Bara Gali is a small hill station in the Galiyat, at about 2,350 metres on the road between Nathia Gali and Abbottabad. It is best known as the summer campus of the University of Peshawar, and for visitors it is a quiet stop rather than a destination: a forest walk, a cooler afternoon and a break from the Nathia Gali crowds. Most people spend an hour or two here, or half a day if they walk one of the forest tracks.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 2,350 m (the university gives 8,000 ft) |
| District | Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| From Abbottabad | About 24 to 30 km, depending on the source |
| From Islamabad | About 92 km by the university's figure |
| Nearest base | Nathia Gali, a few kilometres away past Kalabagh |
| Time to allow | One to two hours; half a day with a walk |
| Best months | Late spring to autumn; snow in winter |
Where is Bara Gali?
Bara Gali is one of the hill resorts of the Galyat, the chain of saddles along the ridge between Murree and Abbottabad, and it falls within the area of Ayubia National Park. It lies on the Abbottabad side of Nathia Gali: coming from Murree, you pass Changla Gali, Ayubia, Dunga Gali and Nathia Gali, then Kalabagh, and Bara Gali comes a few kilometres after that before the road starts its long descent towards Abbottabad.
Distances vary by source: Wikipedia gives 24 km from Abbottabad and 40 km from Murree, the University of Peshawar about 30 km from Abbottabad and 92 km from Islamabad.
Our overview of the whole Galiyat explains how each of the hill stations differs, if you are still choosing where to stay.
A little history
Like most of the Galiyat, Bara Gali was a British summer station. It was a small cantonment, occupied in the hot months by one of the mountain batteries that spent the winter in Rawalpindi. Some colonial-era buildings remain.
Since 1965 Bara Gali has been home to Campus II of the University of Peshawar, spread over about 60 acres of forest. Between May and September the campus hosts the university's summer programme, which the university says runs to around 20 to 25 seminars, conferences, workshops and summer schools a year.
The campus is a working university site, not a hotel. The university says its limited accommodation is for the families of its own employees, for up to seven days in the summer holidays, so don't plan on staying there.
What is there to do in Bara Gali?
Bara Gali has no single landmark. What it offers is forest, quiet and a few good walks.
The Bara Gali forest track
A British-era forest track runs through the pine, fir, cedar and oak forest around Bara Gali. In July 2026 The Nation reported on it as one of the better-preserved old walking routes in the Galiyat, managed by the Galiyat Development Authority and the Forest Department. Published sources don't give a fixed length or a signed route, so ask locally where it starts, walk as far as suits you and come back the same way.
The Kalabagh to Bara Gali walk
Hikers record a walk of about 3.5 km one way between Kalabagh and Bara Gali through the forest. It is a reasonable morning out from Nathia Gali, with transport arranged to collect you at the far end or a walk back the same way.
Kalabagh here is the forested area between Nathia Gali and Bara Gali, home to a Pakistan Air Force base. The base itself is not open to the public, so keep to the road and the public tracks and don't photograph military buildings.
Birds and forest
Birdwatching is one of the activities local tourism listings suggest for Bara Gali, and an early morning walk, before the traffic starts, is the time to try it. Our guide to hiking trails in the Galiyat covers the longer walks along the ridge, including the climbs to Mushkpuri and Miranjani from the Nathia Gali side.
How do you get to Bara Gali?
You need your own car, a hired car or a taxi. Public transport on the Galiyat road is limited; our guide to reaching Nathia Gali by public transport covers the options.
From Islamabad, the usual route is via Murree and the Galiyat road: Murree, then the turning towards Nathia Gali, then on through Kalabagh to Bara Gali. Our Islamabad to Nathia Gali guide covers that drive in detail; Bara Gali is a short way beyond it. You can also come the other way, on the Hazara Motorway to Abbottabad and then up the hill.
From Abbottabad, Bara Gali is the first of the galis you reach. Our Abbottabad to Nathia Gali route guide follows the same road.
From Lahore, take the M-2 to Islamabad and follow either route above. It is a long day, so most families from Lahore stay a night in Nathia Gali rather than doing it as a day trip.
The road is paved and well used, but narrow and winding in places. Traffic builds on summer weekends and holidays, mostly around the busier galis, so an early start makes the drive easier.
How long should you spend in Bara Gali?
- One to two hours is enough to stop, stretch your legs, walk a short way into the forest and have tea.
- Half a day lets you walk between Kalabagh and Bara Gali, or follow the forest track for a while.
There is very little accommodation in Bara Gali itself. Most visitors stay in Nathia Gali hotels or guesthouses around Kalabagh and treat Bara Gali as a drive or a walk from there.
When to go
Late spring to autumn is the easiest time, with summer bringing the cool air that made the Galiyat a hill station. The monsoon, usually from July into September, brings mist, rain and the occasional landslide on the road, so check conditions on the day.
Winter brings snow to the whole ridge, and the road can be closed or tricky after a heavy fall. If you plan to come in snow, read our guide to Nathia Gali in winter and carry chains or be ready to turn back. Our seasons guide covers the wider north.
Is Bara Gali worth visiting?
Bara Gali suits people who want the Galiyat without the crowds: couples, walkers, birdwatchers and anyone staying in Nathia Gali for a few days who wants a quieter afternoon. It is a pleasant stop on the way between Abbottabad and Nathia Gali.
It is not a place to build a trip around. There are no viewpoints with chairlifts, no bazaar to speak of, few places to eat and almost nowhere to stay. Families with young children looking for things to do will find more in Nathia Gali and Ayubia. If you only have a day in the Galiyat, see our list of places to visit in Nathia Gali first and add Bara Gali if you have time. For more hill stations and valleys to compare, see our destinations.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bara Gali located?
Bara Gali is in Abbottabad district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the road between Nathia Gali and Abbottabad. It is a few kilometres beyond Nathia Gali, past Kalabagh.
What is the altitude of Bara Gali?
About 2,350 metres (7,710 feet). The University of Peshawar gives the figure as 8,000 feet.
Can tourists stay at the University of Peshawar campus in Bara Gali?
No. The university says its limited accommodation is for the families of its own employees during the summer holidays. Visitors usually stay in Nathia Gali.
How far is Bara Gali from Nathia Gali?
A few kilometres. The road from Nathia Gali passes Kalabagh and reaches Bara Gali shortly afterwards, and hikers record a forest walk of about 3.5 km between Kalabagh and Bara Gali.
Is Bara Gali worth visiting?
Yes, as a short, quiet stop or a forest walk from Nathia Gali. It has little to see in the way of sights and almost no accommodation, so it is not a destination for a whole trip.
