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Muzaffarabad is the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the most developed city in the region. While the valleys to the north require a considerable amount of traveling to find more developed cities, Muzaffarabad provides a range of accommodation options, from basic guesthouses to mid-range and high-end hotels. A basic understanding of city layouts will assist you in locating the best accommodation option for you.
Perched on both sides of the Neelum and Jhelum river convergence, Muzaffarabad offers scenic views of the rivers and the foothills. The city has a thriving hotel market, and accommodation options can be found along the river and in the city center.
Compared to the towns and valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad has better infrastructure and is suitable to host guests all year round. The city is well connected to the rest of Pakistan, and the accommodation market is not as seasonal as the other cities in northern Pakistan.
The 2005 earthquake heavily impacted the hotels of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Many hotels in the area were damaged. The hotels built after 2005 are better constructed than older hotels in other cities.
Pearl Continental Muzaffarabad
Pearl Continental is the most well-known upscale hotel chain in Pakistan, and its hotel in Muzaffarabad is one of the better hotels in the city. The hotel is part of the Hashoo Group. The hotel offers good quality food, and has meeting facilities and other services that are usually found at more modern hotels. PC hotels are usually frequented by government officials and business travelers.
Although PC Muzaffarabad is not the only hotel in the city, it is usually the best option for travelers, especially for government officials and others requiring an upscale hotel. It is also the most convenient location to host official meetings.
Riverside and river-view properties
A number of mid-range hotels in Muzaffarabad provide river views and/or are located along the banks of the Neelum/Jhelum Rivers. These are the hotels that generally host guests from Islamabad and Rawalpindi who visit Muzaffarabad to see the River, Neelum Valley and Kaghan Valley.
There are better and more comfortable options in mid-range hotels if you want to stay close to the river in Muzaffarabad. Mid-range hotels in Muzaffarabad provide decent services to their guests. Rooms facing the rivers give a good view and you can hear the sound of the river from your room. These views and sounds are refreshing and relaxing.
Request information about the river orientation. Some rooms face the river more than others. Inquire about the floor and confirm if the room has a river-facing balcony. Different room numbers on various floors may have different views. Some may not have river views at all.
Many hotels in the bazaar area offer convenient access to transport, food, and services. These hotels are most convenient for travel to and from the Neelum Valley. The bazaar hotels are noisier and especially busy in the mornings.
For those interested in a quieter stay with scenic views, other accommodation options are available. The mid-range options with valley views, though requiring more effort to access, may be preferred over the city views.
Properties located at higher elevations in Muzaffarabad are quieter and have better air quality. If you want to stay in a less urban area for two or more nights, you should consider staying in one of these properties.
There are many budget guesthouses and basic hotels in Muzaffarabad. These predominantly serve the local customer, students and short-stay visitors. Most of these accommodations are located in and around the main bazaar and close to the access routes to Neelum Valley.
Some of the lower-end accommodations can be very run-down and may not have been renovated or maintained over the years. Aguest house that was highly-rated in a previous year may have changed ownership and may no longer meet the same standards.
Travelers on a limited budget may find the best option is to stay at a guesthouse near the main access point to Neelum Valley. These may have basic provisions to include a hot meal.
Muzaffarabad is the administrative capital of AJK and is often visited by government and corporate officials, as well as by international visitors endorsed by the NOC of the AJK government. The corporate and official hotel business is largely dominated by the Pearl Continental hotel. Other hotels in this business are of the mid-range category and can accommodate smaller corporate and official groups.
Pearl Continental or comparable hotels in Muzaffarabad incorporate the local conference facilities and offer a complete package including transport and local ground support. Official travel groups to Muzaffarabad are usually organized by local travel companies who are aware of the available local conference facilities and the logistical limitations to groups of various sizes.
It is important to obtain the NOC of the AJK government well in advance of the expected visit of an international delegation. Processing of the NOC should be part of the lead time and not be undertaken just prior to the expected visit of an international delegation.
Tourists using Muzaffarabad as a base to visit Neelum valley are generally satisfied staying at hotels in the bazaar area or at the campsites located on the banks of the river, as they are situated near the main entrance to the valley. For a quicker start to your trip, try to find a hotel closer to the NH-40.
