A short trip to Banjosa and Sudhan gali ,Azad Kashmir

Road Trips / Vacations / Hiking / Trekking

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-30 13:00:19 +0500 #182

Thanks for liking the thread.

Best route from Pindi is via ; Khanna pul - Kahuta - Azad pattan - Rawlakot - Banjosa route.
Though its single road but short. Almost 4 hours to reach Rawlakot and half hour onwards.
Road is under repair after Azad pattan but doable.
7 kms Road from Khaigala to Banjosa is under construction and in bad shape. Otherwise accessable for cars. Now you have to decide either your car can afford to travel on under repair roads with 5 passengers.

Stay in govt.rest house totally depends on luck. We visited 3 times earlier but no luck for the room.
Normally it is booked for AJK govt officials most of the time. Depends on availability. You can easily get in off season.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 13:38:16 +0500 #183

This pond behind the resthouse complex is spring water coming from hills above.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 13:59:41 +0500 #184

Sometimes you ask yourself that from where the sceneries come from and from where the artists catch and convert them on canvas.
I saw some of them here , which are just like portrayed on canvas.

Here's that cottage in the woods.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 17:16:41 +0500 #185

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 17:17:14 +0500 #186

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 17:20:43 +0500 #187

These are the sceneries, normally reflected on canvas.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 19:32:16 +0500 #188

Time for another round before packup.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 19:33:50 +0500 #189

What a place !

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-10-31 19:36:03 +0500 #190

At this place, you will even love to date with your wife !

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-01 09:57:55 +0500 #191

Beauty all around.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-01 09:58:53 +0500 #192

Beside the resthouse.

maazasim (maazasim) 2018-11-01 15:12:39 +0500 #193

very nice thread, hope its not end, waiting for further details and expenses overage too.
good job.

anwar_75 2018-11-02 13:09:05 +0500 #194

Excellent Pics Sir, I always thought that Banjosa is man made lake, not much beauty there, it was on my list of travels but not in the top, but your pictures and narration has already gotten me planning my next trip.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-02 13:53:24 +0500 #195

Thanks for liking brother,

Few more pics to go. I will share trip details in the end.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-02 14:09:30 +0500 #196

Thanks dear,
Banjosa is a small, man made lake but the greenery and jungle around the lake has a enchanting effect.
Birds noises and deep serenity of hills and jungle takes you out of this world.
I was also afraid that my wife might not like it being a small lake but luckily she loved the place.

On the other hand, it's not a good sign also that your family likes a picnic place too much.
Now they want to go there, again and again.
My wife is now asking to visit Banjosa in snowfall season.

anwar_75 2018-11-02 14:48:15 +0500 #197

We are all in the same boat here, my trick is not to explore all the places in one go.
Like, took the family to SWAT first time in 2015 on public transport, did only White palace, Malam Jabba and one day trip to Kalam. Did Swat again in 2017 on my own car, avoided Malam Jabba altogether, did White palace, Butkara 1 & 2, Swat museum, stayed kalam 2 days with Mahodand lake visit only. Places like Gabral, Shahi bagh are left for next trip. Did Neelam valley first time this year in September, went straight to Jagran, Keran and Upper Neelam only. Pir Chanasi, Shahdra, Kel are left for next visit.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-02 15:02:45 +0500 #198

Dil chahta hy in janglon mai kho jain.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-02 16:26:43 +0500 #199

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-02 16:28:15 +0500 #200

Around the resthouse.

Sprite (Sprite) 2018-11-02 16:29:49 +0500 #201

Don't know why, but I am fascinated by this cottage.