Stop Dreaming, Start Moving! Take a trip to Neelum Valley
- November 12, 2024
- 0
Neelum Valley is situated to the North & North East of Muzaffarabad, which is about 240 km long. The Neelum River was known before Partition as Kishan Ganga
Neelum Valley is situated to the North & North East of Muzaffarabad, which is about 240 km long. The Neelum River was known before Partition as Kishan Ganga and later it was renamed after the village of Neelam. Running parallel to the Kaghan Valley, it is separated from it by snow-covered peaks, some over 4000 meters above sea level. What an excellent scenic beauty it is with an astounding panoramic view, towering hills on both sides of the noisy Neelum river, flourishing green forests, streams, high altitude lakes, and attractive surroundings make the valley a dream come true. This area is also ideal for mountain tourism. A part of Nanga Parbat Massif falls in this area which is dominated by “Sarwaali Peak” (6326 meters) the high mountain in Azad Kashmir. Moreover like Kaghan Valley, it is famous for fishing and angling activities in Neelum River and Jagran Nullah which are stocked with trout fish. A fair-weather road opens the valley to tourists up to Kel, 165 kilometers from Muzaffarabad. Coaches travel daily on this route and accommodation facilities are also available at places of tourist attraction. Let’s dig in more.
Neelum Valley is located at:
The geographical location of Neelum valley is North and North East of Muzaffarabad in Kashmir. It flows down from the Gurez Valley in Indian Jammu and Kashmir and roughly follows first a western and then a south-western course until it joins the Jhelum River at Muzaffarabad. The valley is a thickly wooded region with an elevation ranging between 4,000 feet (1,200 m) and 7,500 feet (2,300 m), the mountain peaks on either side reaching 17,000 feet (5,200 m). Neelum Valley is 144 kilometers (89 mi) long.
The district is bordered on the south-west by Muzaffarabad District, which also encompasses the lower reaches of the valley; to the north-west beyond the mountains lies the Kaghan Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mansehra District; to the north and north-east are the Diamer, Astore, and Skardu districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. To the south and east are the Kupwara and Bandipora districts of Indian Kashmir. The Line of Control runs through the valley – either across the mountains to the south-east, or in places right along the river, with several villages on the left bank falling on the Indian side of the border.
Map Link:
Neelum Valley is famous for:
To get the escape from hell to heaven, Neelum valley is the best place in summers. The valley had high mountains and a tunnel of trees all around. There are many surrounding areas of Neelum valley which are also of high importance. Let’s explore.
Noseri Dam is a newly established Neelum Jhelum Power Project Dam which is situated about 36 Kilometer from Muzaffarabad.
The purpose of the dam is to divert the water of River Neelum through a Tunnel into River Jhelum for Power Generation.
It is a tourist spot and attracts the tourist while traveling along the Neelum Valley Road.
Chilhana is the first village of Neelum Valley while the opposite area is the Indian occupied territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Kundal Shahi is 74 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad.
Here, silvery stream Jagran Nullah joins river Neelum, where trout fish is found abundantly. Some private hotels are available with basic facilities.
Kutton (Jagran Valley) is a bewitching beauty with an altitude of 1530 meters above the sea level permeated within a radius of 10 kilometers.
The area is 16 kilometers from Kundal Shahi and is accessible by road.
For the convenience of tourists, AJK Tourism Department has constructed a rest house while an adjacent residential complex managed by the Power Development Organization (PDO) is also available for accommodation.
From here 16 Kilometers onward, Thunian, Ghainsi, and Jagran are located which are worth seeing spots for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
A Jeep track towards Baboon hilltop is also accessible from the Jagran area which connects Patlian, Rati Gali lake area.
Authmuqam is 10 kilometers away from Kundal Shahi.
It is located at a height of 1371 meters ASL.
Being the district headquarter of Neelum District, it serves as a take-off point for tourists interested in hiking and exploring the inner valley.
It is an attractive place known for its variety of fruits. All necessary facilities such as bazaar, post office, banks, hospital, telephone, PWD rest house, and some private hotels are available with good standards.
Karen is about 09 Kms from Authmaqam.
It is situated at the right bank of Neelum River at about 1524 meters above sea level.
It has captivating scenery. A small bazaar and a Tourist Lodge of Tourism Department situated on the bank of meandering river Neelum across which one can have a glance at another side of Keran in Indian held Kashmir.
The AJK Tourism Department has established Tourism Motels here which leased out to the private sector on public-private partnership policy which is known as Karen Resort.
Karen is the most popular and famous tourist destination with dozens of guest houses in the private sector to cater to the influx of tourists.
Upper Neelum (Neelum Village) is located at a distance of about two & a half Kms. from Karen with an altitude of 1824 meters above the sea level.
This panoramic lush green village, profound in wild fruit and wildlife, attracts the tourists from every nook & corner of the country.
Another remarkable feature of this spot is that one can view the entire area of occupied Kashmir from here.
Owing to its tourist attraction AJK Tourism Department has constructed tourist huts to convert both the Upper and Lower Neelum into a tourist village.
