
You say, “Hmm… a bit expensive.”
You turn around slowly like you’re about to leave forever.
And magically… the price drops.
Sometimes twice.
Sometimes three times.
Sometimes to the point where you’re standing there thinking, Okay, now I feel rude not buying it.
Honestly, bargaining here is half the fun. It’s playful. It’s friendly. No pressure. Just conversations, laughter, and a shared understanding that this is all part of the experience.
By the time we were done, I had clothes I didn’t know I needed, and memories of conversations I didn’t know I wanted — all wrapped in fabric.
Food in Naran: The Moment My Taste Buds Achieved Enlightenment
Now let’s talk about the real highlight — food.
Because yes, mountains are beautiful.
Yes, markets are fun.
But food?
Food is emotional.
And Naran did not come to play.
There are small dhabas everywhere — roadside eateries with steaming pots, grills sizzling, chai boiling — and you can smell good food before you even see it. But one place stood out so much that it deserves its own paragraph, maybe its own fan club:
Butt Karahi.
Someone recommended it casually — “You should try this place.”
We walked in hungry.
We walked out changed.
We ordered karahi, roti, and fish — and when I say that fish altered something in my soul, I mean that respectfully and scientifically.
Here’s what makes it wild:
You literally watch them catch the fish live.
Then they clean it.
Then they cook it fresh.
Then they serve it.
River → pan → plate.
No freezer trauma. No mystery timeline. Just freshness.
The fish was so tender it didn’t fight back. It melted. The spices were perfect — not overpowering, not bland — just balanced in that way that makes you keep eating even when you’re already full.
We were six people. We ate properly — like travel-hungry properly. And the total bill?
PKR 6,000 (≈ USD $21.40).
Was it cheap street food? No.
Was it worth every rupee? Absolutely.
I still remember sitting there, cold air outside, steam rising from the plates, everyone quiet because good food demands silence — and thinking, Yeah… this is why people travel.
Naran Activities: Chairlifts, Calm Waters & One Legendary Fall
After eating like we’d earned a food coma, we decided to do something active — because balance. Health. Movement. All those responsible concepts.
First: Chairlift ride.
As soon as we lifted off the ground, everything below started shrinking — rooftops, trees, people — while the mountains stretched endlessly ahead. The air was cold and sharp, the view unreal, and the silence broken only by wind and the occasional nervous laugh.
It felt like floating inside a postcard.
I remember sitting there thinking, If someone told me this was a desktop wallpaper, I’d believe them.
Then came boating.
Calm water. Clear reflections. Soft ripples. Peaceful energy.
Everything was perfect.
Until it wasn’t.
One of my friends shifted slightly — just slightly — and suddenly gravity decided to get involved. He lost balance and fell straight into the lake.
In freezing weather.
Time paused.
Then chaos.
Then laughter.
So much laughter.
He came out soaked, shocked, shivering, pretending he was totally fine — like, “Yeah yeah, I meant to do that.” Meanwhile, the rest of us were laughing so hard we couldn’t even help properly at first. It was pure comedy. The kind that stays in group chats forever. The kind you bring up years later at weddings.
Cold? Yes.
Traumatic? Slightly.
Iconic? Absolutely.
Travel memory unlocked.
Evenings in Naran: Quiet Streets, Cold Air & Slow Time
One thing I loved about Naran is how peaceful evenings feel.
After sunset, the streets calm down. The temperature drops. Lights glow softly from shops and restaurants. You walk slower without realizing it. Conversations stretch. Tea tastes better. Time feels… gentle.
We’d walk through the market again, not even to buy anything — just to soak it in. Locals chatting. Tourists laughing. Shopkeepers packing up. The river rushing nearby like background music.
Back at the hotel, I’d sit near the window, wrapped in a shawl, watching clouds drift across the mountains — and honestly, those moments felt more luxurious than any five-star resort.
No noise.
No rush.
Just cold air, quiet thoughts, and the feeling that life was moving at the correct speed for once.
Staying in Naran: Comfort Without Compromise
What made Naran even better was how easy everything felt.
We had:
✔ Electricity
✔ Internet
✔ Hot water
✔ Good food options
✔ Walkable markets
✔ Reliable transport
Which matters — especially when you’re traveling and don’t want survival stress.
It didn’t feel like a remote town struggling to function. It felt like a small mountain city that knows exactly what travelers need and delivers it without drama.
And waking up to mountains outside your hotel window every morning? That alone deserves a 10/10 rating.
Traveling to Saif-ul-Malook from Naran (Full Story Coming Soon)
One of the best things about staying in Naran is that Lake Saif-ul-Malook is right there — just a jeep ride away.
From Naran, we took a rugged jeep through rocky mountain tracks — bumpy, thrilling, slightly terrifying in places, and absolutely unforgettable. The journey itself felt like an adventure movie scene — mountains towering above, water rushing beside us, clouds moving so fast they felt alive.
The lake deserves its own detailed story — the ride, the weather, the views, the emotions — and I’ll be sharing that entire experience in my next blog because honestly… Saif-ul-Malook is not a side character destination. It’s main character energy.
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What Naran Gave Me (Besides Dry Fruits and Laughing Fits)
Naran gave me more than views.
It gave me:
✔ Peace without isolation
✔ Comfort without crowds
✔ Shopping without stress
✔ Food without regret
✔ Silence without loneliness
✔ Memories without effort
It was the kind of place where nothing felt rushed. Where mornings felt softer. Where nights felt calmer. Where conversations lasted longer. Where laughter came easier.
And where one friend fell into freezing water — which, honestly, elevated the trip spiritually.
Final Thoughts: Naran Isn’t Just a Place — It’s a Feeling
Naran wasn’t just another stop on the map.
It felt like a pause button.
A reset.
A soft place to land in the middle of a busy life.
It was waking up to mountains.
Walking through markets without urgency.
Eating food that deserved silence.
Laughing until your stomach hurt.
Buying dry fruits you absolutely didn’t plan to.
Watching clouds instead of screens.
And leaving with that bittersweet feeling of “I don’t want to go yet.”
Would I go again?
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
With an extra suitcase — for walnuts.
And if you’re looking for a place that blends peace, beauty, food, fun, comfort, and unforgettable stories, Naran doesn’t just meet expectations — it quietly exceeds them and lets you figure it out on your own.
Which somehow makes it even better.
