Kashmir’s Poonch district to receive a million visitors at spellbinding Tolipeer and Banjos Lake

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A view of the foothill of Tolipeer where a large number of vehicles are parked by tourists. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view of the top hill of Tolipeer from the foot of the hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A distant view of Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tolipeer Road passes through jungle. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A rainbow which appeared at the tourist destination of Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A rainbow which appeared after rain at the tourist destination of Tolipeer (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A scenic view of Tolipeer from the hilltop (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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The resting place of saint Syed Hammdan Suharwardi at the hilltop of Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A bus carrying tourists from Kohat University to Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Western side of the Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Eastern view of the Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists climb up to the Tolipeer top hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A top view of beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists walk away from the top of the hill after a visit. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A grave at the top of the Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A distant view of a mosque and hotel at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer as clouds gather. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view of a mosque and shrine at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer from the top as clouds gather. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful meadow at Tolipeer from the top as clouds gather. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourist walk away as rain starts at the top of the Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists enjoy horse ride at the altitude of Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists capture joyful moments at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists capture joyful moments at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view from the top of the Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A traditional hut at Tolipeer as a man sells goods and a woman milks a cow. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view from the top of the Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A tent is erected for tourists at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Vendors selling ice-cream and other goods to tourists at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists are coming down from Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists have parked their vehicles at the foot of the hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A makeshift shop is set up to facilitate tourists amid a growing number at Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A makeshift shop is set up to facilitate tourists amid growing number at the mid of the Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A beautiful view of clouds gathering at the Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A shopkeeper at the top of Tolipeer hill uses solar panels in the absence of electricity. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Wood is being used to cook food and keep visitors warm at the top of Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Rawalakot (Jammu and Kashmir): Dark clouds cover Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Dark clouds cover the Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists enjoy pleasant weather at Tolipeer. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Children buy sweets and biscuits at Tolipeer hill. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Ammad, a student, sells traditional pakoras at Tolipeer hill to support his family. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A distant view of Bagh city from Tolipeer Road. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A distant view from Ghori Mar on Tolipeer Road. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A distant view of Bagh city from Tolipeer Road. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view of Tolipeer Road. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tolipeer Road passes through woods and traditional huts. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed
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Tolipeer Road passes through huts. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Locals travel by jeep, once the only mode of transportation in the area, at Tolipeer Road. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A photo taken from inside the vehicle amid rain. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tolipeer Road after heavy rains. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A large number of vehicles are parked at the site of scenic Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists visiting scenic Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed )
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Tourists enjoy time at Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists from all parts of Pakistan enjoy at the site of Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A tourist captures memorable moments at the site of Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view of Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Banjosa Lake attracts thousands of tourists every year. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists at Banjosa Lake enjoy beautiful weather and landscape. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Banjosa Lake attracts thousands of tourists every year. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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The bank of Banjosa Lake littered with plastic bottles and garbage, a serious threat to the natural environment of the area. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Children enjoy at Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Full view of Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourist enjoy boating in Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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View of the Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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View of the Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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View of the Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Ducks and boats at Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Ducks and boats at Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Tourists can enjoy horse riding and boating at Banjosa Lake. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed) Pehrr Sharif)
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A place of offerings from devotees of saints, Pehrr is becoming a tourists’ destination. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view of Khaigala Bazaar from Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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A view of Chak and Rawalakot Airport from Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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This part of the road leading to the Pehrr desperately needs repair. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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The road leading to the Pehrr offers beautiful landscape. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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The road leading to the Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Cornfields near Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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The apple orchid near Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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The apple orchid near Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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An apple orchid and cornfield near Pehrr. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Traffic jams become routine as the number of tourists rises in the Rawalkot district. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Thick fog covers the background at Pehrr as the monsoon begins in the area. (AN photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
Updated 07 July 2018
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Kashmir’s Poonch district to receive a million visitors at spellbinding Tolipeer and Banjos Lake

  • Located 9,000 ft above the sea, Tolipeer offers mesmerizing view

RAWALAKOT, PAKISTAN: Thousands of tourists throng to the scenic mountain peaks of Tolipeer and Pehrr, and romantic Banjosa Lake to enjoy the natural beauty of Kashmir — the region which is often referred to as paradise on earth.

The Poonch district, which has major tourist destinations, hopes to host around a million visitors during the current season when rising temperature hits areas of Sindh, Punjab and other parts of the country.

Tolipeer is a hilltop area situated in the Poonch district on Pakistan’s Jammu and Kashmir side. Its elevation is about 9,000 feet above sea level. From the top of the hill visitors can view Abbaspor, Bagh and Poonch River. Tolipir is the highest mountainous location in the northeastern area of Rawalakot. It is the point of origin of three different mountain ridges.

To facilitate visiting tourists, a number of rest houses have been built and makeshift arrangements made in the area.

Surrounded by pine trees and mountains, Banjosa Lake is an artificial lake and a tourist destination also located in the Poonch district. It is located at an altitude of around 2,000 feet above sea level.

The location and the surroundings of the lake are charming and romantic for visitors — both locals and those from other parts of Pakistan.

Pehrr is located some six kilometers from the Khaigala Bazaar on the way to Tolipeer. The mountain peak is also being used by Pakistan’s telecommunication companies where signal towers have been erected. From the top of the Pehrr Rawalakot Airport, Hajjira, a town located at the Line of control, Khaigala Bazaar and Tolipeer can be viewed.


Sotheby’s to bring coveted Rembrandt lion drawing to Diriyah

Updated 18 January 2026
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Sotheby’s to bring coveted Rembrandt lion drawing to Diriyah

DUBAI: Later this month, Sotheby’s will bring to Saudi Arabia what it describes as the most important Rembrandt drawing to appear at auction in 50 years. Estimated at $15–20 million, “Young Lion Resting” comes to market from The Leiden Collection, one of the world’s most important private collections of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish art.

The drawing will be on public view at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace from Jan. 24 to 25, alongside the full contents of “Origins II” — Sotheby’s forthcoming second auction in Saudi Arabia — ahead of its offering at Sotheby’s New York on Feb. 4, 2026. The entire proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera, the world’s leading organization dedicated to the conservation of wild cats. The work is being sold by The Leiden Collection in partnership with its co-owner, philanthropist Jon Ayers, the chairman of the board of Panthera.

Established in 2006, Panthera was founded by the late wildlife biologist Dr. Alan Rabinowitz and Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan. The organization is actively engaged in the Middle East, where it is spearheading the reintroduction of the critically endangered Arabian leopard to AlUla, in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla.

“Young Lion Resting” is one of only six known Rembrandt drawings of lions and the only example remaining in private hands. Executed when Rembrandt was in his early to mid-thirties, the work captures the animal’s power and restless energy with striking immediacy, suggesting it was drawn from life. Long before Rembrandt sketched a lion in 17th-century Europe, lions roamed northwest Arabia, their presence still echoed in AlUla’s ancient rock carvings and the Lion Tombs of Dadan.

For Dr. Kaplan, the drawing holds personal significance as his first Rembrandt acquisition. From 2017 to 2024, he served as chairman of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage, of which Saudi Arabia is a founding member.

The Diriyah exhibition will also present, for the first time, the full range of works offered in “Origins II,” a 64-lot sale of modern and contemporary art, culminating in an open-air auction on Jan. 31 at 7.30 pm.