The area has a number of guesthouses with quality services and is famous as a tourist village.
From the backside of the village, a road is constructed towards Baboon hill station for adventure lovers.
Taobat is a village in Sharda Tehsil in Neelam Valley, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
It is located 200 kilometers from Muzaffarabad and 39 kilometers from Kel.
It is the last station in Neelam valley and one of the nearest locations from where Neelam River enters Pakistani territory.
There is a motel of the AJK Tourism and Archeology Department and a small number of hotels.
Shounter Valley is a scenic lake and is a sub valley of Neelam Valley, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, at the elevation of 3,100 meters (10,200 ft).
The lake is fed by the surrounding mountains’ glacial waters.
The lake is encircled by snow coated mountains and green grass vegetation.
The lake is accessible from Kel town of Neelum Valley, by a jeepable track.
Dawarian is situated about 13 Kms from Neelum at an altitude of about 1615 meters.
It is surrounded by mountains covered with Conifer trees.
A mule track up to Ratti Gali passes about 30 km towards the west connecting the Neelum & Kaghan Valleys.
A hut of the Tourism Department and some private guest houses provide accommodation facilities for visitors near the main road as well as on the top of the hill.
Baboon Valley is located in Neelum valley, Kashmir.
It is a majestic place to be visited for nature lovers.
The valley offers beautiful views of the waterfall, springs, lush Green Meadows, Snow-Covered peaks, and glaciers.
Ratti Gali Lake is a famous and fascinating spot.
It is situated about 18 kilometers from Dawarian.
A Jeep track on the left side of the Neelum Valley road is accessible to this lake which can be visited during months of May to October.
Sharda is located at a distance of 30 kilometers from Dawarian, it is a breath-taking green spot at an altitude of 1981 meters.
Shardi and Nardi are the two mountain peaks overlooking the valley, named after legendary princesses
Sharda & Narda. It has a captivating landscape with numerous springs and hillsides covered with thick forest.
Over the right bank, opposite to Sharda, the river Neelum is joined by the Surgan Nullah along which a track leads to the Noori Nar Pass and through it to Kaghan Valley.
In Sharda, one also finds ruins of an old Buddhist Monastery and a fort which are of historical background.
Facilities of a small bazaar, Post office, health center. The AJK Tourism Department has established a “Tourist Village” consisting of Tourist Rest Houses, Youth Hostels, Cafeteria, and Games room to facilitate the tourists while dozens of private guests’ houses are also offered accommodation and other services. A boating facility is also obtainable here on river Neelum.
Kel is at a 19 km journey from Sharda, upstream takes one to Kel. This is another pleasing place in the Neelum Valley.
It is a small valley at the height of 2097 meters.
The Shounter Nullah joins river Neelum at this place and leads to Gilgit Agency over the Shounter Pass (4,420 meters).
Kel is also a base camp of mountaineering activities up to “Sarwaali Peak” 6326 meters about sea level and “Sarwaali Glacier” (about 25 Kms long) which are respectively said to be the highest peak and biggest glacier of Azad Kashmir. Coaster and Vans ply daily on this route. It is advisable to hire a jeep from
Sharda or Kel for a trip into the Shoather and Gurez Valleys. Horses and Ponies can also be hired locally for travel to the Shoather Valley. Banks, College, Hospital, Bazaar, Tourist Motel are available here.
Arang Kel is a panoramic and break-taking greenery village that is situated 9 kilometers from Kel followed by a hiking track.
Due to its scenic beauty, a cable car is also offered a pick and drop service from Kel to Arang Kel and is mostly used by tourists.
Arang Kel is renowned for tracking, hiking, and adventure tourism.
To cater to the needs of tourists some guest houses provide accommodations with food.
Gurez Valley is also pronounced as Gurez / Gurais. It is a valley located deep in the high Himalayas, about 38 Kms ahead of Kel and at an altitude of about 8,000 ft above sea level is a fascination yet unexplored.
The valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
It has diverse fauna and wildlife including the Himalayan Brown Bear and the Snow Leopard.
The valley is also situated very close to the Burzil pass which leads into the Astore district of Gilgit Baltistan.
Due to heavy snowfall in winter, the valley remains cut-off for the 5 months of the year. The essential commodities are stocked during the summer season for consumption during the winter.
The valley has a much charismatic and panoramic view with a traditional wooden home and culture.
The area has beautiful places like Janawai, Pholawai, Saonar, Sardari, Halmat, Nikro, and Tao Butt, where dozens of guest houses are available with basic necessities of life for the visitors.
A white floating gold Gagai Nullah and emerald River Neelum also meet at Tao butt. Tao But is the ultimate tourist destination of tourists with calm, greenery meadows, neat and clean atmosphere.
What’s the prevalent language in Neelum Valley?
