La Exotica That is Attock Khurd Railway Station

By Atiq ur Rehman Buzdar

Perpetually emanating grandeur, couched on the hillocks of Kala-Chitta range at the northern fringe of Punjab, on the bank of Indus River, is the magnificent Attock Fort where once camped the Moghal armies. Fort was completed in 1583 under the supervision of Khawaja Shamsuddin Khawafi, a minister of Emperor Akbar. Place is Attock Khurd and few furlong away lies the La Exotica : 122 years old, long forgotten, British era Railway Station. Right in the heart of Kala-Chitta Mountains with River Indus by the side this beautiful architectural wonder caught "Bash Adventure Pakistan" Comrades with awe , once they were on their random "  Jack Kerouac's Further theme" tour. It was March, 2011 and it was beautiful insane and in the rain that we decided to travel on the road that leads beyond the fort.With Indus on one side, itinerary snaked between the dilapidated fort walls and keekar trees. En route we passed by a village "Malahi Taula" on river bank and  a beautiful  old Mosque(named as Barli Masjid) at roadside. Soon we had in sight the grand girder of Old bridge and a lone date tree.Ragged Kala-Chittas and the gushing Indus water add beauty and color to this unique Railway Station . Wooden Benches,Benches that sooth the agony of 'Wait', on the stone slab platform  with Victorian station building in the backdrop is a romantic sight to behold.

Magnificent  stone masonry structure with beautiful Victorian architecture was built in 1885 in the days of British Raj.The Attock Khurd is a class "B" station on a single track provided with standard key interlocking. Besides the station lies the old Attock bridge, which was originally designed by Sir Gudford Molesworth in 1880. Later its structure was redesigned and erected by Sir Francis O Callaghan.Renowned British  builders Joseph Westwood and Robert Baillie, of the Westwood Baillie & Co, London, built the iron girder bridge in 1880 and it was opened to both rail and road traffic on May 24, 1883.It happens to be the last Railway Station of Punjab before Khyber Pk begins.With double-pitched slanting roof and a beautiful tri-arcade portico , station gives a genuine look of a doll-house placed in the wilderness. Portico consists of  stone pillars which carry the skewbacks that in turn support finely tapered arches.

Resort  served as fishing point and black Partridge hunting ground for Britishers. Bridge on the river is multi-purpose: overhead passes the Train and underneath is the path for wheelers and pedestrians. I hope the tourism department soon gets awake from the slumber and makes some endeavors to make it a lush-green resort. Plantation drive at La Exotica is much needed and "Bash Adventure Pakistan" comrades are planning some move in this regard.
Following photo is from BBC correspondent Mark Tully’s visit to Attock in 1993-94.

                                             A  Gallabaan(Bohemian Shepherd) with his Herd

 Bash Adventure Pakistan

                                           “Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry.”
                                             Jack Kerouac

                                   Enchanting Attock Khurd Photography by Usman Safdar

                                        Plate form bench that soothes the agony of 'Wait'

                                                           Station in the Middle of Nowhere

                                                             Serenity surrounds the Beauty

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