Pallandri: Sudhnoti's Hill Town and Heritage

Pallandri is the district headquarters of Sudhnoti in Azad Kashmir, a hill town at around 1,400 metres reached by most visitors as a stop on the road up from Azad Pattan, rather than as a destination in its own right. It has more history attached to it than its size suggests, and a couple of old buildings worth ten minutes if you are passing through.

This is a short guide to what Pallandri is, why it matters in Azad Kashmir's history, and whether it is worth building time into a Poonch itinerary.

Where is Pallandri and how do you get there?

Pallandri sits inland from the Jhelum river, on the road that climbs from Azad Pattan up into Sudhnoti district. Most travellers reach it either from Rawalpindi via Kahuta and the Azad Pattan bridge, or from Rawalakot on the 64-km metalled road that links the two district towns. It is roughly 90 km from Islamabad as the district is measured, though the actual drive is longer once you follow the road's climbs and bends.

There is no tourist bus network built around Pallandri itself; most people pass through it by private car, hired van or the public coasters that run this route as part of the wider Rawalpindi–Rawalakot corridor.

Pallandri's place in Azad Kashmir's history

Our Azad Kashmir destination guide covers the wider territory; Pallandri has a real claim to a place in the region's history. Following the 1947 uprising in the former princely state, a provisional government was proclaimed at Pallandri in October 1947, with Chinjal Hill, in what is now Pallandri tehsil, cited as the site of Azad Kashmir's first capital before the administration later moved. It is a detail local guides and residents are proud of, and it explains why a small hill town carries a district headquarters and institutions, including a cadet college and a university campus, that you would not expect from its size.

The DC House and the old baoli

The most visited building in town is the DC House, a stone structure built in 1915 for the Raja of Poonch as a stopping place between Poonch and Rawalpindi, set on high ground for the view over the surrounding hills. Being built entirely of stone, it survived the 2005 earthquake that damaged so much else in the region, and it still functions as a government building rather than a museum, so ask locally before assuming you can go inside.

On the edge of town is Rani Bowli, an old stepped well (baoli) associated with the same period. Like the DC House, it is a heritage site rather than a maintained tourist attraction, so treat a visit as a quiet look rather than an outing with facilities.

Viewpoints and the town itself

Pallandri's setting is the main reason to stop: hills on most sides, terraced fields below the town, and views that open up wherever the road climbs out of the bazaar. There are no formal viewpoints with parking or signage, so the best approach is simply to walk or drive to the edge of town where the ground drops away.

The bazaar itself has the shops, dhabas and fuel you would expect of a district headquarters, useful for a break on a longer drive rather than as a destination for shopping.

Practicalities: fuel, food and staying overnight

Pallandri has fuel stations and simple restaurants along its main bazaar road, useful if you are driving between Rawalpindi and Rawalakot and want a stop partway. Guesthouses exist in town, largely serving government and business travel rather than tourism, so don't expect anything resort-like. For an overnight stay in this part of Sudhnoti, most travellers continue on to Rawalakot or Banjosa Lake, both of which have a proper choice of hotels geared to visitors.

Is Pallandri worth a stop?

For most travellers heading between Rawalpindi and Rawalakot, yes, briefly: fifteen minutes to see the DC House from outside, and a look over the bazaar and the valley. It is not worth a special detour or an overnight stay unless you have a specific interest in Azad Kashmir's 1947 history or are visiting the cadet college or university campus. If your time in Poonch is limited, spend it in Rawalakot and around Banjosa Lake instead, and treat Pallandri as a waypoint on the road.

Is it safe to travel through Sudhnoti and Azad Kashmir?

Pallandri itself is a normal working district town, and Pakistani travellers pass through it regularly without incident. Azad Kashmir as a whole has seen periods of unrest in recent years, including protests in 2026 that led to road closures and internet disruption in parts of the territory. Sudhnoti and the Azad Pattan–Pallandri–Rawalakot road are away from the Line of Control, but foreign nationals should check their own government's current travel advice before planning a trip to Azad Kashmir, since it can affect travel insurance. Checking recent local news before you set out, as with any road trip in the region, is sensible.

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