For the information of the tourists intending to visit Azad Kashmir, it is requested to come from any city of Pakistan to Neelum Valley via the express highway from Islamabad through Murree. At the end of the express highway, continue to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, via Murree Road on the right. (Honorable guests coming from Hazara should use Hazara Motorway)
Neelum Valley being a border area has major mobile service issues here, only SCOM SIM services can be availed here which provides service to almost all places in Neelum Valley including 4G internet. However, Ufone SIM also works on roaming but does not have internet facility.
So don’t forget to get SCOM SIM coming from Muzaffarabad. Apart from Muzaffarabad, sim can also be found from Nausiri place on the way or also from Kandal Shahi, Kattan or Athmaqam in Neelam.
Warning- (About 2 hours from Islamabad there is a business center called Neelum Point on the bank of river Jhelum to cheat tourists of Neelum Valley which has nothing to do with Azad Kashmir or Neelum Valley. (Remember, this place is definitely not in Azad Kashmir or Neelam Valley, so avoid being cheated.)
After crossing the Kohala bridge near this place, the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir begins. Muzaffarabad city is located about an hour away from Kohala. Tourists should decide according to their time whether they want to stay overnight in Muzaffarabad or go to Neelum Valley. Generally, night time travel to Neelum Valley is dangerous for tourists.
If you have reached Muzaffarabad in the evening, stay overnight in Muzaffarabad. Muzaffarabad city has hotels and guesthouses of all standards from Rs.2500/3000 per room to PC-Hotel. If you have reached Muzaffarabad during the day and intend to proceed further, take Muzaffarabad city main highway or Balochi Gujra Bypass Road towards Chehla Bandi.
Leaving Chela Bandi, your journey to Neelum Valley begins. On the way visiting various tourist points (Panjgaran Waterfall, Dhani Waterfall, Neelum Jhelum Dam, Lion of Control Chalana) you will reach Kundal Shahi after about 3 hours. After visiting Kundal Shahi Waterfall overnight stay at Kundal Shahi Waterfall or There are many guest houses in these places that cost between 2500 and 8000.
If you are staying here for the night You can go for Baboon Valley visit or on your return you can visit Baboon Valley as detailed below.
If there is no place to stay in these places, you can stay at Athmuqam or you can also stay at Kern or Upper Neelam, 35 minutes away from Athmaqam. Upper Neelum village has a special place in Neelum Valley tourism due to its beauty and being right in front of the Line of Control.
After overnight stay you will leave to see the breathtaking scenery of Patlian Lake, about 20 minutes from Cairn from Dawarian via link road Luat Bala you will enjoy the most breathtaking view of jeep track going towards Patlian Lake.
This is the most beautiful jeep trek of about three and a half hours (3.5). Normally the jeep fare on this track is 15 to 18 thousand. The jeep goes almost to the last point, there is also a base camp at the top. It may take about 10 to 15 minutes to walk. After spending the day, travel back to Cairn for the night.
After overnight stay, next morning after breakfast etc. if your intention is to go to Ratti Gali lake then a link road leads to Ratti Gali lake from Dawarian village about 30 minutes from Cairn. If you don’t have your own 4WD vehicle, rent a jeep from Dwaryan which costs around Rs 12,000 to 15,000. If you intend to trek on foot, then carry energy foods like energy biscuits, instant powder juices, milk etc.
with you. Apart from this, souvenirs of Azad Kashmir are also very useful. Even if you have your own 4WD vehicle, try to hire a local driver from Dwariya who will be available at a suitable time. Inexperienced persons should avoid self-driving on Ratigli road.
Dwarian to Ratigali base camp is about 18 km as far as vehicles can go and this 18 km distance is covered in about 2.5 to 3 hours. Overnight stay at Ratigli Base Camp where you can also pitch your own tents, otherwise tents are available at reasonable rent at the base camp. After an overnight stay at Ratigali base camp, in the morning trek from base camp to Ratigali lake, Ratti Gali lake is about 40 minutes away from base camp.
After spending the best day of your life at Ratti Gali Lake, after assessing the weather conditions for the day, reach back to the base camp by 12 o’clock and then start your journey back to Dawarian. Reach Dwarian and leave for Sharda. The distance from Dwarian to Sharda is about 2 hours. Remember the road condition beyond Dudhnial is not very good, so drive carefully. Overnight stay in Sharda, where there are many hotels and guesthouses. Here you can also go motor boating and visit the ancient Sharda University by crossing the Sharda Bridge.
If you have time and intend to go further, driving very carefully you will reach Kiel after about 1.5 hours from Sharda. (Jeeps from Sharda to Kiel are recommended but cars can also be taken) Park your car in the parking lot and take a chairlift from Kiel to Urang Kiel. After the chairlift there is about 35 to 40 minutes of hiking. (Note that the chairlift often closes before sunset)
Stay overnight and wake up early in the morning to see the beautiful valley. Then return to Kiel and leave Kiel by jeep or private 4WD vehicle for Taubat. The distance from Kiel to Taubat is around 40 km which takes about 3 hours. Jeep booking fare is around 13 to 15 thousand. Try to spend the night at Taubat, if you intend to return, come back to Kiel around 2 o’clock in the day. Try to reach Kundal Shahi or Kattan by night.
After overnight stay, get up the next morning and leave for Baboon Valley via Jagran. You can drive your own car to Jagran or you can take a 4WD vehicle from Kundal Shahi or Kattan itself which will cost 12 to 15 thousand. You will reach Jagran in half an hour. You will reach Baboon Valley in about 2 hours from Jagran and the first word that will come out of your tongue will be something like this.
“Wow, baboon, what’s wrong with you?”
After gazing at the power of God throughout the day, return to Qiyam Kundal Shahi or Kattan at night.
Next morning after breakfast, I started the return journey with a view of Kundal Shahi Waterfall. May Allah protect you
Some Important Notices:
1. As Neelam Valley is a hilly area, drive with extreme caution. And especially drowsy driving can be extremely dangerous.
2. When coming to Neelum Valley, you must carry a warm shawl, warm clothes, jacket, hat, gloves and socks as per your need.
3. As it is not possible to reach hospital etc. quickly in Neelum Valley, so carry emergency medicines like fever, cold, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation etc., bandages and pyodin etc. with you.
4. Rati Gali and Baboon Valley is located at a very high altitude so carry good quality sun block creams to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.
5. Neelum River currents are very powerful and dangerous so avoid entering rivers, streams, a selfie or a picture hobby on any canal or wooden bridge can kill you. Protect yourself and your loved ones.
6. While visiting any area, consider the natural beauty of the area and instead of throwing away the wrappers of the food and drinks you brought with you, put them in a shopping bag and take them back with you and dispose of them at a designated place. Do and prove to be a conscious citizen.
7. While visiting any area, respect the respect and privacy of the local people and do not photograph any house or woman without permission, it may cause quarrels and resentment for you.
8. Do not attempt to drive any vehicle other than a 4WD vehicle on dirt or gravel roads as it may prove to be dangerous to your life.
9. Ratti Gali Lake, Baboon Valley, Patlian Lake and Shontar Lake are usually open after June and can be visited till October.
10. Jeep fares fluctuate, so these fixed rates should not be assumed.
Note: This is a general tour, there are many other places to visit in which Shontar Valley, Chitta Katha Lake, Gitian Lake, Saral Lake etc. are worth mentioning.
We at Neelam Valleys warmly welcome all the distinguished visitors to Neelum Valley.
