Cherat Hill Station: Peshawar's Nearest Hills

Cherat is a British-era hill station on the crest of the Khattak range in Nowshera district, at about 1,370 metres (4,500 feet), and the nearest hills to Peshawar. It is about 52 km from the city: along the GT Road to Pabbi, then roughly 45 minutes up a winding road. The views over the Peshawar valley are the reason to go. The catch is that Cherat is an army cantonment and the headquarters of the Special Service Group, so entry is controlled, and it is a day trip rather than a place to stay.

This guide covers the drive, what you can and can't expect to see, the access question, and whether Cherat is worth the trip.

What is Cherat?

Cherat sits on the ridge that divides Nowshera district from Kohat, high above the Peshawar valley. British troops first used it in 1861 as a sanatorium, a place to escape the heat and malaria of the valley floor in summer, and it was made a cantonment in 1886. A hospital, a church and a handful of bungalows were built, and for much of the year the station was simply a summer camp.

That military character never left. Today Cherat is the headquarters and training centre of the Pakistan Army's Special Service Group, the SSG. Below the cantonment, a string of villages, including Chapri, Bakhti, Saleh Khana, Kotli Kalan and Dak Ismail Khel, cling to the same hills. A large cement works operates in the area too.

How do you get to Cherat from Peshawar?

1. Take the GT Road east from Peshawar towards Nowshera.
2. Turn off at Pabbi, by the railway station, where the road to Cherat leaves the GT Road.
3. Climb for about 45 minutes on a narrow, winding road up into the Khattak hills.

The whole trip is about 52 km from Peshawar and 54 km from Nowshera. From Islamabad, take the M-1 towards Peshawar and join the GT Road to reach Pabbi; our guide to the Islamabad to Peshawar drive covers the motorway.

The hill road is the part to take seriously. Drive it slowly in daylight, use a low gear on the way down, and fill up with fuel before you leave the GT Road.

Can civilians visit Cherat?

This is the real question, and there is no simple answer.

Cherat is a working military cantonment and the home of a special forces unit. Some sources describe it as off limits to the public, and the cantonment at the top is not a tourist site in any ordinary sense. At the same time, people from Peshawar and Nowshera do drive up into the Cherat hills for the air and the views, and visitors have posted videos of the hills and villages around it in 2025 and 2026.

What that means for you:

• Expect a checkpoint on the way up, and carry your CNIC. You may be asked where you are going and why.
• Assume the cantonment itself is closed to you unless you are visiting someone there or are told otherwise at the gate. If you are turned back, turn back.
• Don't photograph anything military: soldiers, checkposts, vehicles, buildings or training areas.
• Foreign nationals should not attempt it without prior permission.

Rules at military stations can change overnight, especially in a year like 2026. If you know someone in Nowshera or Peshawar with a connection to the cantonment, ask them first; it will save you a wasted drive.

What will you see?

The reason to come is the view. The British chose the site because it commands the whole Peshawar valley on one side and, on the other, the hills of Kohat district running away towards the Indus. On a clear day, after rain has washed the haze out of the air, it is a long view indeed.

The other reason is the air. Cherat has always been cooler than the valley below: British records put its mean June temperature at 82 °F, against 90 °F in Peshawar, roughly 28 °C against 32 °C, and it is windy much of the year. In strong winter cold spells it gets snow more often than Peshawar, which almost never does.

What you won't find is much to do. There are no promenades, chairlifts or bazaars of the Murree kind, and the colonial church and bungalows are inside the cantonment. Bring your own food and water, and treat it as a drive with a view at the end.

Where to stay

We could not find any established hotels or guesthouses in Cherat open to the general public. Plan it as a day trip and stay in Peshawar, or in Nowshera if you are coming from Islamabad. Leave Peshawar in the morning, spend a couple of hours in the hills, and be back on the GT Road well before dark.

When to go

• Spring and autumn (roughly March to April and October to November) are best, with clear air and comfortable days.
• Summer is when Cherat comes into its own as an escape from Peshawar's heat, where June highs average close to 40 °C. It will still be warm, but noticeably less so.
• Winter is cold and windy at the top, with occasional snow in strong cold spells. The road can be slippery then, so check conditions before you go.

Safety and advisories

Cherat is in Nowshera district, and the UK government currently advises against all but essential travel there. 2026 has seen repeated militant attacks on police and security forces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a military cantonment is inherently a sensitive place. Read the local news before you go, travel in daylight, and follow instructions at every checkpoint. Our guide to whether Peshawar is safe covers the wider picture.

Is Cherat worth visiting?

For people living in Peshawar or Nowshera who want a half-day drive into the hills, and who can get past the checkpoint, yes: it is close, cool and quiet, with a view over the whole valley.

For anyone travelling from further away, it is hard to justify on its own. The uncertain access, the lack of places to stay and the advisory make it a gamble. If you want a proper hill break from Peshawar, the Galiyat are a few hours away by motorway and have hotels, walks and forests; our guide to weekend trips from Peshawar compares the options. If you would like help planning a trip in the region, send us your dates.

Frequently asked questions