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Travel Guide To Neelum Valley: If you are looking for answers, you are in the right place. From the quiet, swirling north wind blowing itself like a flute to ruby-colored rivers and lakes, swirls of mud that mimic Mother Nature’s marble effect. A land of different colors, each giving its meaning, surrounded by lush, musk-colored mountains that hide a beauty these eyes have yet to see.
The Neelum Valley, named after the Neelum River, was formerly known as the Kishanganga River, and so was the valley. Neelum Valley is one of the most attractive areas of Azad Kashmir, located to the north and northeast of its capital, Muzaffarabad. It is full of vibrant traditions belonging to groups that speak their language, including the local language known as Hindko. About 200,000 people also speak Kashmiri, Shina, Pashto, and an endangered language, Balti.
In recent years, Pakistan has attracted many tourists from all over the world, especially from the Azad Kashmir region, due to its breathtaking views and splendid landscapes.
There is no doubt why it is often referred to as a paradise on earth, as it has everything the human eye desires, a relief from the stress of day-to-day work. The Neelum region is known for its lush meadows, streams, and rivers, which refreshingly flow along the rocks. Forests and dense trees are often overgrown with fruits and nuts that can’t hold up any longer!
Since the valley is located in the north of Pakistan, the weather is pleasant, with light breezes and calm waves. Summer skies are mostly clear with cool breezes, winter mountains are covered in thick milky white snowflakes, temperatures drop below 0 degrees, and icy cold winds whizz across the valley.
Travel Guide To Neelum Valley: Average Weather of AJK
Tourists usually prefer to visit between March and October, mainly because the area is the most harvested, most of the local crops are grown, the trees and mountains are the most fertile, and some places are still covered in snow, which is a perfect sight.
Travel Guide To Neelum Valley AJK: Best time to visit AJK
Most of the snow melts around December to January, reducing the chance of slipping on the ground. Local businesses strive to provide tourists with the perfect experience of experiencing the ethnic culture first-hand. The weather isn’t too harsh these months, but it’s cool enough for everyone to have a good time.
The journey from Islamabad to Neelum Valley takes approximately 6 hours and 46 minutes, depending on which side you choose. The distance between the valley and Islamabad is 234.9 km.
Mostly in winter, the road conditions are poor due to heavy snow, causing the ground to slip, but for the most part, the ride is safe enough. The road from Uthmakam to Muzaffarabad is very good, but due to the cracks left by the 2005 earthquake, it is better to complete your trip by jeep. Most people enjoy their road trips because they are interested in traveling. Follow his beauty on their journey.
The valley is filled with natural fruits, vegetables, and nuts that the locals make from scratch, crafting a variety of mouthwatering, healthy, and satisfying dishes that can be the secrets of their later years.
Kashmir is known for its rich history of food, but its traditional dish dum aloo will take your taste buds to a new dimension.
Other dishes include steam-roasted Kashmiri pulao, a rice dish with meat, usually lamb or chicken.
Murg Yakhni, a seasoned chicken broth with tender chicken nuggets that is emulsified, makes it a hot habit to warm your body’s cold winter spirit.
An unusual but interesting dish is methi maaz, a curry flavored with lamb intestines and methi (fenugreek) leaves.
The last track that cannot be forgotten is tea! The valley swirls with its tea, known as namkeen chai, a green-leaf tea with dried fruit and salt that makes it stand out on the way.
Due to the recent boom in tourism near these areas, many have started building and managing their hotels, offering the best service imaginable. Most of them are located near lakes and mountains to provide customers with the best views. Hotels are often built in local architectural styles to reflect their culture and make you feel at home. The hotels offer affordable services, including breakfast, bonfires, and more.
Built with wood, the hotels are intricately designed to surprise visitors. Rooms can accommodate up to 5 members, depending on the room you choose to stay in. These rooms have wooden blankets, tables and chairs, and clean bathrooms; however, some hotel rooms may not have air conditioning due to cooler temperatures most of the time.
Travel Guide To Neelum Valley AJK: Cheap Hotels in AJK
Most hotels have time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they mainly arrange a variety of western and local dishes. A full breakfast may include a fresh omelet with eggs, fresh vegetables, juice, fresh preserves, fresh homemade butter, and toast, but this can be changed to suit the guest’s needs.
Local options include naan, chanay, and chai. Some hotels offer self-service facilities with a variety of food, from bread to fruit and desserts. Popular hotels include Neelum Good View Resort, Green Village Resort, and Pine Park Kiran Neelum Valley Resort.
In recent years, many popular networks in Pakistan such as Zong and Ufone have expanded their facilities to these northern areas to provide more internet services to locals and tourists. However, due to the high altitude at which the valley is located, the signal is sometimes delayed, but many dabha and hotels offer stable internet and phone connections. However, many people would rather not use the internet because they are mostly busy enjoying life.
Travel Guide To Neelum Valley AJK: Internet Services in AJK
Budgets may vary from person to person. Traveling alone can be cheap, many things are offered at very reasonable prices, and most require money to enjoy local fairs and restaurants. If you’re on a tight budget, a person’s budget of $50 a day is more than enough.
In general, not much beyond your needs, as most travel guides provide you with the necessities and hotels. The items you need to pack are
Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism over the past few years and suffered a lot of devastation, especially in the northern regions. However, many improvements have been made in these latter areas and there is no terrorist activity.
Travel Guide To Neelum Valley AJK: Absolute safe to visit AJK
With the development of tourism in these places, many foreigners are wondering if it is safe to travel here. The answer is! The locals feel very welcoming, welcome you with open arms, and learn about their daily life and culture to offer you the best. Weather-wise, visiting these areas can sometimes be dangerous during harsh winters due to heavy snow and landslides.
But what else can we do in Neelum Valley besides sightseeing? Don’t worry—this place has a lot to offer! For our adventurous guests, hiking is the best place to start, and with several locations to hike through the green hills with a group, this may be the best way to satisfy their thirst for adventure.
The Neelum River is full of fish, mainly trout, which is also a local specialty, and you can catch fish cooked by local chefs. Some restaurants have a full aquarium where customers can choose their fish and eat them from a menu they serve near flowing rivers and waterfalls.
Local towns are filled with family businesses in the form of fairgrounds. Here, you can find traditional handcrafted Kashmiri clothing (clothes), handcrafted wooden tableware, and pottery. There are many things to do, but which one should you choose?
For more information about Top Places of Azad Kashmir, click here:
Top Places of Neelum Valley Azad Kashmir
Since 2017, Saba Ghani has been serving as the talented and dedicated chief content writer for Pakistan Tour and Travel & EMHI Solutions. With her exceptional writing skills and in-depth knowledge of the travel industry, she has been instrumental in crafting engaging and informative content that captivates the audience. You can catch her at [email protected] or Twitter
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