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It is a valley of fountains, springs,
waterfalls, flowering trees and plants.
Geographically too, it is a hospitable valley.
The Neelum Valley, 90 miles long bow-shaped with
majestic pine, fir and deodar trees, lies
north-south of Muzaffarabad (capital). This
ninety-mile long kingdom of vegetation is ripped
apart by the indigo blue Neelum river which
flows serpentine down hills to merge itself into
the river Jhelum at Domail. Domail, the
confluence of two mighty rivers, presents highly
fascinating scene of youthful embrace. This
heart-warning spectacle is most soothing to the
eye.
The valley, starting from Muzaffarabad, the
capital of Azad Kashmir, is about 150 miles
long. It lies on both sides of the river Neelum.
The geographical features enhance the natural
beauty of the Valley. Its elevation, a mere
2,000 feet at the start, gradually rises till it
attains a respectable height of 8,000 feet. On
both sides there are high mountains and peaks.
Nearly all the forest wealth of Azad Kashmir is
to be found in this part of the State.
There are two approaches to the valley. One from
the Kaghan Valley which is linked with it at two
points, the Nuri Nari Hali (Pass) and the Ratti
Gali and many minor Passes. From Dawarian it
takes two days for hiking or riding and night
stay at Dharian at 12,000 feet.
The second approach is from Muzaffarabad. It is
a distance of 55 miles which is jeepable in fair
weather. The Neelum meets the Jhelum river at
Domali (meeting of the two) on the outskirts of
Muzaffarabad city. From Paticka forest one
reaches Nosari, 24 miles ahead of Muzaffarabad.
Next come Chaliana (height 3,200 feet), Qazi
Nag, Barian, Salkhela, Kundal Shahi, Athmaqam on
this road. On a number of places, the local
population has built rope crossings on the
river. It is a very dangerous device and the
very thought of crossing these points is
horrible but thrilling.
Tao Butt is an example of vegetation generosity
of the liberal nature. The spot is donned with
all delicacies and niceties. Nature flirts here
with fantastic environment. The forest wealth
abounds in the Neelum Valley. Deodar, pine, fir,
wild walnut, strawberry and hosts of other high
stature trees and other types of wild growth and
herbs are the treasure of the valley. Besides
being invaluable in economic terms, the variety
of natural growth offers a captivating scenery.
Shunder Hill tops are covered with green forests
and the fields are lush green with crops.
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The valley is accessible by an all weather
road metalled up to Kundal Shahi and well
maintained up to Kel. At the gateway to the
Valley lies a sprawling town of Bhateeka with a
dependable commercial centre. For a tourist,
Bhateeka can be the first journey break. This
town has a modest bazaar with day-to-day
activity. All essential items are available in
the bazaar which feeds a fairly large number of
villages behind it. On its back runs the
forth-emitting river Neelum. The village and
bazaar are connected by a suspension bridge
crossable by jeep alone. This old bridge is
being replaced with an RCC one enabling it to
afford heavy traffic. The running streams, water
channels and water falls across the Bhateeka
village presents another heart winning scene. It
is fully electrified.
A few years back, the Federal Minister of
Power and Water, Government of Pakistan had a
hydel station built in this village over a
perennial nullah which is in fact a mini river
of Bhateeka. The quality of life here is full of
emotions despite its simplicity. It is perhaps
due to verdure. Financially, it is an affluent
town. Majority of the village folk is engaged in
profitable business abroad especially in the
Middle East countries. A number of scheduled
banks of Pakistan are operating in the village
on the strength of remittances from abroad. But
despite fattening coffers, the town has no
industrial activity. The ratting of machinery is
unknown to the town.
The serene atmosphere shrouded into lush
greenery and milky-white waterfalls and water
curses and their rhythmic flow totally absorbs
the visitors. Added to the general plant
fragrance is the sweet smell of menthol plants
along the banks of the nullah, it cuts its way
across the crop-fields in such wavy manner that
it looks as a white ribbons over green head of
damsel Nature. Bhateeka is linked by ancillary
roads with other surrounding areas uphill and
downhill.
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The other midway station in Kundal Shahi.
Also a small commercial centre. Kundal Shahi
headquarter the operational centre of the Azad
Kashmir Logging and Saw Mills which is
responsible for timber extraction to commercial
markets in Pakistan. Kundal Shahi station has a
rest house manned by the logging and saw mills
at the Western bank of river Neelum adjacent to
metalled road. A tourist range bifurcates from
Kundal Shahi to Jagra Nullah which is again a
mini river running all the year round. Its water
is glass-like limpid having good potential for
trout fish development. The range is also
accessible by a kutcha but well maintained road.
The forests are so thick in the range that a
trip to the range would be like going through a
tunnel. It is tunnel of forest indeed.
 Athmaqam
The other important station in the Valley is
Athmaqam connected by metalled road with
Muzaffarabad. This town has a Town Committee of
its own with an Intermediate College, a hospital
and a telephone exchange. A few scheduled banks
of Pakistan are also operating here. The rest
house, built at the foot of the Western hilltop
which tapers towards Balakot in the NWFP, is
accommodative. It has been built in such a way
that its lawns face the river below it. A daily
bus service piles between the town and
Muzaffarabad. From here upwards emerges typical
Kashmiri living pattern with houses built of
wooden logs, most of them double-storeyed. Curd,
cheese maize bread along the chutney is the
other palatable diet. The other major diet is
rice.
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So far is the half of the Neelum Valley and
after it are the more enchanting spots full of
exuberance and life. Kairan is another beauty
spot on the river side with a neat and clean
wooden flooring rest house. Its lawns slope down
towards the western bank of the river. The
bazaar consists of over a dozen shops with a
post office and telephone call office.
Commodities are transported to the bazaar from
Athmaqam by trucks. The physical feature of
Kairan resort resembles a broad forehead of a
person with thick hair on the head. Stay is more
comfortable here.
Jangwan
Ten miles west of Mirpur, at the end of a
jeep road, Jangwan is the well known shining
spot on the confluence of the Jhelum and Poonch
rivers. It is an ideal place for fishing and
anglers in large numbers visit it with rod and
line.
Bagshar lake is an ideal tourist resort in
the Samhani valley in Mirpur district. It is a
four mile long sheet of crystal clear water that
soothes the senses of a traveller after a 40
mile road journey from Gujrat via Bhimber on the
old Mughal road to Kashmir. It was through this
road that Mughal Emperors travelled to Kashmir.
On the top of the hill there is the famous
Mughal fort, overlooking the lake. Rising four
stories high this massive structure of granite
is a feet of Moghul engineering that has stood
the ravages of time. It has also played an
important role in subsequent history during the
time of Ahmed Shah Abdali, Ranjit Singh and
Gulab Singh.
Baghsar, the lake and the garden can be compared
to any other Mughal monument in beauty and
splendor. All around the gardens there are
orchards and along the borders laburnum grow in
wild profusion.
Rawalakot is situated in the heart of Poonch
district at a height of 6,000 feet and is a
plain saucer shaped valley. It is approachable
from Rawalpindi via Kohala and Azad Pattan by
motor able roads.
Page 2 of 2 >> Go To
Azad Kashmir :
Muzaffarabad - Bagh
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