"Las Danna: High Ridge Stop Between Bagh and Haveli"

Las Danna is a forested ridge at about 2,625 metres in Bagh district, Azad Kashmir, on the road that climbs east from Bagh town towards Forward Kahuta and the Haveli district. It is a viewpoint and a junction rather than a village with a bazaar: pine forest, a rest house and open views over the ridges, with roads branching on towards Haji Pir, Toli Pir and the Abbaspur side.

Most visitors treat Las Danna as a stop of an hour or two on the way somewhere else, or as a short outing from Bagh. This guide gives measured distances, explains where each onward road goes, and sets out the 2026 safety picture, which matters more here than at most hill stops because the ridge is close to the Line of Control.

Where is Las Danna, and how far is it from Bagh?

Las Danna sits east of Bagh town at roughly 33.92 N, 73.96 E. Reference books and Wikipedia describe it as 15 km from Bagh, a figure that has been copied widely. When we measured the route on OpenStreetMap with the OSRM routing engine, the road distance from the centre of Bagh came to about 29 km; even the straight-line distance is about 18 km. Plan on the longer figure.

Routing software puts the drive at about half an hour, which is optimistic for a hill road that climbs steadily through forest, with local traffic and the odd landslip. Allow an hour each way from Bagh, and more after rain.

Bagh itself is about 150 km from Islamabad by road. Our Islamabad to Bagh guide covers that drive and its route choices.

What is actually at Las Danna?

Las Danna is open ground among pines with views across the surrounding ridges, cool air in summer and not much else. A rest house is marked on OpenStreetMap as the Las Danna Rest House, and Wikipedia also notes a tourist rest house here. We could not confirm who manages it now, what it charges or how bookings work, so do not arrive expecting a room. Ask at your hotel in Bagh before you set out.

There is no proper bazaar. Tea or snacks may be on offer if a stall happens to be open, but bring water and food from Bagh, and fill the tank there too. For an overnight stay, Bagh town is the realistic base.

Where do the roads from Las Danna go?

Las Danna's real importance is as a junction on the Bagh to Haveli road. These are the onward routes, with distances measured on OpenStreetMap routing from the rest house:

From Bagh to Forward Kahuta the whole road measures about 61 km on the map, close to the 65 km Wikipedia gives. If you are heading into Haveli, our guide to Haveli's tourist places covers what is on that side.

The Haji Pir connection

The Haji Pir pass, about 2,637 metres (8,652 feet), lies roughly 14 km from Las Danna in a straight line. It is part of the area India calls the Haji Pir bulge. Indian forces captured the pass in a battle from 26 to 28 August 1965, and it was handed back to Pakistan after the Tashkent Declaration of January 1966. Our Haji Pir Pass guide covers its history and what visitors can and cannot do there.

The Toli Pir track

Toli Pir, the meadow-topped hill above Rawalakot, is normally reached from the Rawalakot side. The track from Las Danna is shorter on the map, but it is unpaved and only realistic in summer in a vehicle with good clearance. Do not try it in an ordinary car, and ask about its condition in Bagh first. Our Toli Pir guide describes the usual approach.

When is the best time to go?

May to October is the comfortable season. Wikipedia's Bagh district article notes that high points such as Las Danna can drop to about minus 10°C in winter, and snow can close or slow the road between December and February. The monsoon, roughly July to September, brings heavy afternoon showers and a higher risk of landslides on the climb, so start early and turn back if the road is being cleared.

Even in June the ridge is noticeably cooler than Bagh town, and the wind picks up on the open ground. Carry a warm layer whatever the month.

Is it safe to visit Las Danna?

Pakistani families do visit the Bagh hills, but 2026 has been a difficult year for Azad Kashmir. Protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee from June 2026 left at least 24 dead in the first two weeks and more than 50 by rights groups' later counts. Internet and phone services were cut for long periods, more than 50 days by August, and the AJK government asked tourists to stay away from 5 to 20 June and told those already there to leave.

Location matters too. The UK government advises against all travel to Azad Kashmir within 10 miles (16 km) of the Line of Control, and against all but essential travel to the rest of AJK. Las Danna is about 14 km in a straight line from the Haji Pir pass, which is beside the Line of Control, so it sits at or near the edge of that band, and the roads east and north-east run closer still. Foreign passport holders should read their own government's advice, since travelling against it can void insurance. Everyone should check local news and current police advice in Bagh before driving up.

Who is Las Danna for?

It suits drivers already going between Bagh and Haveli, who get a cool break among the pines halfway, and Bagh families who want height and fresh air without a trek. It does not suit anyone expecting facilities, a lake or a set sight, and it is not worth a long special trip from Islamabad on its own.

If you have one day in the area, we would rather spend it at Toli Pir or Banjosa on the Rawalakot side, or pair Las Danna with the drive to Forward Kahuta. Our roundup of places to visit in Bagh compares it with Dhirkot, Neela Butt and Sudhan Gali, and our planning page helps fit it into a wider Kashmir trip.

Frequently asked questions