Shahdara - Budhoo - Ridge Trail (via unusual route of water channels)

ShahDara as name reflects the valley has many gorges known as Dara, we had been exploring those lately. This time we opted the middle one, which is the most visited one however it has many water channels and the plan was to follow once water channel.
We parked out vehicles at 8 pm near Shahdara Boys school on a Saturday morning. Rain forecast had us all carry rain gear including parka’s umbrella and rain coats. I was bit skeptical to take camera or not, but I ended up taking it with me along with ziplock bags, as I remember I had carried it during the Kamra-Kahuti-Grassland hike which it rained a lot. I did not use the camera during the rain but the point was that it did not get wet.

We ended up in a very strange water fall which was dry but very slippery. However, it was not a long patch, with some care we crossed the patch to reach the same old water spring. We meet some locals there who guided us. We wanted to reach the Ridge Trail/jeep track. They mentioned multiple paths to there.

We against started another water channel however had to traverse as we reached another rocky surface which required climbing. Finally, we reached the Dara’s ridge which separates Budhoo and Naryas villages. View were amazing

You can see Rawal Dam, Bani Gala and Bara Kahu. Even Bahria Enclave and other societies are in view. Clouds were rolling in. As we reached ridge trail, the clouds passed by us to shower rain in galiyat. It is also junction of the jeep road from Dino Valley which goes to Pharila. Another road goes to Kharian village in Neelan Bhoto valley.

We found an old well before the village and filled out bottles there.
We started the descend through the Budhoo village with a short stay at village’s Mosque for prayer. Little kid, who was also Hafiz, opened the mosque for us and later lead us out of the village. Last time we were in the village wheat crop was sprouting and this time the crop was tall and almost ready as it was still green.

Soon we reached the spring and from there we took a different path downwards. Near our parking were the cactus plants. People had used cactus as boundary wall for their fields. Cactus had little babies growing on them. Also a purple fruit. Some of us took the fruits home as they are known as dragon fruits

We had started the hike at 8 am and reached back around 4 pm with 2 snack stops.