The Ayubia chairlift has been closed since October 2021, when the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) stopped it as no longer safe, and we could find no report of it reopening by late September 2026. That means there are no tickets on sale and no operating hours. In July 2026 the provincial government said the work needed to restore it was complete and that it would run again soon, so check locally before you drive to Ayubia for the ride.
This page explains why the lift closed, what has happened since, how to find out whether it has reopened, and how to spend a good day at Ayubia without it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Status (September 2026) | Closed since October 2021; reopening promised "soon" in July 2026 |
| Tickets and timings | None while closed; any fare you see online dates from before the closure |
| Where | Ayubia, in the Galiyat, about 26 km from Murree |
| Operator | Galiyat Development Authority |
| History | Pakistan's first chairlift, installed in the 1960s |
| How to check | Your hotel, the KP tourism helpline 1422, or the tourist facilitation centre in Dunga Gali |
| Alternative ride | The Patriata chairlift, near Murree |
Is the Ayubia chairlift open?
Not as of September 2026. The last official word came in mid-July 2026, when Malik Adil Iqbal, the Chief Minister's special assistant for tourism, visited the chairlift and said all the measures needed for its restoration had been completed and it would become operational soon. No date was given.
Promises of an early reopening have been made before, so treat that as encouraging rather than definite. Until there is a clear announcement and reports of people actually riding it, plan your day in Ayubia on the assumption that the lift will not be running.
Why the chairlift closed
The Ayubia chairlift was the first of its kind in Pakistan. A 2002 report in Dawn says it was imported from Switzerland and installed in 1962; the GDA has since given the year as 1965. For decades it was the main reason families drove to Ayubia, and it drew visitors from across the Galiyat.
Age caught up with it long ago. It was out of action for more than a year and a half around 2001–02 before reopening after repairs. By 2021 it was nearly sixty years old, and on 1 October 2021 the GDA announced that it was closing the lift with immediate effect, after consulting its foreign operator, because further use could put lives at risk. The plan was to reopen once the old equipment had been replaced with a modern system.
What happened to the replacement?
Replacing the lift turned into a long dispute rather than a building project.
- 2021 to 2024: a private company said it had won a contract from the GDA to install a new chairlift, but was still waiting for approvals from the other departments involved. In the meantime, traders, hotel owners and transporters in Ayubia reported heavy losses.
- 2024: land for the project, part of it inside Ayubia National Park, was leased to the Monal Group. In September 2024 the KP Forest Department withdrew its agreement to the scheme, saying it breached the province's forest and wildlife laws, after objections from conservationists and local groups.
- January 2026: the closure was raised in the KP Assembly, where a member said the lift had now been shut for repairs for five years.
- July 2026: the provincial government said the restoration was ready and the lift would open soon.
The details of the new arrangement have not been widely published, which is another reason to wait for firm news before building a trip around it.
Tickets, timings and queues
While the lift is closed there is no fare and no timetable. Some websites still list a ticket price and opening hours for the Ayubia chairlift; these repeat figures from before the closure, or are simply guesses. Don't budget or plan around them.
If the lift does reopen, a new system is likely to come with a new fare, set by whoever runs it. Expect:
- The first weekends after reopening to be very busy, along with Eid, the 14 August holiday and summer Sundays.
- The shortest queues on weekday mornings, as with most rides in the hills.
- Closures in bad weather. Chairlifts stop in high wind, lightning and heavy snow, and the Galiyat gets all three.
How to check before you go
- Ask your hotel in Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali or Ayubia the evening before. They will know whether the lift is running.
- Call the KP tourism helpline, 1422.
- Ask at the tourist facilitation centre in Dunga Gali on your way past.
- Look for a recent news report of the reopening, not a travel website's standing page.
What to do at Ayubia without the chairlift
Ayubia is still worth a stop, just not a special trip on its own.
- Walk the Pipeline Track. Ayubia is one end of the easiest and best-known walk in the Galiyat, an almost flat path of about 4 km through the forest to Dunga Gali. Walk it one way and have your driver meet you at the other end, or walk out and back. Our Pipeline Track guide covers the walk in detail.
- Picnic and take in the view. The slopes around the old lift are still used as a picnic spot and viewpoint over the forested hills.
- Explore the forest. Ayubia sits inside Ayubia National Park, with the climbs to Mushkpuri and Miranjani a short drive away.
- Tea in the bazaar. There is a small bazaar with tea stalls and simple restaurants, quieter than Nathia Gali's.
Ayubia is best treated as part of a day or a weekend in the wider Galiyat. Our Galiyat guide explains how Ayubia, Nathia Gali, Dunga Gali and the other hill stations compare.
Want a chairlift ride instead?
The obvious alternative is the chairlift at Patriata, near Murree, run by the Punjab government's tourism corporation. It combines an open chairlift over the forest with an enclosed cable car to the top, and it is the ride to choose if that is what your children are looking forward to. Our Patriata chairlift guide covers tickets, timings and queues.
Patriata and the Galiyat are both reached from the Murree side, so you can do Patriata one day and walk the Pipeline Track the next, staying in Murree or Nathia Gali in between.
Is Ayubia worth visiting without the chairlift?
For walkers, yes. The Pipeline Track is one of the most pleasant easy walks in northern Pakistan, and Ayubia is a natural start or finish for it.
For families who were coming specifically for the chairlift, not yet. Children who were promised a ride will be disappointed by a closed lift, and a detour to Ayubia alone is hard to justify. Go to Patriata for the ride, and come to Ayubia for the forest.
If you would like us to plan a weekend in the Galiyat, or to fit it into a longer trip north, tell us your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ayubia chairlift open now?
No. It has been closed since October 2021 and had not reopened by late September 2026, although the provincial government said in July 2026 that it would run again soon. Ask your hotel or call the KP tourism helpline, 1422, before you go.
What is the Ayubia chairlift ticket price?
There is no current fare because the lift is closed. Prices shown online date from before the closure, and a new system is likely to have a new fare.
Why was the Ayubia chairlift closed?
The GDA shut it in October 2021 because the equipment, installed in the 1960s, was no longer safe. Plans to replace it were held up for years by approvals and a dispute over land inside Ayubia National Park.
When will the Ayubia chairlift reopen?
No date has been announced. In July 2026 the Chief Minister's special assistant for tourism said the restoration measures were complete and it would open soon.
Is there another chairlift near Murree?
Patriata, near Murree, has a chairlift and cable car run by the Punjab tourism corporation. Check its status on the day, as it closes for bad weather and maintenance.
What else is there to do in Ayubia?
Walk the Pipeline Track to Dunga Gali, picnic on the slopes, and explore the trails of Ayubia National Park. It fits best into a day or weekend spent across the Galiyat.
