Shimla Peak (Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa)
About Abbottabad
Abbottabad, a gateway to Northern Areas, is situated in Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an elevation of 4,121 feet at a distance of 110 km from Islamabad capital of Pakistan. Abbottabad is famous for its pleasant weather due to its border with Kashmir and Murree.
Abbottabad was founded in 1853 by Major James Abbott during British rule as the headquarters of the Hazara district. It became an important cantonment and served as the headquarters for the British Army.
Abbottabad is still one of the best tourist places attracting thousands of visitors to Nathia Gali, Ayubia, and Thandiani. It is the gateway to approach all of the major attractions in the Himalayas, Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush ranges. One of the major roads, the Karakoram Highway, that runs in all of those mountain ranges, also passing through Abbottabad.
Due to the influence of the British Army in Abbottabad, it is still a focal area for army-related training. The Pakistan Military Academy is situated in Abbottabad that provides training to the officers of the Pakistan Army. It also provides training to the people of foreign countries.
The boundaries of Abbottabad are attached to Mansehra, Haripur, Rawalpindi, and Muzaffarabad. It is connected with all of the cities in Pakistan by road as well as rail. The railway station in the Havelion Tehsil is one of the modern railway stations of Pakistan as well as it is the last railway station in Pakistan in up way.
Abbottabad is easily accessed through National Highway N35 near Hassan Abdal on Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway - M1, from Islamabad. It can also be approached by using the Hazara Motorway M15 from Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway M1. Another adventurous route to Abbottabad through Murree is full of the attractive scenic beauty of the green pines with a pleasant atmosphere.
Nathia Gali is the most popular hill station and resort in the Abbottabad district in the Galyat Range. It is well known due to its scenic beauty, pleasant weather, and hiking tracks. It has cool and pleasant weather due to the higher altitude.
Miranjani is the highest mountain at an elevation of 9,816 feet in the Galyat region. It is located in Ayubia National Park in Namli Maira town. The trek to Miranjani top starts from the Governor House in Nathia Gali. It gives an opportunity to explore various wildlife in the forest of pine trees in the Ayubia National Park as well as a view of the Nanga Parbat in clear weather.
Mukshpuri, also known as Mukeshpur, at an elevation of 9,200 feet is the second highest mountain in the Galyat region. It is located in the Dunga Gali in the Ayubia National Park. The four-hour trekking to the top of Mukshpuri top is an adventurous experience of exploring the forest, wildlife, and scenic view of hills in Azad Kashmir.
Ayubia National Park, also known as Ayubia, is a protected area and was declared a national park in 1984 to protect the coniferous forest and its habitants. It covers an area of 33 km square. There are species of different kinds of plants having various medicinal properties. It is also the homeland of different animals, birds, and insects. A chairlift is also installed in Ayubia to view the forested hills of the Mukeshpuri.
Dunga Gali is the headquarters of the Ayubia National Park and is located 3 km from Nathia Gali. The Mukshpuri trek is famous as well as steeper starts from Dunga Gali. There are several hotels and guest houses in the Dunga Gali near the Mukshpuri.
Pineline Walking tracks are famous all in the Ayubia National Park. It runs from Ayubia to Dunga Gali, and then from Dunga Gali to Nathiagali, has a lenght of 4 kilometers. Another trek is from Kaira Gali to Ayubia.
Thandiani is another famous hill station at an elevation of 9,020 feet in Abbottabad in Galyat region at a distance of 37 km from Abbottabad City. It has excellent weather with lush green forests in the summer season, whereas snow-covered hills in the winter season. An adventurous trek from Thandiani to Nathia Gali via Dagri Naka, a pass between Thandiani and Nathia Gali.
Weather in Abbottabad is moderate during the spring season, whereas it becomes hot in the summer season. In the winter season, the temperature is cool with snowfall in the months of December and January. Heavy rainfall occurs in the monsoon season during July and September.