Azad Kashmir

Location:

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Azaad Jammu o- Kashmir, literally Free Jammu and Kashmir ; AJK) or Azad Kashmir (literally Free Kashmir) for short. Azad Kashmir is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu. Azad Kashmir borders the present-day Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to the east (separated from it by the Line of Control), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to the west, Gilgit–Baltistan to the north, and the Punjab province to the south. With its capital at Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir covers an area of 13,297 square kilometres (5,134 sq mi). Azad Kashmir has an estimated population of about four million.

Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan together constitute the region referred to as Pakistan-administered Kashmir by the United Nations and other international organisations, and as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Cities:

Muzaffarabad - the capital of the state Azad Kashmir and close to the epicenter of the 2005 earthquake

Mirpur - is the second largest city of Azad Kashmir. Popular for its nearby Mangla view resort.

Dadyal - consists of more than 70 smaller villages.

Rawalakot Rawalakot- Its Kashmir heaven on earth.

Islamgarh Azad Kashmir

Bhimber Azad Kashmir

Kotli Azad Kashmir

Bagh Azad Kashmir

Sudhnati Azad Kashmir

Neelum Azad Kashmir

Other destinations

In Azad Kashmir Neelum Valley is a scenic valley located 240kms from Muzaffarabad. It runs parallel to Kaghan valley and is separated by snow covered peaks. The neelum valley Azad Kashmir offers panoramic view of hills on both sides of the river, lush green forests, enchanting streams, high altitude lakes and attractive surroundings. It is also ideal for Mount tourism. A scenic road opens this valley to tourists up to Kel, 155 kilometres from Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir.

Buses ply daily on this route and accommodation facilities are also available in the rest houses at places of tourist attraction.

Jhelum Valley is another scenic valley located 59kms from Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir.

Palandri in Sudhnati: Baral is the village near Plandri is a a Beautiful Place in Azad Kashmir.There is a fort of Dogra (sikh) period.

Billan Nar is the another small, beautiful place of Azad Kashmir.

Niyarain sharif is a religious place of Azad Kashmir.

Transport: 

You can Use Local buses. Rent.A cars, Taxi etc from any city of Pakistan to Azad Kashmir

By plane

There are no direct flights to Azad Kashmir.

Islamabad International Airport [1] in Islamabad is currently scheduled to be expanded and modernized to meet future passenger needs, as the demand for air travel has increased dramatically. There are many airlines flying into and out of Islamabad, including Ariana Afghan Airlines, British Airways, and China Southern Airlines. When the Islamabad airport is used by local government officials and foreign diplomats, however, other travelers might find the airport temporarily closed to them for security reasons.

By land

Traveling by road to Azad Kashmir is itself an attraction as you come across the most beautiful scenes of winding rivers and hills. It takes about 4 to 5 hours from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad in a car or van. You also pass through the beauty of hills the Murree during the journey. This is the shortest route to this city.

Buses and MPVs leave from Islamabad, Pakistan approximately every 20 minutes for different destinations in Azad Kashmir.

Traditional Foods of Azad Kashmir: 

Kashmiris celebrate the first snowfall of the season by socializing over a goat barbecue. They relax in the cold crisp evenings with a cup of warm 'Kahwa'... a black tea brewed with cinnamon, cardamom and honey. Also a perennial favorite is the pink colored 'Nun Chai' made with a special salt. Rich and redolent with the flavor of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and saffron, Azad Kashmiri food is suitable for all palates.

Pakistan is mostly a dry country and Azad Kashmir is no exception. However, Azad Kashmiris, and especially 'Pahari' speakers, are known for their slow-steeped milk tea, known to non-Azad Kashmiris simply as "Kashmiri Chai." Azad Kashmiri chai is fairly sweet, with crushed almonds and a creamy pink complexion.

People And Culture:

Azad Jammu & Kashmir is a fascinating land of people, languages & culture. The texture of present population is composed of races claiming their descent from Semitic, Mongoloid, Aryans, Persians, Turks & Arabs. The people of districts Kotli, Mirpur & Bhimber are sturdy, simple, truthful and deeply attached to their land. The culture of this area resembles to that of the adjoining area of Punjab The people of districts Poonch, Bagh & Sudhanoti are adventure loving and there are numerous anecdotes of their matchless valor as well as inspiring sacrifices for freedom. While Muzaffarabad District has its own distinctive culture. The people of the State are intelligent ingenious, hardworking, dynamic & skillful.

Official Language: Urdu

Local Languages: Kashmiri, Urdu, Pahari, Gojri, Punjabi and Pushto.

Handicrafts:         Carpet, Namda Gubba, Patto, Silk Woolen Clothing, Woolen Shawls, Wood Carving, Papier Mashie:          Rugs.

Important Products Mushroom, Honey, Walnut, Apple, Cherry, Medicinal herbs & plants, Resin, Deodar,   Kall, Chir, Maple and Ash Timbers.

Wildlife:             Snow Leopard, Common Leopard, Brown Bear. Black Bear, lbex (Kel). Grey Goral (Mountain Goat), Musk Deer, lashmir Stag. Monal Pheasant, Western Tragopan. Snow Pheasant, Red-led Partridge (Chakor), Black Koklas Pheasant, Peacock, Eagle. Dusk markhor (Wild Goat).

