Galiyat: most Beautiful Places to visit in Pakistan

Galiyat: Beautiful Places to visit in Pakistan

Galiyat is a region of hilly street. It is located about 50-80 km north-east of Islamabad, between Abbottabad and Murree, along the borders of both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The region of Galiyat is spread over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. Galiyat is actually a region or mountain lanes which is a very beautiful place.

Let us now know about these Beautiful tourist places.

Bara Gali

This enchanting place of Galiyat is situated at an altitude of 2350 meters above the sea level and it is located at a distance of 15 miles from Abbottabad and 25 miles from Murree. It is also the summer campus of Peshawar University. 

The hilltops adorned with evergreen pine and cedar trees add to the beauty of entire region. It is said that during British era, there was a small military cantonment here and British soldiers used to stay during summer.

Changla Gali

This beautiful place in Galiyat which can be anyone's dream town is situated at an altitude of 2559 meters above the sea level. 

Changla Gali is located in Abbottabad district, 16 km north of Galiyat Murree. The view of clouds covered the valley from peak can inspire anyone.

However, for a driver, a trip here is no less than a nightmare. Because the narrow road that goes up and down in a continuous circle and blind turns at different places, keep the vehicles (coming from other direction) out of sight until last moment.

Charra Pani

Charra Pani is a hilly area in northern Pakistan which is located in Galiyat region. This beautiful place is located at a distance of about 15 km from Islamabad (the capital of Pakistan), on Murree and Galiyat road.

The real beauty here is a crystal clear but very fast flowing river in which water coming from mountains is usually very cold. People from twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad) often visit this place.

Many people stop here, not only because of its beauty, but also to cool down their vehicles. It proves to be a great picnic spot especially for children. However, adults also feel refreshed after staying here for some time.

Ghora Gali

Ghora Gali is a hill terrain in Galiyat region of northern Pakistan. It is 1691 meters high and located in northeastern tip of Punjab province.

Ghora Gali is a union council of Tehsil Murree in Rawalpindi district as an administrative subdivision. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, its population was 14,410.

The uniqueness of this beautiful place of Galiyat is 1100 feet long chairlift that goes from Ghora Gali to Pindi Point. Lawrence College here is popular throughout Pakistan in terms of boarding. The cadet college here is also very famous.

Nathia Gali

Nathia Gali is the most popular tourist spot in Galiyat, located at an altitude of 8200 feet on the Murree-Abbottabad road in Abbottabad district. Its distance from Islamabad is 80 km.

The weather here is very pleasant in summer and it looks crowded with tourists during this season. It rains almost every day during the months of July and August. It is very cold in the winters and there is heavy snowfall in the months of December and January.

While entering this region, “Paradise of Pakistan” is written on a big stone and the tourists certainly recognize its beauty. Mount Makshpuri and Mount Miranjani are located nearby.

Harno

If you depart from Abbottabad towards Nathia Gali, Harno comes at a distance of about 12 kilometers on Murree Road. Anyone who passes through here cannot proceed without stopping here, because this area on the banks of River Dor captivates them with its beauty. Especially on banks of the river, in season suitable for tourism, there is a sense of celebration every day.

Abbottabad, the green hills of Harno, is a precious gift of nature. People flock to this tourist spot to enjoy pleasant weather.

Thandiani

Thandiani (literally meaning 'extremely cold') is a hill station in the Galiyat region of Pakistan. This beautiful place in Galiyat is quite cool as the name itself suggests. It is because of its height of 9000 feet above sea level.

Thandiani district is located in north of Abbottabad. Its distance from Abbottabad city is about 31 km. In its east, Kunhar River and Pir Panjal Mountain range of Kashmir is situated.

The mountains of Kohistan and Kaghan can be seen in north and northeast. In northwest, there are snow-capped mountains of Swat and Chitral.

From this high point, dark green forests on its surrounding are presenting a wonderful view. These forests are so dense that in many places even sunlight does not reach the ground because white-snow remains frozen under the trees and in shady places even in summer season.

Donga Gali

Donga Gali is a beautiful hill station located in Ayubia National Park in Galiyat region of northern Pakistan. It is a Union Council of Nathia Gali in Abbottabad District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This beautiful tourist spot of Galiyat is at an altitude of 8200 feet and is considered a part of Ayubia National Park. While Nathia Gali is located at a distance of 3 km from here.

There is a Makash Puri hiking track in Donga Gali, the view of lush green mountains on reaching the top is breathtaking. The transparent water of fountain there is very sweet and healthy.

Khaira Gali

This place of Galiyat is located at an altitude of 2347 meters and it is also considered to be included in Ayubia National Park.

It is also famous for six-sided house built on a high hill, which is owned by the owner of a well-known oil brand.

Jhika Gali

Jhika Gali is a populated place of Punjab, Pakistan. This beautiful place of Galiyat is a part of Murree Tehsil and is famous for its many boarding schools along with its beautiful scenery.

Khanspur

This place of Galiyat is a part of Ayubia National Park, which is located at an altitude of 7500 feet. Snowfall is common here in winter during which a lot of people are also present at this place.

The mild climate during summer also attracts people bothered by the heat of plain areas.

Ayubia National Park

Ayubia National Park is located 26 km from Murree in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (Pakistan) which was named Ayubia after the former President Ayub Khan.

Ayubia National Park was created by combining four different hill locations Ghora Gali, Changla Gali, Khaira Gali and Khanspur. Its old name is Ghora Dhaka, where the British built a cantonment to control and rule the local tribes of Awans, Chaudhris, Mughals and Ghakhas, including the Abbasids.

The beautiful waterfalls and steep paths available in the lower reaches of Ayubia are a source of entertainment for the tourists. Every year, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit the Kalaban Waterfall through winding paths of Ayubia, which is a testament to the beautiful masterpiece of nature. Kalaban Waterfall is located at a distance of about 13 km from Ayubia. A chair lift available here also attracts the tourists to visit the area.

Many species of birds are also found in the park such as golden eagle, wild pigeon, vulture etc., while black bear, wild fox and hyenas are found among the animals.

A 129-year-old tunnel buried in garbage and mud in Ayubia National Park was restored to its original condition in October 2020 and opened to tourists. This underground tunnel was constructed in 1891 between Ayubia and Khaira Gali, Murree which has been closed for a long time.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Department of Wildlife discovered a buried tunnel in Ayubia National Park, which still contains ancient carvings. This tunnel is a masterpiece of ancient architecture which has been repaired to restore it to its original state.

The 240-feet Moto Tunnel, made of mud and rocks, is 4 feet wide and 6 feet high. It should be noted that length of the track from Donga Gali to Ayubia is 4 km, while the length of walking track from Ayubia to Koza Gali is 10 km. This tunnel is a masterpiece of British architecture.

Murree

Murree is a healthy place in Rawalpindi district of Punjab which is 39 km away from Rawalpindi and its height is 7500 feet above the sea level.

After occupying Punjab in 1849, the British were looking for a cold place, so a place near Murree was chosen and thus the first barrack was built there in 1851. Until 1907, they used to go from Pindi to Murree on Tango which used to take two days, but nowadays the journey is one or two hours.

There is a lot of hospitals, schools and modern hotels in Murree. Murree's season starts from May and tourists usually stay there till September, whereas December, January and February are the coldest months in Murree.

Murree was made the summer capital of Punjab in 1860 when the power of East India Company was transferred to British Crown. During this period, military and civil British officials and wealthy natives started settling here.

It would not be wrong to say that Malika Kohsar Murree is the most famous tourist destination of Pakistan, which is located only one hour away from Islamabad. A drive to Murree from Islamabad or from Abbottabad is filled with beautiful views of verdant mountains, dense forests and dancing clouds. The mountains of Murree, which are green in summer and white in winter, are very attractive for tourists.

Murree is located at the height of 2300 meters above sea level. From here you can see the snow-clad hills of Kashmir in summer, while in rainy days, the spectacle of cloud play and the setting sun can be seen daily. Some parts of this resort especially Kashmir Point are forested and very beautiful.

Bhurban

Bhurban is a small town in Punjab province. It is a hill station in Galiyat which is named after a nearby forest. Bhurban is located at a distance of 9 kilometers from Murree.

Bhurban is situated between Murree and Kashmir Road at an altitude of 6000 feet. Recently it has also been made more accessible through Islamabad-Murree Expressway. It is 45 minutes’ drive from Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan.

It is considered a tourist's paradise due to its unique green hills, while the nearby Ayubia National Park is also a boon for hiking enthusiasts. Bhurban Hill Apartments is a beautiful resort where visitors never want to come back.

👉Please share your experience of trip with us in comments box, if you visited any place in Galiyat. 

Also Read: Beautiful National Parks of Pakistan