Kiwai Waterfall: Roadside Stop Before Shogran

Kiwai waterfall is a roadside stop about 24 to 25 km above Balakot on the main road into the Kaghan Valley, where a stream drops down beside the highway next to a cluster of small restaurants. Most visitors stop here for tea, trout or a plate of chips while arranging a jeep, because Kiwai is also where the side road up to Shogran and Siri Paye begins. Half an hour to an hour is enough for most people.

This guide covers what the stop is actually like, what to eat, and how it fits into the rest of the day if you are heading up to Shogran.

What the stop is like

The waterfall itself is a modest roadside cascade rather than a destination in its own right, tumbling down beside the highway with a scatter of small restaurants and cafeterias built right up against the water. Several of the seating areas put chairs and low tables directly in the cold stream, which is as much the attraction for families as the waterfall itself, especially on a hot afternoon on the drive up from the plains.

It is a working stop rather than a scenic viewpoint: cars pull in, drivers refuel on tea, and jeeps for Shogran wait nearby for passengers. Don't expect somewhere quiet to linger; it earns its place on the itinerary as a break in the drive rather than as a sight to plan a day around.

Where to eat

Trout is the thing Kiwai is known for, served fried or in a curry, alongside chicken karahi and daal at the small restaurants lining the road. Prices and quality vary between the cafeterias, so it is worth a quick look at a couple of them before settling in, particularly if you are travelling with children who will want a simple menu.

Tea, pakoras and chips are the easier option if you just want a short break rather than a full meal, and most places are set up for exactly that: a quick stop rather than a sit-down lunch.

The Shogran turn-off

Kiwai's other role is as the junction point for Shogran. The side road climbs 7 to 8 km up a steep hillside through pine forest to Shogran at 2,362 metres, and this is where most people decide whether to take a local jeep or drive up themselves.

• By jeep. The easier option for most families, and the one most people choose. Our how to reach Shogran guide covers the 2026 fare and how the ride works.
• In your own car. Reasonable in dry summer weather with a confident driver; after rain, or with a low or heavily loaded car, it is safer to park at Kiwai and take the jeep.

If you are stopping for food at Kiwai, this is also the point to arrange the jeep for the climb, rather than waiting until you are ready to leave.

Fitting Kiwai into the day

Kiwai sits early in the drive from Islamabad, well before Naran, so it works as a first proper break rather than a lunch stop on the way back. A typical order of the day:

1. Leave Islamabad early via the Hazara Motorway and Mansehra.
2. Stop at Balakot for fuel and cash, since it is the last sizeable town before the valley narrows.
3. Reach Kiwai after about 25 km of forested road, and stop for tea or trout while arranging the jeep to Shogran.
4. Climb to Shogran, or continue up the valley toward Naran if Shogran is not on the plan.

For the road beyond Kiwai, our Islamabad to Naran road guide covers the rest of the drive in detail.

Is Kiwai waterfall worth stopping for?

Yes, as a break in the journey rather than a destination. It is a pleasant, easy stop with food and a chance to cool off, and for most people it is where the practical decisions about the rest of the day, the jeep to Shogran especially, get made. Nobody plans a special trip just to see Kiwai waterfall, and that is fine; it does its job well as a stage on a longer drive.

If your plan is Naran rather than Shogran, Kiwai is still worth a short stop for food before the road climbs further into the valley. Our Shogran valley guide covers what is at the top of the road if you do turn off, and our trip planning page can help with the rest of the route.

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