Districts of Azad Kashmir: A Traveller's Map

Azad Kashmir has ten districts: Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Hattian Bala, Bagh, Haveli, Poonch, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber. They fall into three broad zones for a traveller. Muzaffarabad, Neelum and Hattian Bala are the high northern valleys, Bagh, Haveli, Poonch and Sudhanoti are the middle hills, and Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber are the low, hot south near the Punjab plains.

Knowing which zone a place is in tells you most of what you need: how cold it will be, how long the road takes and what kind of trip it makes. This guide lists each district with its headquarters, then helps you decide where to base yourself.

The ten districts at a glance

The population and area figures below are from the 2017 census as summarised on Wikipedia. Area is in square kilometres.

By 1985 there were only four districts, and the present ten were in place by 2009. Bagh became a district in 1987, Bhimber in 1996 and Hattian Bala in 2009, so older maps and older guidebooks show fewer.

The northern valleys

Muzaffarabad is the capital and the practical gateway to everything north of it. It is where the Neelum and Jhelum rivers meet, and most travellers pass through, whether they head up the Neelum valley or along the Jhelum. Our guide to places to visit in Muzaffarabad covers the city.

Neelum is the largest district by area, at 3,621 square kilometres, and the least populated for its size. Its headquarters, Athmuqam, is a small town on the road up the valley. Neelum is the district most visitors picture when they think of Azad Kashmir, and it is also the one most affected by security restrictions, covered below.

Hattian Bala is the Jhelum valley district, about 40 kilometres from Muzaffarabad. It includes Chikar and Chinari, and the Leepa tehsil, and it borders Indian-administered Kashmir to the north and east.

The middle hills

Bagh is a hill district south of Muzaffarabad with forests and small valleys. It is a quieter alternative to the Neelum route. See places to visit in Bagh.

Haveli is a small district whose headquarters is Forward Kahuta. It has few visitor facilities that we could verify, so it is more likely to appear on your route than to be your destination.

Poonch has Rawalakot as its headquarters, a hill town that is a popular base with a cooler climate than the plains. Banjosa Lake is a well-known outing from it, and our guide to places to visit in Rawalakot lists the rest.

Sudhanoti has its headquarters at Pallandri, at about 1,372 metres and roughly 97 kilometres from Rawalpindi by the Azad Pattan road. Few visitors make it the focus of a trip.

The southern districts

Kotli is the most populous district and the second largest by area after Neelum. Kotli town is a working district centre, and many people pass through it on the way between Rawalakot and Mirpur.

Mirpur is the gateway for anyone driving from Lahore, and it sits beside the large Mangla reservoir. It is the most developed district in the south. See places to visit in Mirpur.

Bhimber is the southernmost district, with Bhimber town about 50 kilometres from Mirpur. It has very hot summers, above 45 degrees Celsius from May to September, so it is a place to visit in winter if you go at all. It was once known as the gateway to Kashmir.

The three divisions

The ten districts are grouped into three divisions, which is useful when you read official notices or bus and rest-house listings. The district areas above add up to the divisional totals on Wikipedia, so the grouping is as follows.

• Muzaffarabad division (capital Muzaffarabad, 6,117 square kilometres): Muzaffarabad, Neelum and Hattian Bala.
• Poonch division (capital Rawalakot, 2,792 square kilometres): Poonch, Bagh, Sudhanoti and Haveli.
• Mirpur division (capital Mirpur, 4,388 square kilometres): Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber.

How far are the district towns from Islamabad?

Distances from Islamabad are the first thing most people want, and sources vary, so these are ranges. Sudhanoti's headquarters Pallandri is roughly 90 to 97 kilometres from Islamabad or Rawalpindi. Kotli is about 130 to 140 kilometres, which we cover in Islamabad to Kotli. Hattian Bala is around 150 kilometres and Bagh about 155 to 160 kilometres, covered in Islamabad to Bagh. Hill roads are slower than distance suggests, so allow extra time.

Which district should you base yourself in?

• Short trip from Islamabad, hill scenery: Muzaffarabad plus a day into Hattian Bala or Bagh.
• Coming from Lahore or the south: Mirpur, then Kotli and Rawalakot, if you want a route rather than a single base.
• Cool weather in July and August: the northern and middle hills. The southern districts are very hot.
• Winter travel: the south is comfortable, while the north is cold and the higher roads may close.

For a visual overview of how these fit together, see our Azad Kashmir tourist map and our Kashmir destination page.

Do you need a permit to move between districts?

Requirements change, so confirm before you travel. Expect checkposts, especially on the roads into the Neelum valley, and carry your CNIC at all times. Rules for overseas visitors and for areas close to the Line of Control are different and change, so read our guide to the NOC for Azad Kashmir and ask the AJK tourism department before you go.

Is it safe? District by district

Security advice varies inside Azad Kashmir. The UK government's Pakistan travel advice advises against all travel within 10 miles of the Line of Control, which includes most of the Neelum valley, and against all but essential travel to the rest of Azad Kashmir. Several districts lie along the Line of Control, Neelum and Hattian Bala among them, so check where your route runs.

Joint Awami Action Committee protests from June 2026 were the deadliest unrest in Azad Kashmir in years, with long internet and phone shutdowns, and the AJK government asked tourists to stay away in June. Pakistani visitors still travel, but check current local news and police advice before setting out. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, since it can void travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions