Places to visit in Neelum Valley

There are many beautiful places to visit in Neelum Valley. Neelum Valley is a beautiful place to visit in Pakistan. It is a beautiful valley, best visit place and tourist destination in Pakistan. Neelum Velley is located in Kashmir at a distance of about 5 to 6 hours from Islamabad.

Neelum Valley is most beautiful region of Azad Kashmir. The entire 360 villages of Neelum Valley are very beautiful. Millions of tourists visit Neelum Valley every year to see beauty of this valley and this number is increasing every year.

It is the only district of Azad Kashmir which borders three districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora of Indian Occupied Kashmir; Gilgit on the other side and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the west.

Let us talk about some beautiful Places to visit in Neelum Valley.

Kutton Jagran Valley

Jagran Valley is located at the height of 1530 meters from sea level. This valley is located at a distance of 16 km from Kundal Shahi. Jagran Valley is spread over an area of about 10 km.

You will find many guest houses to stay in Jagran Valley. Kutton Jagran is a beautiful and attractive place for the tourists.

Noseri Dam

Noseri Dam has been constructed recently and is popularly known as Neelum Jhelum Project. The purpose of constructing the dam is to transfer water of Neelum River to Jhelum River through a tunnel.

Noseri Dam is located 36 km from Muzaffarabad and attracts tourists traveling on the Neelum Road.

Kundal Shahi

Kundal Shahi is located about 74 kilometers away from Muzaffarabad. In this area, Jagran Nala joins the Neelum River.

Trout fish is found in Neelum River here. Many hotels are available in Kundal Shahi for the tourists.

Athmuqam

Athmuqam is situated at a distance of 10 kilometers from Kundal Shahi. It is situated at an altitude of 1371 meters above sea level. Athmuqam is the headquarters of Neelum district.

It is a great place for tourists. All kinds of facilities are available here for tourists. There are markets, hospitals, banks, guest houses and hotels etc. The natural beauty of place is the center of attraction for tourists.

Karen Valley

Karen is located at a distance of 9 km from Athmuqam. It is situated at an altitude of 1524 meters above sea level. Azad Kashmir Political Department has built a rest house for tourists here.

Karen Valley is very close to Line of Control which is divided into two parts; Azad Kashmir (Pakistan’s Territory) and Occupied Kashmir (Indian Territory).

While walking on Neelum Road, you will see Indian flag at the Karen. Half or more than half of Karen Valley area belongs to India. Karen is an attractive place for the tourists where they can see Indian posts closely.

If a Kashmiri sees Indian flag at Karen, the yearning for freedom arises in his heart. There is a small market and a few hotels in Karen.

Upper Neelum

Upper Neelum is one or half km away from Karen. Upper Neelum is at an altitude of 1824 meters above sea level. Villages wrapped in green color of Upper Neelum, wild flowers and their own culture have attracted the interest of tourists.

The villages of Upper Neelum are so famous for their beauty that people travel for 18 hours even to last village in the valley. The famous villages and lakes of Upper Neelum are so famous and enchanting that people walk for hours to see these lakes and villages.

On reaching there, tourists forget their tiredness after seeing this beautiful scene of nature at Upper Neelum which is located almost near Line of Control.

Dowarian Village

Dowarian is located at a distance of about 15 km from Karen. It is at an altitude of 1615 meters above sea level. It is a village in middle of mountains. This entire area is surrounded by dense forest.

A narrow road through this area connects the Kaghan Valley with Neelum Valley, meaning that a 30 km drive from Dowarian can reach the Kaghan Valley.

There are hotels and guest houses for tourists as well.

Ratti Gali Lake

The famous and picturesque Ratti Gali Lake is located at a distance of 18 km from Dowarian. It is situated at an altitude of about 12,130 feet above sea level.

There is a road to go to Ratti Gali Lake but only jeeps can ply on this road. From May to October you can visit Ratti Gali Lake.

There is a facility of tents etc. for the tourists at Rati Gali Lake.

Sharda Neelum Valley

Sharda is also a charming and enchanting place of Neelum Valley (Azad Kashmir) which is situated at a distance of 136 kilometers from Muzaffarabad and 30 kilometers from Dowarian.

Sharda is the second Tehsil of Neelum Valley. It is a beautiful valley and historical place. Sharda is situated at an altitude of about 1981 meters above sea level.

A centuries-old Buddhist university still exists here. This university was built in 9^th century and is still present at Sharda.

Sharda is a great place for tourists. Here you will find all kinds of basic necessities from hotels, restaurants and markets. Sharda is a beautiful green valley, between the mountains, on the banks of flowing Blue River.

Kel Neelum Valley

Kel Neelum Valley is one of the most beautiful regions of Azad Kashmir. Kel is located at a distance of 158 km from Muzaffarabad (Azad Kashmir), 81 km from Athmuqam and 19 km from Sharda.

Kel is a beautiful village in Azad Kashmir which is located near Line of Control. Kel also known as Kel Sector. Kel is a beautiful place where thousands of tourists visit every year.

Kel is situated at a distance of about 2097 meters above sea level. At Kel, the Shontar Nala and Nareel Nala meet the Neelum River.

Gilgit Agency can be reached from Kel Shontar Bypass though jeeps, which is situated at an altitude of 4420 m. You have to book a jeep to go from Kel to Taobat and Shontar.

Kel is a charming valley and an attractive place for tourists. The people here have their own culture and dress, especially the women's dress, which is unmatched anywhere else in the world.

There are many facilities for tourists in Kel, for example, tent facilities on mountains and lakes. There are hotels, restaurants, guest houses and government rest houses etc. in Kel.

Kel Valley is one of the major villages in Neelum Valley. Arang Kel is a very beautiful place in Kel Valley.

Sarwali Peak in Kel is at an altitude of 6326 meters above sea level. Sarwali Peak is the highest peak and glacier of Azad Kashmir (25 km long). Horses etc. are available for tourists in Kel Neelum Valley, where there is no road.

Arang Kel

Arang Kel is a beautiful village near Line of Control. Arang is 9 km from Kel. Arang Kel is located at an average height of 2500 meters above sea level.

Only Chair Left facility is available from Arang to Kel and no vehicle facility is available there. So if you want to go from Kel to Arang Kel, then you have to go to Chair Left first. You can reach the Arang Kiel forest through this chair left. After that you have to walk from there. The journey will take about half an hour. The beauty of Arang Kel will take away all your tiredness when you reach there. Guest houses etc. are available in Arang Kel for the tourists.

Shounter Valley

Shounter Valley is located at a distance of about 34 km from Kel. Shounter Valley is located at the last corner of Azad Kashmir.

From Shontar to Astor Chalas Gilgit can be reached on foot in about 12 hours.

There is a beautiful and picturesque lake in the Shounter Valley, known as Shounter Lake. Shounter is situated at an altitude of about 2800 meters above sea level.

Shounter Lake is called “Chamchi Sar” by local people, because the shape of Shounter Lake is exactly like a spoon, so people named this lake as Chamchi Sar.

Shounter is a beautiful place amidst the mountains. Thousands of tourists visit the Shounter Valley in summer. Another beautiful and the highest lake of Azad Kashmir is Chitta Katha in the Shounter Valley. Only jeep is available to go from Kel to Shounter.

Chitta Katha Lake

Chitta Katha Lake is a beautiful lake which is located at an altitude of 13500 feet above sea level. It is one of the highest lakes in Azad Kashmir (Pakistan).

To get to this lake from Kel, you have to take a jeep up to Lilam Tent Village. If you want to visit the lake, you have to take a ‘Guide’ with you. You have to walk from Lilam Tent Village to Chitta Katha Lake.

This route leads through the mountains to Chitta Katha Dak-1. Tent Village facility is available on Dak-1 and Dak-2. The journey to lake is at least 4 hours. The route is uphill so take your health into account and decide to go to Chitta Katha Lake.

The locals complete this journey in 4 hours on foot. But the tourists may take around 6 to 8 hours to complete this route.

Also visit: Neelum Valley Tour: Weather, Communication & Transportation

Please share your experience with us, if you visited any beautiful place in Neelum Valley.