Local Dishes:      Rice, Aab Gosht, Tabak Maaz, Risytay, Gushtaba, Hareesa, Saag (Vegetable Dish)

Traditional Sports Tent pegging, Khabadi, Polo and Gatka.

Muzaffarabad:

Azad Kashmir

The capital of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir is situated at the confluence of the Jhelum & Neelum rivers. It is 138 kms from Rawalpindi and about 76 kms from Abbottabad. The present name of Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir  has been given to it after the name of Sultan Muzaffar Khan, a chief of Bomba Dynasty (1652). There are two forts in Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir, namely, Red & Black Fort, situated on the opposite sides of river Neelum of Azad Kashmir. The Neelum river streams through the town, joins river Jhelum at Domel and plays a dominant role in the micro climate of Muzaffarabad.Places of interest in and around Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir are: Pir Channasi, Shaheed Gali and Patika.

Rawalkot:

Rawalakot is a city in Azad Kashmir, and is the capital of Rawalakot District in Azad  Kashmir. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at an elevation of 1615 metres (5300 ft) in Azad  Kashmir.

Rawalkot Azad Kashmir Pakistan.

It is 76 kilometres (47 miles) from Kohala, It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via the neighbouring districts of Azad Pattan and Tain Dhalkot,and with Muzaffarabad Azad  Kashmir via Kohala and Sudhangali. The main tribe of Rawalakot is the Awan , shah , Mughal and Sudhan tribe.

Rounding villages include Tarar Khal, Topa Soon aka Soon Topa or just Topa, Kaimon, pakgali, Motialmara, Trar Dewan, Chare, Chuck, Tranni, Dahmni, Singola, Parat, Pothi Bala/Makwalan, Kharek, Dreak and Dhok, Banjosa, Hussainkot, Hurnamaira, Thorar, Rehara, Tain, Bhalgran, and Pachiot. Bagh District of Azad  Kashmir lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south of Rawalakot Azad  Kashmir. All of them are tourist spots of Azad  Kashmir. The road passing through (Jalooth)Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh And Muzaffarabad Azad  Kashmir. While towards the West are Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.

Neelum Valley:

In Azad  Kashmir About 240 kilometers long picturesque Neelum Valley is situated to the North & North East of Muzaffarabad Azad  Kashmir. Running parallel to the Kaghan Valley, it is separated from it by snow covered peaks, some over 5000 meters above sea level. Excellent scenic beauty, panoramic view in Azad  Kashmir and  towering hills on both sides of the noisy Neelum river of Azad  Kashmir, lush green forests, enchanting streams, high altitude lakes and attractive surroundings make the Neelum valley Azad  Kashmir a dream come true. Places of interest in Neelum Valley are; Kundal Shahi, Kutton, Salkhala, Athmaqam, Karen, Dowarian, Sharda & Kel.

Jehlum Valley:

In Azad  Kashmir The curling river flows through from East to West between the high green mountains of the Jehlum  valley and joins the river Neelum at Domel near Muzaffarabad Azad  Kashmir. A 59 Km long metalled road runs along the river Jhelum from Muzaffarabad Azad  Kashmir to Chakothi, close to line of control (LOC). Places of interest in Jehlum Valley include: Garhi Dopatta, Chinari, Chakothi, Chikkar, Loon Bagia, Dungian & Danna whaic are a dream to be visited in Azad  Kashmir.

Poonch and Sudhnoti:

Places of interest in both of these districts of Azad  Kashmir are: Rawalakot, Paniola, Banjosa, Chottagala, Koyian, Ghorimar, Tatta Pani, Pullandri, Tararkhal, Aliabad etc These are also the most beautiful areas of Azad  Kashmir. 

Bagh and Kotli:

In Azad  Kashmir the District Bagh, is rich in variegated natural beauty. Bagh, Dheerkot, Sudhan gali, Hanse Chowki, Neela Butt, Las Danna, Mahmood Gali, Suddhan Gali, Kahuta, Havaily and Ganga Choti are the main attractions in bagh Azad  Kashmir. Kotli is located at a distance of 141 kms from Rawalpindi/ Islamabad via Sehnsa, Holar and Kahuta. It is linked with Mirpur Azad  Kashmir by two metalloid roads, one via Rajdhani (90 kms) and the other via Charhoi. It is also directly linked with Rawalakot Azad  Kashmir via Trarkhal (82 kms). Places of interest are; Teenda, Hajiabad, Khoiratta, Fatehpur Azad  Kashmir, Karela Majhan etc.

Mangla Dam:

It is Azad  Kashmir in which the World’s third largest earth-filled dam was completed in 1967 on the River Jehlum of Azad  Kashmir. It is situated 115 km south-east of Islamabad. After travelling for 101 km on G.T. Road, we have to travel turn left from Dina to cover remaining 14 km. The Mangla dam of Azad  Kashmir is 3,353 m long, 116 m high above the river bed and 3,140 m wide at its crest. Mangla Dam Azad  Kashmir is designed to store 5.88 MAF water and has a minimum power generation capacity of 600 megawatts. There is an old Gakkhar Fort on the dam to have a panoramic view of the lake. 

For permits to visit to dam, please contact PRO, WAPDA, Mangla Azad  Kashmir.
(Tel:0544-639005) or Member (Power) WAPDA House, Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore 

(Tel: 042-9202226, 9202211 Fax: 042-9202485).

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