Chattar Plain (also spelt Chatar Plain, Chatter Plain or Chater Plain) is a plateau and small town on the Karakoram Highway in Mansehra district, about 50 km north of Mansehra city and beyond Shinkiari, at a height of about 1,630 metres. It is often described as the highest flat stretch of ground on the road between Abbottabad and Gilgit, and for drivers heading north towards Battagram it is one of the first clear signs that the road is climbing out of the plains and into the hills.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mansehra district, on the Karakoram Highway (N-35) |
| Distance from Mansehra | About 50 km north on the KKH, beyond Shinkiari |
| Elevation | About 1,630 m |
| Spellings | Chattar, Chatar, Chatter or Chater Plain |
| What's there | A bazaar, food stops and small hotels |
| Best used as | A rest and food stop on the way north |
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What Chattar Plain actually is
Chattar Plain is a union council of Mansehra district and a small settlement strung along the highway, rather than a single scenic viewpoint with an entry gate. It has a bazaar, a scattering of food stops and small hotels, and open plateau views over the hills of Hazara on either side. The land here is held largely by local Swati and Sadaat families, and the wider area, like much of Hazara, was affected by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
What makes it worth noting on a drive north is less any single sight and more the change in the road: after the built-up stretch through Mansehra and Shinkiari (about 18 km north of Mansehra), the highway opens out onto this plateau before dropping on towards Battagram, Thakot, Besham and Kohistan. For more places in the district, see our guide to places to visit in Mansehra.
Why travellers stop here
Chattar Plain sits at a natural point for a short break on a long drive: far enough from Abbottabad and Mansehra to be worth a proper stop, and before the road tightens into the narrower, slower stretches further north. Roadside food stops along this part of the KKH serve the usual highway menu of tea, parathas and simple meals, and it is a sensible place to fill up on food and fuel before the road becomes more mountainous.
The plateau setting also makes for decent photographs, particularly in clear weather when the surrounding hills are visible in both directions along the highway. It is not a destination people plan a special trip around, but it breaks up a long drive usefully.
Weather and when to stop
Being higher and more open than the towns just to its south, Chattar Plain is noticeably cooler, especially outside summer. In winter it can see snow and cold winds that the lower valleys around Abbottabad do not, so a stop here in December to February can be considerably colder than the temperature back in Mansehra suggests. Summer is comfortable and is when most northbound traffic passes through, since it coincides with the main travel season in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Our travel guide covers route planning for the north in more detail.
Getting there
Chattar Plain is reached by continuing north on the Karakoram Highway from Mansehra through Shinkiari; it is not a detour but a point directly on the main road, so anyone driving the KKH north from Hazara towards Battagram, Besham and Chilas passes through it.
It is not on the usual road to Naran, Kaghan or Shogran. That road, the N-15, leaves the KKH at Mansehra and heads to Balakot, so if Naran is your goal you won't see Chattar Plain at all. Our Babusar Top vs KKH guide compares the two routes north.
Is it safe?
Chattar Plain lies on the stretch of the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, and the UK government's travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) advises against all travel on that stretch, via Battagram, Besham, Dasu and Sazin. Pakistani travellers and goods traffic use the road every day, but check local news and current police advice before setting out. In summer the Babusar (N-15) route avoids the stretch entirely. Foreign-passport holders should read their own government's advice, which may say not to go and can void travel insurance.
Is it worth stopping for?
As a planned destination, no. As a practical rest stop on an already long drive north on the KKH, yes: it is a sensible place to eat, stretch and take a few photographs of the surrounding hills before the road narrows further. Anyone driving the KKH from Islamabad towards Besham and Gilgit-Baltistan will pass through without needing to plan for it, while travellers to Naran and Shogran turn off at Mansehra and miss it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chattar Plain a tourist attraction with an entry fee?
No. It is a settlement and open plateau on the Karakoram Highway with a bazaar and food stops, not a ticketed site.
How high is Chattar Plain?
About 1,630 metres above sea level, noticeably higher than Mansehra and Shinkiari below it.
Is Chattar Plain on the way to Naran?
No. Naran and Kaghan are reached on the N-15 from Mansehra via Balakot. Chattar Plain is about 50 km north of Mansehra on the KKH, on the road to Battagram, Besham and Kohistan.
Does it get cold at Chattar Plain?
It is noticeably cooler than Mansehra or Abbottabad below it, and can see snow in winter, so pack accordingly if travelling outside summer.
Are there hotels at Chattar Plain?
There are small hotels and guesthouses in the settlement, mainly serving passing traffic, but it functions as a stopover rather than a place most visitors stay for multiple nights.
Is it safe to drive through Chattar Plain?
Pakistani traffic uses this part of the KKH daily, but the UK advises against all travel on the KKH between Mansehra and Chilas, which includes Chattar Plain. Check current local advice; in summer, the Babusar route via Naran avoids this stretch.
