Kashmir

The self-governing administrative division of Pakistan, Azad Kashmir or Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), is an area entirely rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. Narrow by size yet wider by potential, Kashmir’s adventurous and scenic hiking tracks, calm and cool lakes, clear ravines and gushing rivers, lush green plateaus and dense forests, scenic valleys and colorful traditional houses, snow-capped mountain peaks and waterfalls, historic monuments and archaeological sites – all these attractions collectively make AJK a destination of choice.

Azad Jammu & Kashmir has ten major districts in its three divisions jointly housing more than 4 million people. The arc-shaped territory of AJK encompasses an area of approximately 650 sq miles (1680 km2). Geographically, the Indian occupied state of Jammu & Kashmir falls to the east, Gilgit-Baltistan to the north, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to the west, and the Pakistani province of Punjab to the south and southwest.

Muzaffarabad is the capital city of AJK located in the heart of the state and owns unique scenery and historic attractions. The fabulous 200km long Neelum Valley, the largest district, makes up the northern and northeastern territory. The turquoise-colored Neelum River gushing through the entire course of the valley is decked by tiny villages of terraced fields on the slopes along the bank of the river while overshadowed by the lower Himalayan mountain peaks. Major tourist attractions in the Neelum valley include Athmuqam, Kutton, Keran, Upper Neelum, Sharda, Kel, Arung Kel, and the last hamlet of Taobat. The southern populated region is made up of the rest of the eight districts lying below the capital city. The landscape is quite diverse with lush green valleys, hills, and waterways. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood.

Kashmiris have a unique cultural heritage. The people in different regions of Kashmir speak Kasmiri, Pahari, Gojri, Pashtu, and Shina languages. Urdu is spoken in the capital city of Muzaffarabad while both Urdu and English are also the official languages.

Many parts of Kashmir can now be accessed without the need for going through the NOC process that was earlier mandatory. Muzaffarabad, about 140 km from Islamabad and about 76 km from Abbottabad, is an attraction easily accessible to tourists. Balakot, Shogran and Naran via Gari Habibullah from Muzaffarabad can be easily reached via scenic valleys of KPK.