TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES
IN
KARAYE EMIRATE
KANO STATE, NIGERIA
KARAYE THE HOME OF CHALLAWA GORGE DAM
PREAMABLE
Karaye Emirate was resuscitated and upgraded in May 2019 with 8no. District Heads of Karaye, Gwarzo, Rogo, Shanono, Rimin Gado, Kabo, Kiru, Madobi Local Government Area Councils. It is located about 90km West of Kano State. However, It has an estimated population of about 1, 400,000 a
s per 2006 Census, with a District Area including Seventeen villages under the auspices of the Emir of Karaye Sarkin Karaye Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar II. The People of Karaye Emirate are Hausa/Fulani and, a liberal land indeed hospitalizing different tribes from all walks of life. Their major occupation is Farming and Trading, while among the goods they deal in Trading involves Fish, Cows and, grains [Maize, Corn, Millet, Beans, and Rice}. Just like Mesopotamia the land between two Rivers, RiverTegris and Euphrates, so is Karaye situated between two mighty Dam [Challawa Gorge Dam, as well as the Kusalla Dam}. The Dam is used by the people in the area for irrigation farming of tomatoes with other vegetables and, they are benefiting from these businesses, tremendously. There is a Historical Royal palace built during Fulani Jihad of Shehu Usman Danfodio by the First Fulani King of Karaye, Sarkin Karaye Sulaiman Ndoji. A very dated historic Kingdom that recruits thousands of Infantry and Horsemen soldiers for the defense, of approaching army from the western part of Kano territory. Nevertheless, today there exist an annual Sallah Durbar Festivities of hundred Horsemen displaying their colorful traditions in Karaye. Added to the beautiful scenery is the famous Dutsen-Amare, some 3km North of Karaye town. Karaye has structurally located weekly market that attracts Merchant from all walks of life i.e. the neighboring Local Governments, Katsina and Kaduna States. They conduct their businesses peacefully. Karaye is blessed with a deposit of Solid Minerals like FELDSPAR, QUARTZ, GRANITE, MICA, and host of other Precious stones like Alluvial Gold, Sapphire, Emeralds and Tourmaline legally exported at very large quantity. POTENTIALS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Banking System
There existed two different banks conducting global banking system which are the Unity Bank Plc and the Micro Finance Bank. Mobile Telecommunication System
There are four different Mobile Telecommunication Companies operating their services within Karaye and its environment, thus are: AIRTEL, ETISALAT, GLOBACOM & MTN
Fertile Agricultural Land
The people are proud of theirAgricultural land area, which is fertile and makes almost all the people in the area to be Farmers, since the olden days. There is also Fadama land available for year round irrigation Farming in Maa, Daura, Turawa, and Tudun-Kaya Villages, where Sugar Cane and Tomatoes are produced in large quantities. It will be appreciated if interested investors will come and invest even on medium scale, to make use of such raw materials produced in this area. Solid Mineral Resources
The Local Government Area is endowed with Solid Minerals such as FELDSPAR, MICA, GRANITE, QUARTZ and lots of PRECIOUS STONES (Tourmaline, Emerald, Alluvial Gold and SAPPHIRE). Feldspar had been identified in the area in commercial quantity. It is used as Flux in Glass, and Ceramic industries in the production of Bottles, Tumblers, China porcelains, Floor and Wall Tiles and lot of others. TOURIST ATTRACTION SITES
*ROYAL PALACE KARAYE
*CHALLAWA GORGE DAM (LARGEST IN AFRICA)
*NATURAL SPRING WATER (RUWAN BATURIYA)
*VAMPIRE AND TIGER CAVES
*DUTSEN AMARE (BRIDE’S ROCK)
*KUSALLA DAM (FISHING FESTIVAL& NYSC CAMP)
*KWAZAZZABON ‘YARKWANDO
CHALLAWA GORGE DAM
Natives inhabiting the Area named the Gorge River, Challawa “TINJIN” signifying the whistle sound it makes whenever the river flows, through the GORGE at its peak during raining season. Normally, the river flows in between rocks eastwards and serves as a tributary to Hadejia and Jama’are Rivers. The Dam is the Largest and Most Modern in Africa with7.8 kilometer length and 527.5 crust elevation above sea level. In addition,the height is 42metres. Regarding the capability of its reservoir, it has 930m,while 6.20cm as the volume of theearth-fill.The Dam covers an Area of approximately 40,000 hectares of Land, which is ideal for establishing Sporting and Recreational Facilities such as Golf, Parks and Gardens. In the late 1970, the idea to construct Challawa Gorge Dam was conceived by the then, Kano State Government and work began with a State Government Engineering Construction Firm Known as Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency [WRECA]. Although, they have done their best to effectively handle the project but policy consideration, and insufficient funding militated against the successful completion of the project. Eventually, His Highness, the Emir of Kano Alh Dr. Ado Bayero specifically, requests the Former Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to rescue the project. Thus, how Federal government took over the project entirely. It assigned Julius Berger to Construct the Dam and, was Commissioned by the then Administration. Currently, it is an outfit of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Nigeria. NATURAL SPRING WATER