Several languages are spoken natively in the district. The predominant one is Hindko. It is the language of wider communication in the area and is spoken at a native or near-native level by almost all members of the other language communities, many of whom are abandoning their language and shifting to Hindko. This language is usually called Parmi (or Parimi, Pārim), a name that likely originated in the Kashmiri word apārim ‘from the other side’, which was the term used by the Kashmiris of the Vale of Kashmir to refer to the highlanders, who spoke this language. The language is also sometimes known as Pahari, although it bears a closer resemblance to the Hindko of neighbouring Kaghan Valley than to the Pahari spoken in the Murree Hills.
The second most widely spoken language of the Neelam Valley is Kashmiri. It is the majority language in at least a dozen or so villages, and in about half of these it is the sole mother tongue.
Best months to visit:
If you want to explore Neelum Valley then the best time to visit Neelum Valley is between April and October. For hiking the best time to travel starts from mid of july to mid of September.
What’s the Climate look like?
The temperature remains between 18 C to 32 C during the summers. The upper Neelum Valley area has their first snowfall in the month of October and sometimes in September too.
Are there any Festivals/ Events at Neelum Valley?
Snow Sports festival is one of the most standout attractions for tourists in Neelum Valley. Skiers from all over the country participated in the winter sports competitions during the Snow Sports Festival held at the enchanting Arang Kel in Neelum Valley.
Athletes of under ten, under 14 and under 16 years of age participate in Ski Competitions during the festival. Apart from Ski competitions, the budding athletes also participate in snowboarding and ice skating events.
Where to stay at Neelum Valley?
Neelum Valley is not that famous when it comes to hotels and their standards. Still There are some options to facilitate you with basic necessities. Here we go!
Jagran Resort Kutton
It is one of the most luxurious resorts with the most economical prices. Featuring hot and cold running water, centralized heating.
Green Village View Resort
This resort is equipped with all basic amenities. Add-on feature is the terrace-view room and VIP services.
Neelum Star Hotel Sharda
On the bank of the river, the most luxurious accommodation in Sharda is this hotel. View of the river from the room’s window is breathtaking with superb services.
Pine Park Lodges Keran
On the edge of Keran river, having view of IOK, Deluxe rooms with restaurant and wifi facility.
Keran Resort
Located at the most fascinating location in Keran, Keran Resort is the best option in Keran. Equipped with all basic amenities Keran Resort is the best place to stay in Neelum Valley.
What to Eat at Neelum Valley?
Neelum valley offers a tasteful blend of exquisite Kashmiri Cuisine. It has a unique aroma and flavor. Let’s dig in more.
- Goshtaba
Special Kashmiri dish made of beef after meshing it for long hours, cooked with special Masala Jaat.
- Maithi Maaz
Prepared from lamb intestine with dried fenugreek leaves.
- Murgh Yakhni
Chicken made with curry added with special Masala Jaat. It enhances an incredible different taste.
- Kashmiri Pulao
Two types of main courses of Kashmiri pulao you will find in Neelum valley, one is of beef, and the second is of Mutton or Chicken.
- Red Beans / Lobia with Bakarkhani
Kashmiri people like the Red beans in their main cuisine, they eat it once in a week, curry with plain white rice but it’s good to blend Dry fried red beans with BakarKhani, a deadly combination
- Namkeen Tea & Kashmiri Kulcha
Green leaves tea with salt, almonds and other dry fruit makes namkeen tea a special one. Kashmiri Kucha is the bakery item and easily available in Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir
How to get to and from Neelum Valley?
Neelum Valley Road is a spectacular and dangerous high mountain road going through the Neelam Valley. The road has 2 parts. The conditions from Athmuqam to Muzaffarabad are very good and suitable for any kind of transport. But once you reach Muzaffarabad the real adventure begins. You will require a 4×4 jeep for the rest of your journey because of the dirt tracks left behind as a result of the catastrophic earthquake of 2005.
The road conditions in winter are extreme. The road onward Keran is blocked due to heavy snowfalls often and it is very difficult to reach the upper parts of the valley. There are also land slidings, which cause visitors to suffer from very cold weather and also food shortage problems when they are stuck on the road. After Kel, the lack of proper roads means that the journey further on can only be performed by 4WD vehicles. From Keran to Kel road condition is not well and not suitable for low floor vehicles.
The road is winding, in some places only wide enough for one vehicle, and in many places bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters unprotected by guardrails. Words can’t describe the road and pictures don’t do it justice. This track can get very muddy and slippery after rain making it challenging to get through. During and after a storm the road may be impassable, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
This trail passes through remote areas, so you need to be prepared. This route is not suitable for normal cars. If you dare to take the risk and travel along this dusty and bumpy route, then make sure to be driven by someone who has experience of the road. It’s a real challenging road and a true test of your vehicle and your stamina because the road abounds in twists and turns with wheels sometimes hanging above the precipice.
Information you should know:
- Police Station +92-(0)-5821-920001
- Hospital +92-5821-920051
- Exchange +92-(0)-5821-1217
- National Red Cross +92-(0)-5822-434240
- Pakistan Red Cross +92-(0)-5822-434340
- Turkish Blue Crescent +92-(0)-5822-432713
- Mercy Corps +92-(0)-5822-446271
- Agri business +92-(0)-5822-921337
- AJK Tour Operators +92-(0)-5822-921317
