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 Neelum
Valley |
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| It is a valley of fountains,
springs, waterfalls, flowering trees and plants. Geographically too, it is a
hospitable valley. The Neelum Valley, 90 miles long bow-shaped with majestic
pine, fir and deodar trees, lies north-south of Muzaffarabad (capital). This
ninety-mile long kingdom of vegetation is ripped apart by the indigo blue Neelum
river which flows serpentine down hills to merge itself into the river Jhelum
at Domail. Domail, the confluence of two mighty rivers, presents highly fascinating
scene of youthful embrace. This heart-warning spectacle is most soothing to
the eye. The valley, starting from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, is about 150 miles long. It lies on both sides of the river Neelum. The geographical features enhance the natural beauty of the Valley. Its elevation, a mere 2,000 feet at the start, gradually rises till it attains a respectable height of 8,000 feet. On both sides there are high mountains and peaks. Nearly all the forest wealth of Azad Kashmir is to be found in this part of the State. There are two approaches to the valley. One from the Kaghan Valley which is linked with it at two points, the Nuri Nari Hali (Pass) and the Ratti Gali and many minor Passes. From Dawarian it takes two days for hiking or riding and night stay at Dharian at 12,000 feet. The second approach is from Muzaffarabad. It is a distance of 55 miles which is jeepable in fair weather. The Neelum meets the Jhelum river at Domali (meeting of the two) on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad city. From Paticka forest one reaches Nosari, 24 miles ahead of Muzaffarabad. Next come Chaliana (height 3,200 feet), Qazi Nag, Barian, Salkhela, Kundal Shahi, Athmaqam on this road. On a number of places, the local population has built rope crossings on the river. It is a very dangerous device and the very thought of crossing these points is horrible but thrilling. Tao Butt is an example of vegetation generosity of the liberal nature. The spot is donned with all delicacies and niceties. Nature flirts here with fantastic environment. The forest wealth abounds in the Neelum Valley. Deodar, pine, fir, wild walnut, strawberry and hosts of other high stature trees and other types of wild growth and herbs are the treasure of the valley. Besides being invaluable in economic terms, the variety of natural growth offers a captivating scenery. Shunder Hill tops are covered with green forests and the fields are lush green with crops. |
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Bhateeka |
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| The valley is accessible
by an all weather road metalled up to Kundal Shahi and well maintained up to
Kel. At the gateway to the Valley lies a sprawling town of Bhateeka with a dependable
commercial centre. For a tourist, Bhateeka can be the first journey break. This
town has a modest bazaar with day-to-day activity. All essential items are available
in the bazaar which feeds a fairly large number of villages behind it. On its
back runs the forth-emitting river Neelum. The village and bazaar are connected
by a suspension bridge crossable by jeep alone. This old bridge is being replaced
with an RCC one enabling it to afford heavy traffic. The running streams, water
channels and water falls across the Bhateeka village presents another heart
winning scene. It is fully electrified. A few years back, the Federal Minister of Power and Water, Government of Pakistan had a hydel station built in this village over a perennial nullah which is in fact a mini river of Bhateeka. The quality of life here is full of emotions despite its simplicity. It is perhaps due to verdure. Financially, it is an affluent town. Majority of the village folk is engaged in profitable business abroad especially in the Middle East countries. A number of scheduled banks of Pakistan are operating in the village on the strength of remittances from abroad. But despite fattening coffers, the town has no industrial activity. The ratting of machinery is unknown to the town. The serene atmosphere shrouded into lush greenery and milky-white waterfalls and water curses and their rhythmic flow totally absorbs the visitors. Added to the general plant fragrance is the sweet smell of menthol plants along the banks of the nullah, it cuts its way across the crop-fields in such wavy manner that it looks as a white ribbons over green head of damsel Nature. Bhateeka is linked by ancillary roads with other surrounding areas uphill and downhill. |
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Kundal Shahi |
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| The other midway station
in Kundal Shahi. Also a small commercial centre. Kundal Shahi headquarter the
operational centre of the Azad Kashmir Logging and Saw Mills which is responsible
for timber extraction to commercial markets in Pakistan. Kundal Shahi station
has a rest house manned by the logging and saw mills at the Western bank of
river Neelum adjacent to metalled road. A tourist range bifurcates from Kundal
Shahi to Jagra Nullah which is again a mini river running all the year round.
Its water is glass-like limpid having good potential for trout fish development.
The range is also accessible by a kutcha but well maintained road. The forests
are so thick in the range that a trip to the range would be like going through
a tunnel. It is tunnel of forest indeed. |
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Athmaqam |
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| The other important
station in the Valley is Athmaqam connected by metalled road with Muzaffarabad.
This town has a Town Committee of its own with an Intermediate College, a hospital
and a telephone exchange. A few scheduled banks of Pakistan are also operating
here. The rest house, built at the foot of the Western hilltop which tapers
towards Balakot in the NWFP, is accommodative. It has been built in such a way
that its lawns face the river below it. A daily bus service piles between the
town and Muzaffarabad. From here upwards emerges typical Kashmiri living pattern
with houses built of wooden logs, most of them double-storeyed. Curd, cheese
maize bread along the chutney is the other palatable diet. The other major diet
is rice. |
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Kairan |
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| So far is the half of
the Neelum Valley and after it are the more enchanting spots full of exuberance
and life. Kairan is another beauty spot on the river side with a neat and clean
wooden flooring rest house. Its lawns slope down towards the western bank of
the river. The bazaar consists of over a dozen shops with a post office and
telephone call office. Commodities are transported to the bazaar from Athmaqam
by trucks. The physical feature of Kairan resort resembles a broad forehead
of a person with thick hair on the head. Stay is more comfortable here. |
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Jangwan |
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| Ten miles west of Mirpur,
at the end of a jeep road, Jangwan is the well known shining spot on the confluence
of the Jhelum and Poonch rivers. It is an ideal place for fishing and anglers
in large numbers visit it with rod and line. |
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Baghsar |
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| Bagshar lake is an ideal
tourist resort in the Samhani valley in Mirpur district. It is a four mile long
sheet of crystal clear water that soothes the senses of a traveller after a
40 mile road journey from Gujrat via Bhimber on the old Mughal road to Kashmir.
It was through this road that Mughal Emperors travelled to Kashmir. On the top of the hill there is the famous Mughal fort, overlooking the lake. Rising four stories high this massive structure of granite is a feet of Moghul engineering that has stood the ravages of time. It has also played an important role in subsequent history during the time of Ahmed Shah Abdali, Ranjit Singh and Gulab Singh. Baghsar, the lake and the garden can be compared to any other Mughal monument in beauty and splendor. All around the gardens there are orchards and along the borders laburnum grow in wild profusion. |
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Rawalakot |
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| Rawalakot is situated in the heart of Poonch district at a height of 6,000 feet and is a plain saucer shaped valley. It is approachable from Rawalpindi via Kohala and Azad Pattan by motor able roads. | |
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| Home | Punjab | Sindh | NWFP | Baluchistan | Northern Areas | Azad Kashmir | |
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| Source: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. www.tourism.gov.pk | |
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