Batakundi, also referred to as Battakundi (Northern Hindko: بٹہ کنڈی, Urdu: بٹہ کنڈی), is a tourist town situated 15 km to the east of Naran in the Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Nestled within the Kaghan Valley, it serves as a picturesque location.
Geographically, Batakundi is positioned in the Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. When traveling towards Babusar, Batakundi is the first town encountered after Naran. It is located along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and is a stopping point for jeep travelers. It represents the initial destination on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad-Chilas Road leading to Babusar Top and provides access to Lalazar and Gilgit-Baltistan.
In terms of tourism and activities, the Batakundi Waterfall is a popular attraction. Many visitors prefer to stay at local hotels in Batakundi while preparing for their journey across Babusar Top. This location is the final town within Kaghan Valley that remains operational throughout the year. Numerous tourists come to enjoy the view of the Batakundi Waterfall, and there is a variety of hotels and restaurants.
Regarding the Batakundi Hydropower Project, an initiative was launched in 2014 on the Kunhar River basin by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) in this region, with feasibility studies for the project subsequently completed. The inception of this project was facilitated by the Sarhad Hydel Development Organization (SHYDO), now known as PEDO, in collaboration with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), following an assessment of Hydropower Potential in Kaghan Valley.
