Sheikh Badin: Hilly Station of Dera Ismail Khan

Tourism is the most important earning source in the development of any country. A country with a large number of tourist points brings considerable foreign exchange. Pakistan is a land of beautiful mountains and hill places where hundreds of thousands of tourists come to Pakistan from different parts of the world every year to spend the holidays.

One of the splendours and scenic hill stations for visitors is “Sheikh Badin”.

Sheik Badin is a hilly station situated in the North of the district Dera Ismail Khan approximately a height of 1376 meters from the sea. The climate of “Sheikh Badin” is less severe as compared to the surrounding Due to the significant elevation.

In summer it is relatively pleasant while winters are harsh and dry. Sometimes, Sheikh Badin also received snowfall in winter in the months of January and February. The mountain is mainly rocky and contains minerals that have a small number of water reserves. The average rainfall on the top of Sheikh Badin estimates between 20-25 inches, though average rainfall on the top is much higher than on the plains.

The climate on the top is cool and cold and dry. The major sources of water are a few springs in the lower terrains below the top, nonetheless, no facility exists to pump that water to the top. The Sheikh Badin is a place with cool breezy summer often wandering clouds cover the top.

The Sheikh Badin mountain zone which has a large medium-sized forest of bushes and trees is teeming with many species of wildlife, including game birds and antelopes. The British reached Sheikh Badin in 1861 and set up their presence. At that time, there was no water supply was present. The British suggested Sheikh Badin as a summer hill station and began development in 1880. A Dak bungalow, huts, and a few lower-staff accommodations including a judicial lock-up were constructed.

The ruins of the squash court still present were constructed for the recreational activities of the British officers. The Sheikh Badin became an official summer spot for British civil administrators with these little developments. The Sheikh Badin was not a regular summer camp due to the small living space and the intervention of tribes.