For Official/Business travelers PC Hotel or other comparable hotels in Muzaffarabad are the norm. Conference facilities should be confirmed at the time of booking along with the block of rooms allotted to the organization.
For travelers visiting Muzaffarabad enroute to the upper regions of Neelum valley an overnight stay at a hotel may be required. A midrange hotel located in the bazaar which has a hot water service and has an attached bathroom may be a good option.
From Muzaffarabad one can see the Neelum, Jhelum, and their subsequent merging. During your stay at a hotel request a room with a view of the river. Not all hotel rooms with a view of the river face it.
Most of the mid range and high end hotels in Muzaffarabad have generator backup for a given window of time. Confirm the backup window prior to your stay, in case you are carrying any special camera equipment, or other electronic equipment that you may need to charge.
If your itinerary includes Neelum Valley day trips, you may want to stay somewhere near the entrance of NH-40. When looking at different options, check how long it will take to get to Neelum Valley from the hotel.
From June to August, the streets of Muzaffarabad are filled with cars from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Because of this, hotels often book up on Fridays and Saturdays. If you need a hotel on a weekend during this time, you should make a reservation ahead of time.
What is the view from the room? Is it of the road? The courtyard?
Is breakfast included? When does it begin? Is the kitchen open before 7 AM?
Is there a conference room? How many people can it accommodate?
Is a NOC for NRPs (Non-Resident Pakistanis) available?
Is the property you want to stay at open?
What is the condition of the roads? The Muzaffarabad-Islamabad route becomes especially treacherous during monsoon.
What is the weather like? It may be too hot or too cold to go.
C)Avoid
Do not turn up at peak times without a reservation. The traffic out of Islamabad at the weekends creates a congested city. Also, operators often receive large numbers of bookings and organizing groups can create administrative challenges. Walk-ins are often not welcome.
Do not choose hotels in the bazaar area based on price alone. Look into what other guests may be staying. A property that costs the same or less may be significantly noisier.
Do not book the full itinerary if you are only staying in Muzaffarabad. The Kel and Sharda trips require at least 1-2 nights in Kel or Sharda and are impractical to do on a day trip from Muzaffarabad.
Pearl Continental (PC) has meeting and conference facilities. It is one of the few hotels in Muzaffarabad with meeting facilities and is the most preferred choice for corporate stays. Other official visitors also prefer to stay at PC.
A no objection certificate (NOC) from the AJK authorities is required to visit AJK and stay at any of the hotels in AJK. International visitors also require an NOC from the AJK authorities to enter and stay in AJK.
Most hotels in the bazaar are near the entrance of NH-40 to Neelum Valley. Hotels situated near the river are also near the Neelum Valley entrance. Other hotels that are situated higher up take more time to get to the Neelum Valley entrance.
Power cuts are common in Muzaffarabad. Most hotels have their own generators.
In Muzaffarabad, the majority of hotels in the mid-range and above service categories, have a generator set for power backup during load-shedding. Guests are advised to confirm the generator schedule with the hotel prior to making a reservation. Generator backup for budget-hotels is not as reliable.
When is the best time to visit Muzaffarabad?
The best time to visit Muzaffarabad is in the winter months (December through February). The weather is cold, which provides some relief from the hot summer months. Keep in mind, there is the potential for heavy snowfall, which can impact travel. While the winter months provide good weather, they are the off-peak travel months. The summer months (June through August) are considered the peak travel season. During these months, expect smaller hotels to be fully booked on the weekends as guests travel from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The fall months (September through November) offer better weather and smaller crowds compared to the summer months.
Muzaffarabad Tour Bookings:
The team at HospitalityTours.com.pk can help you plan your trip to Muzaffarabad based on your travel dates and the length of your stay. They also help with trips to Neelum and Leepa Valleys. They will help you get approval to travel from the government if you are not from Pakistan. They will also help you with your hotel, and other transport and travel arrangement. You will only pay for the travel and stay arrangement if you accept their travel itinerary.
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Website: www.hospitalitytours.com.pk