Top Places to Visit in Neelum Valley
The paradise on earth is really in appearance in Neelum Valley. This tourism pearl of the world is unique in its story and substance. Every nook and corner of the valley has its attraction for the tourists. The visits and tours of Neelum Valley are easy to be executed in summer because in winter season it is too hard to access the high areas due to snowfall and land sliding. The facilities for the tourists have been providing in plenty for the last few years. The tourism in the valley is a gigantic effort to be promoted by the government and the residents of the valley.The district contains high mountains with patches of plain areas at far and wide. The district has two sub-divisions of Athmuqam and Sharda..The height of Athmuqam city from the sea level is 6454 feet. Global coordinates of the headquarters lie at 34° 35′ 49″ N and 73° 54′ 07″ E. This is a less populated district with only 191251 persons living in an area of 3621 square kilometers. This is the largest district of Azad Kashmir on the basis of its area. The weather conditions of the district remain pleasant in summer but hard and snowy in winter. The district is considered as an hub of tourism in Azad Kashmir. There are many lovely spots to visit in this paradise like valley. When it is said anything about tourism, it is Neelum Valley.
Top Places to Visit in Neelum Valley
1. Sharda
Scenic queen Sharda is named for Shada Deevi which was a religious sign of the people living twenty centuries back. It is a beautiful town and sub-division of district Neelum, Azad Kashmir. It keeps its skirts on the banks of the Neelum river at an altitude of 1981 meters. The fantastic place is in the north of Muzaffarabad at a drive of 136 kilometers. The ruins of the famous Budh pagoda and Hindu pilgrimage site of Sharda Devi are found here. Other historical sites in the town include the Sharda fort, and Kishan Ghaati. Sharda and Nardi are two mountain peaks for overlooking Sharda from the heights. It was a Buddhist and Hindu place of learning for centuries and so the historic Sharda University of the times was based here.. The Sharada script was developed here in the 9th century. Sharda is reachable by Neelam road from Muzaffarabad. Buses run daily between Muzaffarabad and Sharda in fine weather. The township has a rest house and a picnic hostel of AJK Tourism Department for the tourists on their way to stay. Few private hotels and motels have also been built in the town.
2. Rati Gali Lake
Renowned lake at Ratti Gali is an glacial lake located in the high areas of Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir at an altitude of 12130 feet. The lake is filled by the surrounding glacier waters of the nearby mountains. The lake is easily reached from Dawarian by a rough road of about 19 kilometers. Dawarian is the foundation camp for this lake. Jeeps are straightforwardly accessible from Dawarian and during peak season they will cost around five thousand rupees. From Dawarian it takes almost two hours to arrive at base camp Domail. From that point it’s preferable to get horses because the track is too much steep. All the tours are safe here even for the families. It is advised for the tourists to take rain coats and jackets with them. Tourists can explore this paradise cradle of nature in the lap of the majestic mountains here.
3. Arang Kel
As being a sole blessing of nature, Arang Kel is a greenery abundant village, hill station and tourist blemish in Neelum, Azad Kashmir. It is positioned on the mount top beyond Kel at an elevation of 8,379 feet. The place is easily reached by a two kilometers walk from Kel. The site can also be approached by a kilomter lengthy chair lift administered by Pak Army. To arrive at Kel people usually enter into the Neelam valley from Muzafarabad. Beautiful guest houses can be easily found in the range of Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per room. Dining is not cheap, as locals have to use donkeys and horses to take food items from Kel to Arang Kel. Even then people are too good and they can accommodate tourists even in Rs 400 per night in a room if it is so requested. People typically receive the tourists affectionately with gratefulness.
4. Kuttan
At an altitude of 4800 feet, village cum tourist location known as Kuttan in Neelam Valley, Azad Kashmir. Kuttan is reachable by Neelam Valley road from Muzaffarabad that branches off leftward from Kundal Shahi. Rest houses of AJK Tourism Department and WAPDA are situated here. Some private rest houses and hotels are also available here for tourists to stay and enjoy. There are two other tourism attractions in the premises of Kuttan: Kundal Shahi and Jagran. A hydroelectric power station of 48 MW has been established at Jagran. Tourists can discover various heart throbbing spots around the resort of Kuttan. The tourism facilities of every kind are available all over here.
- Top Places to Visit in Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir
- Top Places to Visit in Neelum Valley
- Top 10 Places to Visit in Murree
5. Chitta Khatta Lake
Chitta Katha Lake is situated in Shounter valley, Azad Kashmir at the rise of 13,500 feet (4,100 m). Chitta Katha implies White Stream; it is the nearby name of the stream descending from the Hari Parbat beginning from the lake called Chitta Katha Sar or pool of the Mount Hari parbat. This Mountain is sacrosanct for a few people who relate it to Lord Shiva and think of it as home the Lord and distinguish it as Kailash.
6. Toabutt
Around 200 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad , the last goal of Neelum Valley Toabutt. Guraz Valley covers (Janawai, Sardari, Phulawai, Helmet)
