AJK tourism rest house booking is done through the Tourism Department's own website, tourism.ajk.gov.pk, where you pick a lodge and room and send a booking request with your CNIC; the department then calls you to confirm availability and payment. In October 2026 the site lists 38 places to stay, and a standard government room costs from about PKR 2,300 a night. The lodges are simple, but in places such as Keran, Kel, Banjosa and Sudhan Gali they are often the cheapest formal rooms in town.
This guide lists what is on the official site, how the request works, what a stay is like, and when a private hotel is the better choice.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Run by | AJK Tourism Department; PWD and forest rest houses in some towns |
| Official booking | tourism.ajk.gov.pk, under Guest Houses |
| What you send | Name, CNIC, phone, number of adults and children, dates |
| Confirmation | The department contacts you to confirm and arrange payment |
| Government room rate | From about PKR 2,300 a night (October 2026) |
| Listings | 38, including some private guesthouses at their own rates |
| Security | Most Neelum valley lodges are within 10 miles of the Line of Control |
What is on the official site?
The department's site separates its own lodges, huts and motels from private guesthouses that have signed up as partners. The government properties listed in October 2026 are:
- Neelum valley: Tourist Lodge Keran (spelt Karen on the site; 6 rooms including a deluxe room), Tourist Motel Arang Kel (9 rooms), Tourist Hut Upper Neelum, and Tourist Motel Dao Khan, which serves the Leepa side.
- Muzaffarabad district: Tourist Lodge Pir Chinasi, Tourist Lodge Shaheed Gali (12 rooms) and Tourist Lodge Barsala.
- Bagh and Hattian: Tourist Lodge Sudhan Gali, the tourist huts and Forest Rest House at Dhirkot (spelt Dheerkot), the lodges at Ghori Mar and Lasdanna, and Tourist Motel Chikar (10 rooms).
- Poonch and Sudhnoti: Tourist Lodge Banjosa, Tourist Lodge Tatta Pani and Tourist Lodge Palandri.
- Kotli: lodges at Sarda, Khuiratta, Fatehpur and Teenda.
- Mirpur: a small tourist hut.
Most lodges have only three to ten rooms. The site shows the room types at each, and a booking request is the only way to learn whether your dates are free.
How much does a government rest house cost?
At every government lodge on the site, standard and master rooms are listed from PKR 2,300 a night, and the deluxe room at Keran from PKR 3,300 (October 2026). A standard room is shown with two beds. These are listed rates, and the department confirms the final amount when it calls, so treat them as a guide rather than a quote.
The private partner listings set their own prices. In October 2026 those included guesthouses in Kel, Arang Kel, Taobat and Halmat, The Lodge in Sharda (from PKR 3,000), Twin Hills in Keran (from PKR 3,000) and Green Village Resort in Upper Neelum (PKR 5,500 to 14,000). Booking them through the site does not make them government rest houses.
How to book, step by step
- Open tourism.ajk.gov.pk and choose Guest Houses.
- Pick the lodge, then Request a booking, and choose a room.
- Enter your full name, CNIC, phone, optional email, adults, children, check-in and check-out dates, and any notes.
- Submit. The site says the department will contact you to confirm availability and payment.
- Keep your phone on. If nobody calls within a few days, ring the district office.
The site lists these tourism office numbers against its lodges: 05822-921317 (Muzaffarabad and Neelum lodges, including Keran and Arang Kel), 05823-920067 (Dhirkot, Lasdanna, Chikar and Dao Khan), 05824-920123 (Banjosa, Tatta Pani, Ghori Mar and Palandri), 05826-920421 (the Kotli lodges) and 05827-926001 (Mirpur). Calling is often quicker than waiting, especially in summer.
What a stay is like
Expect a clean room, beds and usually an attached bathroom, and not much more. Some lodges list hot water, meals and a bonfire or barbecue, but heating, power and hot water can all be patchy, particularly in winter and in the upper Neelum valley. There is no room service.
What you get is location. Pir Chinasi lodge sits at 2,924 metres, 32 km east of Muzaffarabad. Sudhan Gali lodge, at 2,134 metres, is the base for the walk to Ganga Choti (3,045 m), and buses and vans run there daily from Bagh, Chikar and Muzaffarabad. Banjosa lodge is beside the lake, at 1,981 metres and 18 km from Rawalakot.
PWD and forest rest houses
Separate from the tourism lodges, the Public Works Department and the Forest Department keep rest houses built for officials on duty. Some take members of the public: the tourism site notes a PWD rest house at Sudhan Gali alongside its own lodge, and lists the Forest Rest House at Dhirkot for booking. Officials on duty usually get priority at PWD rest houses, so book them through the local office of the department and reconfirm a day before.
Is it safe to stay in the Neelum valley?
Keran, Sharda, Kel, Arang Kel and Taobat all lie within 10 miles of the Line of Control, an area the UK government advises against all travel to. The rest of Azad Kashmir is under all but essential travel advice. The Joint Awami Action Committee protests from June 2026 were the deadliest unrest in AJK in years, with long internet and phone shutdowns, and the AJK government asked tourists to stay away from 5 to 20 June.
Pakistani families still travel to the valley, but check local news and current police advice before booking, and expect mobile signal to be unreliable. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice, since it can void travel insurance. Our Azad Kashmir safety guide has more.
Is a government rest house the right choice?
It suits a couple or group of friends on a budget who want a fixed, cheap base, and it is a good fit at Sudhan Gali, Banjosa or Pir Chinasi, where the lodges sit right at the viewpoint. It suits families with young children or older parents less well, because heating and hot water are not guaranteed.
In Keran and Kel, compare the lodge with private hotels before you book; our Keran hotels guide and Kel hotels guide cover the alternatives. For an overall budget, see our Azad Kashmir trip cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book an AJK tourism rest house?
On tourism.ajk.gov.pk, under Guest Houses: choose a lodge, send a booking request with your CNIC and dates, and the department calls back to confirm and take payment. You can also phone the district tourism office listed on the site.
How much does an AJK rest house cost per night?
Government lodges list standard rooms from about PKR 2,300 a night and Keran's deluxe room from PKR 3,300 (October 2026). Rates change, so confirm when the department calls.
Do I need a CNIC to book?
Yes. The booking form asks for a CNIC number. Bring the card itself for check-in, and foreign visitors should carry their passport.
Are PWD rest houses different from tourism rest houses?
Yes. PWD and forest rest houses were built for officials on duty, who get priority, while tourism lodges are run for visitors. Both can take the public when rooms are free.
Can I book on the day I arrive?
Sometimes, outside July, August, Eid and long weekends. With only three to ten rooms at most lodges, book ahead in season.
Is there a government rest house in Sharda?
Not on the official list in October 2026. The Sharda listing on the site, The Lodge, is a private partner charging its own rates.
