Travel to Kashmir

[btahir90]

Salam,
i am from Lahore and i want to travel to Kashmir Side at my own car with Family. (Suzuki Khyber 1000CC Technicaly OK in All respect)
I want to travel along the easy path way as i had not driven much in Hill areas. Need guidelines of the areas which are easy to travel and stay. i want to have 3 nights 4 days tour roughly. Please suggest route and areas . thanks.

[geek.maan]

i want to travel to Kashmir Side

which side of the Kashmir? Neelum Valley?

[arsal396]

following

[btahir90]

rawalakot or Nelum valley, whichever suggested

[geek.maan]

Let's take a look at the details here.

Trip to Neelam Valley After Eid-ul-Fitr 2019

I have almost decided to have a trip to Neelam Valley on Toyota Corolla 2011 from Karachi with 2 ladies, 2 males and 2 kids and will be staying at Muzzarfarabad, Kutton, Keran, Kel, Taobut etc. and need some advice from PW valuable contributors, as under:- 1. Best route to Isb. 2. What is the last point my car can easily go in Neelam valley according to road conditions? 3. Approximate room charges at Muzzafarabad, Kutton, Keran, Kel, Toabutt for 2 ladies, 2 males and 2 kids under 10 Yrs. 4. An…

They are planning from Karachi and you from Lahore. All you need to do is to reach Muzaffarabad and that would be easy.
Lahore -> Islamabad via M2
Islamabad to Murree via Old Murree Rd or Expressway (whichever suits you well)
Murree to Kohala via Bhurban Rd
Kohala to Muzaffarabad very easy and amazing road.

[nawan885]

Road conditions are very good till keran valley or even till Dawarian from where you can trek to Ratti Gali... check this link for road conditions

[btahir90]

Thanks a lot for your kind reply. One more thing if i plan to go via rawalakot (Banjosa Lake , toli peer etc) than to Muzafarabad and nelum vally. what are the road conditions there?

[noobdoc88]

Can u kindly tell differences between the bhurban-kohala road as opposed to the other road which you continue straight where expressway ends.

[geek.maan]

For Rawalakot side (only) I would suggest an alternate route. That is Lahore -> M2 -> Islamabad -> Kashmir Highway -> Zero Point -> Islamabad Expressway -> Kaak Pul -> Kahuta Rd -> Kahuta -> Azad Pattan Rd -> Rawalakot Rd -> Rawalakot

Couple of years back (2017 i think) the Kahuta Road was being rebuilt. It was not a very smooth travel on it, since it was all gravel. However (till Rawalakot Road), I travelled on it (all the way to Banjosa Lake and Rawalakot City) on my little hatchback car -- Daihatsu Cuore with 4 people and it was okay. I never found Banjosa Lake worth the visit since it was more like a stale water.

[geek.maan]

rawalakot (Banjosa Lake , toli peer etc) than to Muzafarabad and nelum vally

For that, from Rawalakot, you will take the Kohala Road and travel all the way on it will Muzaffarabad. Frankly speaking, roads within AJK are quite good as compared to what we expect & find in Pakistan :D. This route is a quite curvy and mountainous one with some good views too. I've seen 660 & 800 CC running around so your Khyber should do well enough given that you have enough ground clearance.

Can u kindly tell differences between the bhurban-kohala road as opposed to the other road which you continue straight where expressway ends.

The actual Road (N75) that takes you from Lower Topa to Kohala is all gravel and lots of pothole. It wasn't completed by the local politician of that area (I guess Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) , something that hotels & shops on that road told me. This patch is not so comfortable at all and will make your tired if you are in a small car (hatchback, sedan etc).

the bhurban-kohala road is the alternate one, better, carpeted and not so rushy if you travel on it early morning or late night.

[noobdoc88]

Thank you, Abid.

I am traveling during Eid, and i will take this road.

Could you also tell me which are must places to visit in neelum valley. i am planning to travel on first day of eid and hopefully spend the next 4 days also. Will be traveling to Khel and Arangkel.

Thank you.

[geek.maan]

ah.. Eid -- it would be an 'Eid ka Samaa' on these 'picnic points' and roads leading to them :D. May travel early so that you can avoid getting stuck in traffic jams specially the murree segment.

For neelum valley, keep your original docs mainly CNIC (of all adults if possible) there is always a need. You can get an SCO sim from Muzaffarabad or from Athmuqam if you plan on staying in touch with your family back at home. Since our Pakistani Networks will stop working after crossing Pattika (I think) on the Neelum Valley Road.

Please do follow the instructions mentioned on the signboards and (if any) precaution -- on the checkpost -- reason is that several sections of neelum valley road are right on the LoC (Line on Control) but no need to worry, people travel all the time.

Stops & notable places can be Dhani Waterfall, Kutton Resort, Little Bazaar at Jagran Bridge, Keran, Dawarian, Ratti Gali Lake (jeep), Sharda, Kel, Chitta Katha Lake (jeep), Arang Kel & Taobat (jeep)

[noobdoc88]

Thank you for the detailed response, Abid. i really appreciate it. i'll look for those places you mentioned and follow your advise. Thank you.

[Moderator]

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