Khanspur: Quiet Forest Stop Near Ayubia

Khanspur is a small forest village in the Galiyat at about 2,250 metres, in Abbottabad district, about 2 km past Ayubia and about 19 km by road from Nathia Gali, a 25 to 35 minute drive. It is best known locally for the University of the Punjab's hillside campus, and it has none of the bazaar life of Nathia Gali, a handful of hotels and guesthouses instead of dozens, and forest right up to the edge of the road. That makes it a good choice for anyone who wants a quiet base in the Galiyat rather than the busiest one.

This guide covers what Khanspur is like, how to get there, where to stay, and what there is to do beyond looking at the trees.

What is Khanspur like?

Khanspur was one of four older settlements, along with Khaira Gali, Changla Gali and Ghora Dhaka, that were joined together and named Ayubia after President Ayub Khan in the mid-20th century. Today it keeps its own identity as the quieter, more residential side of that area: houses and a scatter of small hotels set into thick pine and fir forest, with none of the roadside bazaar that defines Nathia Gali or even Ayubia's chairlift end.

During British rule the site was used by a detachment of infantry, and it later became known locally for a house associated with the Bhutto family. What most visitors notice today is simpler: cool air, a wall of trees on both sides of the road, and far less traffic noise than the rest of the Galiyat.

The University of the Punjab runs a field campus here, now named the Sir Syed Campus and managed by its Centre for Integrated Mountain Research. The university describes it as a field facility for study tours, field research and workshops, rather than an ordinary teaching campus. It is not open to casual visitors, but its presence is part of why Khanspur has stayed low-key: much of the surrounding land is institutional rather than commercial, which has kept building to a minimum compared with Nathia Gali.

Getting to Khanspur

Khanspur sits just off the main Galiyat ridge road, close to Ayubia, so it is reached the same way as the rest of the area. A route calculation on the OSRM road-routing service (October 2026) gives these road distances:

The routing tool's own times are shorter; ours allow for the bends, weekend traffic and stops. The two approaches are up from Murree through Barian and Changla Gali, or up from Abbottabad through Harnoi and Bagnotar. Our Islamabad to Nathia Gali guide and Abbottabad to Nathia Gali guide cover both approaches to the wider area in detail; from either direction, Khanspur is a short additional drive once you are on the ridge, close to the turning for Ayubia.

The road is paved and manageable in an ordinary car in summer. In winter, treat it exactly as you would the rest of the Galiyat: check locally before driving up, since the same storms that close the road at Barian or Harno close it here too.

Khanspur is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has been under emergency and governor's rule since 11 October 2026. The UK government's advice, updated on 13 October 2026, reports road closures, possible disruption to public transport and internet cuts in parts of the province; Abbottabad district and the Galiyat are not on its list of areas to avoid. Check local news on the day before driving up.

Where to stay in Khanspur

Khanspur's accommodation is small in number and simple in style: a mix of budget guesthouses and mid-range hotels set among the trees, with names that change hands and standards that vary from one season's reviews to the next. There is nothing here on the scale of the larger hotels in Nathia Gali, and no big-brand property.

What that trade brings is quiet. Rooms here put you to sleep with forest outside the window rather than a bazaar, and mornings are noticeably calmer than in Nathia Gali or Dunga Gali on a summer weekend. Ask before booking about heating, since Khanspur shares the Galiyat's cold nights even in summer, and about whether the property has its own parking, as roadside space is limited.

For a wider choice of established hotels with reviews to check, our guide to hotels in Nathia Gali covers the larger market a short drive away.

What is there to do?

Khanspur is a place to slow down rather than tick off sights. What it offers:

• Walking the forest roads and paths around the village, which are quieter and less used than the marked trails at Dunga Gali.
• A base for Ayubia and the Pipeline Track, a short drive or walk from the Ayubia end of the trail. Our Pipeline Track guide covers the walk itself.
• Cool air and a slower pace, the main reason people choose it over Nathia Gali in the first place.

It is not the place to come for restaurants, shopping or nightlife; for any of those, Nathia Gali is a short drive away.

Khanspur or Nathia Gali?

Choose Khanspur if you want the quietest possible base in the Galiyat, you don't mind a limited choice of places to eat, and you are happy driving a short distance for the bazaar, restaurants or a wider choice of hotels.

Choose Nathia Gali if you want restaurants, more hotels to choose between, and to be within walking distance of the church, the bazaar and the trail up Miranjani.

Many visitors do both: a night or two based in or near Nathia Gali, with an afternoon spent walking around Khanspur and Ayubia. Our Galiyat guide sets out how all the hill stations in the area compare, and if you would like help planning where to stay, send us your dates.

Frequently asked questions