Murree to Nathia Gali is about 32 km on the ridge road through Khaira Gali, Changla Gali and Dunga Gali, and it takes an hour to an hour and a half in normal traffic. It is the last, narrowest stretch of the journey from Islamabad or Lahore, and for anyone already staying in Murree it is a short, scenic run rather than a full day's drive.
This guide covers just that stretch: the route, what each stop along it offers, how long it really takes, and when to leave Murree to avoid the worst of the traffic.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 32 km |
| Normal driving time | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Summer weekends | 2 hours or more |
| Route | Kuldana, Barian, Khaira Gali, Changla Gali, Dunga Gali, Nathia Gali |
| Road | Paved, two lanes, narrow with tight bends |
| Highest point on the way | Changla Gali, about 2,804 m |
| Fuel | Fill up in Murree; nothing reliable beyond it |
The route, stop by stop
The road leaves Murree at Kuldana, on the edge of the town, so there is no need to drive through the Mall or Jinnah Road to reach it.
- Kuldana to Barian, about 14 km. A winding two-lane road through pine forest along the ridge. Barian is a small, busy bazaar and the point where the road crosses from Punjab into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Barian to Khaira Gali, a short stretch further on. Khaira Gali sits at about 2,350 m and was a British-era summer camp for a mountain artillery battery. Today it is little more than a cluster of guesthouses and a tea stall or two, worth a stop for the view rather than the town itself. Our Khaira Gali guide covers walks and where to stay if you want to base yourself here.
- Khaira Gali to Changla Gali, about 16 km from Murree in total, at 2,804 m the highest point on the whole road. It was the headquarters of the British army's Northern Command School of Musketry, and today it is a roadside viewpoint with tea stalls, often sitting above the cloud in summer. See our Changla Gali guide for what there is to see.
- Changla Gali to Dunga Gali, where the road passes the turning for Ayubia and drops slightly into Dunga Gali, the starting point for the Pipeline Track and the climb up Mushkpuri.
- Dunga Gali to Nathia Gali, 3 km. The final stretch into the bazaar, usually the slowest few minutes of the whole drive.
How long does it really take?
Midweek and outside the school holidays, an hour to an hour and a quarter is realistic, driven at a sensible pace on a road with constant bends. At weekends from May to August, at Eid and after the first snowfall, the same 32 km can take two hours or more, almost all of it lost in the Barian bazaar and the last kilometre into Nathia Gali, where parked cars and pedestrians slow traffic to a crawl.
Two things help: leaving Murree before 9 am, and treating the road as a scenic drive rather than a route to rush. There is little to gain from overtaking on the bends, and a great deal to lose.
Where to stop
None of the villages on this road need more than half an hour. What they offer is tea, a view and a break from the bends:
- Barian, for fuel, snacks and a busy roadside bazaar.
- Khaira Gali, for a quieter stop with forest on both sides of the road.
- Changla Gali, the highest and coolest stop, often clear of cloud when Murree itself is misty.
- Dunga Gali, the last stop before Nathia Gali, and the place to park if the Pipeline Track or Mushkpuri is your main plan for the day. Our Dunga Gali guide has more on both trailheads.
Driving the road safely
The road is paved throughout and driven by ordinary cars every day in summer, but it is narrow, with blind bends and buses and vans that swing wide on the corners. Use a low gear on the descents rather than riding the brakes, keep your speed down through the bazaars at Barian and Dunga Gali, and give way early on single-track sections.
In winter, snow can close this stretch for a day or more at a time, and the authorities sometimes stop tourist traffic at Barian until the road is cleared. Check locally before setting out, and see our guide to driving in Galiyat snow for what to carry. In the monsoon, landslides can shut the road for hours after heavy rain.
Is it worth stopping on the way, or driving straight through?
If you are staying a night or more in Nathia Gali or Dunga Gali, stopping at Changla Gali or Khaira Gali for tea costs little time and gives you the ridge's best views without a special trip. If you are on a tight day return to Murree, it makes more sense to drive straight through and spend your time in Nathia Gali itself; our guide to places to visit in Nathia Gali covers what is worth seeing once you arrive.
If you are coming up from Islamabad rather than starting in Murree, our guide to the drive from Islamabad to Nathia Gali covers the whole route, including the expressway and the toll. Send us your dates if you would like help fitting the Galiyat into a longer trip.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Nathia Gali from Murree?
About 32 km by road, through Barian, Khaira Gali, Changla Gali and Dunga Gali.
How long does it take to drive from Murree to Nathia Gali?
An hour to an hour and a half in normal traffic. At weekends in summer, after Eid or the first snowfall, allow two hours or more.
What is the highest point between Murree and Nathia Gali?
Changla Gali, at about 2,804 metres, a little higher than Nathia Gali itself.
Can a normal car drive from Murree to Nathia Gali?
Yes. The road is paved throughout, though narrow and winding. Check your brakes before the drive and use a low gear on the descents.
Is the road open in winter?
Usually, but heavy snow can close it for a day or more, and tourist traffic is sometimes stopped at Barian until it is cleared. Check locally before you set off.
