The best places to visit in Azad Kashmir for a first trip are the Neelum Valley (Keran, Sharda, Kel and Arang Kel) in summer, Muzaffarabad and Pir Chinasi on the way in, and Rawalakot with Banjosa Lake if you only have a weekend. Leepa Valley is the choice for rice terraces and wooden villages, and the south, around Mirpur and Mangla Lake, is for the cooler months, because its summers are very hot.
Azad Kashmir has ten districts, and they are very different trips. This shortlist goes through them from north to south, with realistic drive times from Islamabad and a frank note on who each place suits.
| At a glance | Best for | From Islamabad by road | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neelum | River valley, Arang Kel, high lakes | Keran 6 to 7 hours; Kel 8 to 9 hours | May to October; high lakes July to September |
| Muzaffarabad | The capital, Pir Chinasi | 3.5 to 4.5 hours | All year |
| Jhelum Valley (Hattian Bala) | Leepa, Chikar, Zalzal Lake | Leepa about 7 to 8 hours | Leepa May to November |
| Bagh | Sudhan Gali, Ganga Choti | 4 to 5 hours | April to November; snow in winter |
| Poonch | Rawalakot, Banjosa Lake, Toli Pir | 3 to 4 hours to Rawalakot | All year; snow December to February |
| Kotli | Tatta Pani hot springs | 3.5 to 4 hours | October to March |
| Mirpur | Mangla Lake, Ramkot Fort | 2 to 3 hours | October to March |
| Bhimber | Baghsar Fort, Samahni | About 4 hours | October to March |
Drive times assume a normal day without Eid traffic or landslides, and a stop or two for tea.
How to choose where to go in Azad Kashmir
The simplest way to think about Azad Kashmir is north and south. The north (Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley, Bagh and Poonch) is mountain country: pine forest, rivers and cold nights, at its best from May to October. The south (Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber) is low, warm and green in winter, and in May and June it is as hot as the plains.
Then decide how much driving you will accept. Rawalakot, Banjosa and Muzaffarabad work as a two- or three-day trip from Islamabad. The Neelum Valley needs at least four days, because the drive to Kel alone takes most of a day each way. Leepa sits in between: close on the map, but the last stretch is slow jeep road.
Finally, remember that much of the north runs along the Line of Control. Pakistani visitors need only their CNIC, but places close to the LoC, including the Neelum Valley and Leepa, can be closed to tourists at short notice when tensions rise, as happened in the Neelum Valley in May 2025. Check the current situation before you set off.
Neelum Valley: the one most people mean
When people say they are going to Kashmir, they usually mean the Neelum Valley: a river road that climbs north-east from Muzaffarabad for about 200 km to Taobat. It is the most developed tourist area in Azad Kashmir, with the widest choice of hotels, and it is where our Neelum Valley Escape goes.
Keran and the lower valley
Keran, 93 km from Muzaffarabad at about 1,500 metres, sits right on the river, and the far bank is Indian-administered Kashmir. It is the easiest overnight stop from Islamabad and has plenty of hotels. Kutton, a short detour off the main road, has a waterfall and government tourist lodges; jeeps from Kutton also go up to meadows above the village.
Sharda and Kel
Sharda, at about 1,980 metres, is known for the ruins of Sharada Peeth, once one of the most important centres of learning in the region, near the main bazaar. Kel, about 25 km further on, is where many visitors spend a night before going up to Arang Kel.
Arang Kel, Taobat and Ratti Gali
Arang Kel is a meadow village above Kel, reached by a chairlift across the river and then a steep walk of half an hour or more. It is one of the most popular stops in the valley. Beyond Kel the road is rougher, and Taobat, the last village, is a long day out by jeep. Ratti Gali Lake, reached by jeep from Dowarian and then on foot, is only open for a short summer season, usually July to September.
Who it suits: families and first-timers who want green valleys at gentle altitude and do not mind long drives. It is not a good choice if you have only a weekend, and it gets crowded on Eid holidays and summer weekends.
Muzaffarabad district: the capital and Pir Chinasi
Muzaffarabad, the capital, sits at about 737 metres where the Neelum meets the Jhelum. Most people pass straight through on the way to Neelum, but it is worth half a day: the Red Fort on the Neelum, the confluence at Domel, and the bazaars. Our guide to places to visit in Muzaffarabad covers how to fit them in.
Above the city, Pir Chinasi is a hilltop shrine and meadow at about 2,900 metres, an hour or so up a paved road of hairpin bends. It is the easiest place in Azad Kashmir to get a big mountain view without a long trip, and it gets snow in winter. See our Pir Chinasi guide for the route and facilities. Shaheed Gali, about 16 km west of the city at 1,640 metres, is a quieter forest spot with a tourist rest house.
Who it suits: anyone on the way to Neelum, and families from Islamabad who want a one- or two-night trip without long mountain roads.
Jhelum Valley: Leepa, Chikar and Zalzal Lake
The Jhelum Valley district (Hattian Bala) runs east from Muzaffarabad along the Jhelum towards Chakothi and the LoC. Its big attraction is Leepa Valley, reached by turning off at Naili, climbing over the Reshian pass and dropping into a valley of terraced rice fields and wooden houses. It is open to visitors roughly from May to November. Our Leepa Valley guide explains the sectors and what a visit involves.