It is marvelous to visit where pure water gushes out from the Rocks. Julius Berger, who constructed the Dam, and possibly conserve the site for use. They constructed an outlet to control its flow. Due to its natural flavor, it’s named “RUWAN YANKARI” or “RUWAN BATURIYA”and has attracted many tourist. It is situated just at the foot of the discharge valve of Challawa Gorge Dam, as you approach the bridge along Karaye-Turawa village Road. As such, the natural water is at present been patronized by tabled water companies i.e. DanKaraye, Getsopure water and others. CAVES IN EUROPEAN VILLA {TURAWA VILLAGE}. Wonders never end, another sites of attraction in Karaye include the famous Vampire, Hyena and Tiger caves. VAMPIRE BIRDS CAVE
{RAMIN YABURBURA}
The Vampire Cave is the first to be sighted amongst the Caves in Turawa Village. It is located directly opposite the Natural Spring Water (Ruwan Baturiya). Whenever the water is released from the discharge Valve, it flows eastwards beneath the Cave. The Vampire Birds were said to have inhabited the Cave for thousand years. Hence, it is known as Vampire Cave or “Ramin Yaburbura”. It is a kind of tunnel of about 25metres long and 2.5metres height. The width is conical, that is wide from the entrance and narrowed towards the exit. It begins from south and runs through northwards. The Birds could still be found in the Cave, which doesn’t harm anyone but are friendly. HYENA AND TIGER CAVES
(Dutsen Kura &KogonDamisa)
As you pass through Turawa Village two adjacent Hills are located South-East of the Village. One was inhabited by Hyena family whose Cave is called ‘Dutsen Kura’ while Tiger group lived in the other and is known as ‘KogonDamisa’. According to the natives, the Tiger usually feed on their Sheep and Goats. Whereas, Hyenas killed and ate dogs at large. The Caves still form tourist attraction site but, the Hyenas and Tiger union had since been chased out some forty years ago. DUTSEN AMARE
(Bride’s Rock)
Here comes the beautiful scenery of the famous Dutsen Amare some 3km North of Karaye town. It is a legendary cluster of nine different rocks formations stretched from west to east. It was believed that, the rocks were human beings turned into rocks in form of a bride coming from her parent home towards the husband house when suddenly she and the entourage were turned to Rocks. It was as a result of the bride’s prayer answered by the almighty that the transformation took place. It was said that, they were in a procession when they realized an approaching army scared of confronting them they, give up and prayed to be turned into rocks. Each of the nine stretched rock formations has been named to correspond the team as they move. These include Amarya, Gunki, Bauraina, Tsamiya, Fyadi, Shato, Nalare, Baja and Ungulu Rocks are found line-up one after the other. What an interesting place to visit. KUSALLA DAM
Simultaneously, constructed with the famous Kadawa irrigation project by the then Kano State Government in 1970. The Dam provides drinking water to four Local Government Areas: Karaye, Gwarzo, Shanono, and Kiru, Irrigation farming also takes place in the banks of the Dam. It is on record that, the Kano State Tourism Management Board in conjunction with Karaye Local Government Area, held a memorable Fishing festival in 1998that attracted a lot of tourists. It is ideal to catch a glimpse of the Dam. Today, the Kano state National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Orientation camp is rightly located eastwards the Dam that, accommodate thousands of Youth whom graduated from Universities across Nigeria and overseas. KWAZAZZABON ‘YARKWANDO
It is a valley located about 20km eastwards of Karaye town bordering with Kabo and Kiru Local Government Areas. According to historical facts the area had hosted the Fulani Jihadists from Kano with the arrangement to overthrow the then Traditional Kingdoms in Kano and Karaye, for the establishment of ideal Islamic rule as propelled by the Sokoto Jihad of Usman Danfodio in 1804. The site is wonderful to feature because of its historic significance. For all your holiday travels and leisure activities in Karaye,
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