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Situated on the confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers, and about 140 km from Islamabad, Muzaffarabad is the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is the most accessible, northern, region of Pakistan from Islamabad, requiring just a three to four hour drive. Due to its proximity to other northern regions of Pakistan, and to the reported beauty of Neelum and Leepa Valleys, Muzaffarabad acts as a gateway to northern Pakistan.
The city has several charms for the traveler, and offers many facilities to the tourist including adequate accommodations.
There are tour packages available to Muzaffarabad from Islamabad. Upon arrival in Muzaffarabad, tourists stay in city accommodations, and participate in guided city tours. Other offerings of the packages include day trips to Neelum Valley. Longer tour packages combine city stays with overnight stays in Neelum Valley.
Muzaffarabad tour packages are also available to accommodate the travel needs of visiting official and business delegations.
A. The Road From Islamabad
Most people travel from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad via the Murree Road, which connects to Kohala Bridge over the Jhelum River, and then follows the Jhelum Valley to Muzaffarabad. The total distance is 140 kilometers and the trip takes between 3 to 4 hours.
From Kohala to Muzaffarabad is a beautiful winding road through the Jhelum Valley.
B. Traffic and Timing
The main issue on this road is during the peak summer months when thousands of people from Islamabad and Rawalpindi travel to AJK for the weekend. This creates very dangerous traffic and very long delays.
If you are leading a tour, the best option is to leave Islamabad very early on a weekday to avoid traffic. If you have the option, don't travel on the Kohala route on Fridays.
Also called the Red Fort, this structure gets its name from the clay bricks used in its construction. It is situated at the point where the Neelum and Jhelum rivers meet. It was originally built as a defensive structure in the early 1700s. The Mughals and later the Sikhs used it as an administrative center.
Today, the fort is relatively well preserved and gives an excellent view of the two merging rivers. It is recommended to take a local guide to get more context of the fort and the area.
The Neelum and Jhelum rivers meet near the fort. From different locations in the lower part of the city, one can get different views of the confluence. The two rivers carry sediment of different sizes and the resulting confluence of the two creates a distinct line where the colors of the two rivers mix.
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake hit on October 8 with a 7.6 magnitude. It altered the city of Muzaffarabad with over 35,000 deaths, and left over 65,000 injured. Areas near the confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers show the effects of the 2005 earthquake with the most damage, and the areas with the most change in the city’s infrastructure.
Pir Chinasi offers great views of the Jhelum and Neelum Valleys, as well as surrounding mountains. The drive takes around an hour from the city.
The area is home to a mosque and shrine, as well as offering great views. Pir Chinasi offers views comparable to other areas more remote from the city. The remote areas of Muzaffarabad offer great views, but are time consuming to access.
Also from Pir Chinasi, you can access Leepa Valley. Travelers staying in Muzaffarabad often take the Leepa Valley day/overnight trip, and use Pir Chinasi to access the valley.
Muzaffarabad has a good, traditional city bazaar, including food markets. The bazaar provides insight into the lives of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), especially those not living in the tourist areas of the valleys. The bazaar is good for eating out and shopping.
A drive through Muzaffarabad's outlying markets gives a good view of the River Jhelum and the city's attractive, garden-like lower neighborhoods.
Neelum Valley is contiguous with Muzaffarabad. Keran, the first major town in the Valley, lies approximately 40-50 kilometers from Muzaffarabad and is a 1 to 1.5 hour drive away. Many travelers take Muzaffarabad-based day trips to Keran. To access destinations even further in the Valley, such as Sharda or Kel, requires an very early start to give enough time to return to Muzaffarabad the same day. Most travelers wishing to go to Kel and Arang Kel take a separate tour.
B) Leepa Valley
Leepa Valley is located past Muzaffarabad on the Pir Chinasi Road. The drive and the conditions permit a average drive time of about 2-3 hours. The valley has many apple orchards and is known for its unique architecture.
Since the only way in and out of Leepa is past Muzaffarabad on the Pir Chinasi Pass Road, which is open for only a few months in the year, you should check the status of the road before you make plans to go to Leepa Valley.
C)Sudhan Gali
Sudhan Gali is located near Muzaffarabad and is a group of high altitude meadows and a starting point of many hiking trails. It takes about 2-2.5 hours to drive to Muzaffarabad from there. It is a good day trip from Muzaffarabad to get a change of scenery from the city.
The road and meadows are passable in the summer. Check with your guide or operator about the status of the road before you make plans to go.
Muzaffarabad is the closest city to Islamabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is a common base for officials from Islamabad to use for their work in Muzaffarabad, and adjacent areas like the Neelum Valley. Same day return trips are common.
As for the standard procedures for foreign visitors, NOC clearances must be processed in advance. An operator active in this field will have NOC and logistical processes in order for a visit to Muzaffarabad.
C) Monsoon and Autumn
During a typical year, monsoon season brings heavy rain and flooding to the AJK region from July to September. While Muzaffarabad is not as badly impacted by flooding as parts of the Neelum Valley, monsoon rains can lead to landslides and blockades on the Kohala Road. The monsoon season is also the off-season in Muzaffarabad, and from a tourism perspective, September and October are two of the best months, as the weather is clear and there are fewer tourists.
About the guide’s current AJK Tourism Department/authority license. Request the license number. Licensed guides have updated information on access, restricted areas, and road conditions on the Line of Control and other day trip destinations.
About the Neelum Valley day trip, including how far up the valley the trip goes. A Keran day trip is different from a Sharda day trip.
About the status of the NOC for foreign nationals, including how long it will take to process. This information should be provided at the time of booking.
About the tour operator’s cancellation policy for foreign nationals to explain reasons for cancelling trips due to monsoon closures of the access roads, particularly in July and August.
About conditions of the Kohala to Muzaffarabad road and Neelum Valley roads. Check conditions one week before the trip during the monsoon.
About the conditions of the Leepa Valley pass road if the itinerary includes Leepa Valley.
If NOCs for foreign nationals have been issued. Check in Islamabad.
A. How far is Muzaffarabad from Islamabad?
Muzaffarabad is 140 km from Islamabad and normally takes 3-4 hours to drive there. All routes to Muzaffarabad go through the Kohala Bridge which adds significantly to travel time during peak season. The Kohala road can increase normal travel time by as much as 2 hours.
B. Is Muzaffarabad safe to visit?
In comparison to other cities and tourist destinations in the region, the city of Muzaffarabad is relatively developed and large numbers of Pakistani's travel there during the summer months. This, combined with a stable security situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, helps to further improve the perception of the safety of the region.
C) What is Muzaffarabad famous for?
Muzaffarabad is famous for being the capital of Azad Kashmir, the Neelum-Jhelum Confluence and the Red Fort, providing the primary access to the beautiful Neelum Valley, and the famous Pir Chinasi point. The 2005 Kashmir Earthquake destroyed large parts of Muzaffarabad.
D) Is it possible to visit Neelum Valley from Muzaffarabad?
Yes, the 40-50 kilometers of Neelum Valley approaching Keran from Muzaffarabad can be covered in a day. Going further to Sharda and Kel from Muzaffarabad would require an early start and a very long day.
E) Is Muzaffarabad good for business travel?
Yes. There are several government guesthouses, and other midrange-to-nice hotels. The city also has the facilities to host conferences. International business travel to Muzaffarabad would require an NOC from the AJK government.
F) When is the best time to go to Muzaffarabad?
April to June and September to October are nice months to visit. There is a monsoon and a higher chance of rain in July and August. November to February is nice and mild in the city, but the valleys are closed and have a lot of snow.
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.
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