Closer in, Zalzal Lake, about 55 km from Muzaffarabad on the road to the hill town of Chikar, formed when a landslide in the 2005 earthquake blocked two streams.
Who it suits: Leepa is for travellers who have already seen Neelum and want somewhere quieter and more traditional, and who are happy with basic accommodation and jeep travel. Chikar and Zalzal Lake make an easy day trip from Muzaffarabad.
Bagh and Poonch: Sudhan Gali, Rawalakot and Banjosa
Rawalakot and Banjosa are the closest mountain destinations in Azad Kashmir to Islamabad, and this is the best area for a short trip.
- Rawalakot, the main town of Poonch at about 1,640 metres, is roughly 3 to 4 hours from Islamabad by the road through Azad Pattan.
- Banjosa Lake, about 18 km from Rawalakot at around 1,980 metres, is a man-made lake in pine forest with rest houses and huts nearby. It freezes in the coldest weeks of winter.
- Toli Pir, about 30 km and two hours' drive from Rawalakot, is a high ridge of meadows at around 2,740 metres with views over Bagh and the Poonch river. It is best in summer and gets snow from late autumn.
- Sudhan Gali, in Bagh district at about 2,100 metres, sits on the road between Bagh and Muzaffarabad. Ganga Choti, a 3,045-metre summit above it, is a long uphill walk or a rough jeep ride.
Who it suits: couples and families with two or three days, and anyone who wants snow in winter without the risks of a long mountain drive. It is less dramatic than Neelum, and it is the better trip if you are short of time.
Sudhnoti, Haveli and Kotli: quieter corners
These districts see few tourists. Sudhnoti, with its headquarters at Pallandri, is quiet hill country about three hours from Islamabad, and the old Baral Fort lies south of Pallandri. Haveli, whose headquarters is Forward Kahuta, is remote and close to the LoC; check local advice before planning a trip there.
Kotli is lower and warmer. Its best-known sight is Tatta Pani, about 26 km from Kotli on the Poonch River, where hot springs rise at around 680 metres. Throchi Fort stands on a hilltop near Gulpur.
Who it suits: travellers who have done the usual places and want to see ordinary Azad Kashmir without the crowds. Expect simple hotels and very little tourist infrastructure.
Mirpur and Bhimber: the south, for winter
Mirpur is only 2 to 3 hours from Islamabad, down the GT Road via Dina, and sits beside Mangla Lake, the reservoir of the Mangla Dam. In June the average daily high is around 41°C, so this is a trip for October to March. Ramkot Fort, on a rocky hill above the lake with 440 steps up to its gate, is the main historical sight. It can be reached from the Dina, Dadyal or Mirpur side, and one common way in is by boat across the lake from Sukhian. The Khari Sharif shrines are about 8 km south of Mirpur.
Bhimber, further south-east, has a Mughal-era mosque in the town and Baghsar Fort in the Samahni valley, on the old Mughal route to Kashmir. Parts of Baghsar are closed to visitors because the fort stands right beside the LoC.
Who it suits: winter day trips and history-minded travellers. The south is not what most people picture when they think of Kashmir, but in December it is pleasant when the north is frozen.
Which places suit which trip?
If you are planning your first trip, go to the Neelum Valley between late May and early October, give it four or five days from Islamabad, and stop at Keran, Sharda and Kel. Everything else in Azad Kashmir is easier to enjoy once you have done that.
- A weekend from Islamabad: Rawalakot and Banjosa, or Muzaffarabad and Pir Chinasi.
- Four to six days in summer: the Neelum Valley as far as Kel and Arang Kel.
- Somewhere quieter, with jeep roads: Leepa Valley, from May to November.
- Winter snow: Pir Chinasi, Banjosa and Toli Pir, with care on the roads.
- Winter sunshine: Mirpur, Mangla Lake and the forts of the south.
If anyone in your group dislikes long drives on narrow mountain roads, avoid planning a Neelum trip around Taobat or Ratti Gali; Keran and Sharda are just as green. Our Kashmir destination page has an overview of the northern valleys, and our trip planning page can help you shape the days.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most beautiful place in Azad Kashmir?
Arang Kel and the upper Neelum Valley are the most common answers, with Leepa close behind for its rice terraces and wooden houses. Which you prefer depends on whether you want meadows and mountain views or villages and farmland.
Can I visit Azad Kashmir in a weekend from Islamabad?
Yes, if you stay close: Rawalakot and Banjosa Lake, or Muzaffarabad and Pir Chinasi, are each 3 to 4.5 hours away. The Neelum Valley is too far for a weekend unless you only go as far as Keran.
Do Pakistanis need a permit to visit Azad Kashmir?
No permit is needed, but carry your CNIC, because there are checkpoints on the way into Azad Kashmir and inside the valleys. Foreign nationals need an NOC for areas near the LoC and should arrange it before travelling.
What is the best month to visit Azad Kashmir?
June to September for Neelum and the high meadows, with July and August the only reliable months for the high lakes. For the south, October to March is far more comfortable.
Is Neelum Valley or Leepa Valley better?
Neelum has more to see, better hotels and easier roads, so it is the better first trip. Leepa is smaller, quieter and more traditional, and it suits people who have already seen Neelum.
