Bagh (Azad Kashmir)
Bagh is a mountainous and lush green area of Azad Kashmir in the Himalayas and Pir Panjal Range at an average elevation of between 1,500 to 2,500 meters above sea level. It is located at the distance of 88km from Muzaffarabad via Sudhan Gali on Sudhan Gali Road along the Mahl River with number of rivulets. These mountains are covered with coniferous forests. It was part of Poonch district before 1988, when it was given a status of district.
Bagh is connected with other cities of Pakistan by road. It is connected directly with Muzaffarabad via Sudhan Gali as well as via Kohala using Bagh Highway. It is bounded by Muzaffarabad, Hattian Bala, Haveli, Poonch, and Rawalpindi districts. It is also attached with the Baramulla district in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
Sudhan Gali is situated at an elevation of 7,000 feet in the Bagh district. It is a beautiful and scenic location in Azad Kashmir. Several tourists visit in summer season due to its pleasant and cool weather. Sudhan Gali is also famous for rare forest of hundreds of years old.
The Ganga Choti, having altitude of 9,989 feet, is famous place for hiking. It is one of the best places for hikers in Azad Kashmir. It is also the highest place in the district. A 7km trek leads toward the Ganga Choti from the Sudhan Gali Road.
The Haji Pir Pass is located in the Pir Panjal Range at the elevation of 8,661 feet above sea level in Azad Kashmir on the Line of Control. It was captured by Indian Army in 1965, but returned to Pakistan after five months due to international pressure. Due to heavy rainfall in winter season, it becomes impossible to cross.
The Panjal Mastan National Park is situated at an elevation of 9,186 feet above the sea level in the Bagh district. It is the highest plain in the Bagh and covered with wildflowers in the spring season. It is reserved area due to its rich flora and fauna of the Pir Panjal Range. It is a place of some rare animals such as leopard, rehesus monkey, fox, wild boar, and different species of birds including kalij pheasant and cheer pheasant.
Dhirkot is a small beautiful village in the Bagh district on the Bagh Highway. It is mountainous valley with lush green trees with scattered colorful huts.
Weather in summer season is hot and warmth, whereas weather is cold in winter season. It also receives some snowfall on high altitude locations.
There are two mini nallahs, Mahi and Mahlwani, in this area, flowing all over the year. Due to this, the weather of this city moderates all year.