Panjal Mastan National Park is a high plateau in Bagh district, Azad Kashmir, at an average height of about 2,800 metres in the outer Pir Panjal range, a short way west of Ganga Choti. It is known for wildflowers across its open ground in spring and for forest wildlife such as leopards and pheasants. There is no visitor centre, gate or marked trail network that we could find, so a visit is a hike or jeep trip arranged locally from Bagh, Kotla or Sudhan Gali.
This guide covers where the park is, what you can realistically expect to see, how people reach it, and the safety checks that matter in Azad Kashmir in 2026.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Bagh district, Azad Kashmir, north of Bagh town and west of Ganga Choti |
| Altitude | About 2,800 m on average |
| Established | 2005, according to Wikipedia's list of Pakistan's national parks |
| Area | Sources disagree: 300 sq km in one, about 5,045 hectares in another |
| Known for | Spring wildflowers, fog, leopards, pheasants |
| Nearest base | Bagh town (1,676 m); Kotla village (about 2,000 m) for the trails |
| Facilities | None that we could confirm inside the park |
Where is Panjal Mastan National Park?
The park sits on the western edge of the outer Pir Panjal range, in the hills north of Bagh town. The coordinates Wikipedia gives place it a few kilometres west of Ganga Choti, the 3,045-metre peak that most visitors to Bagh already know, and only a short distance in a straight line from Bagh itself.
That short distance is misleading. Bagh is at about 1,676 metres and the plateau is well over a kilometre higher, so you are climbing steep forested slopes to reach it. There is no main road across it.
Two sources also disagree on how big it is. The Wikipedia article on the park gives 300 square kilometres, while Wikipedia's own table of national parks lists about 5,045 hectares (roughly 50 square kilometres). We can't tell you which is right. What matters for a visitor is that it is a large area of upland and forest, not a small picnic spot.
What can you see there?
Wildflowers. The plateau is best known for the flowers that spread across its open ground in spring. At 2,800 metres spring arrives much later than in Bagh town, so ask in Bagh or Kotla how far the season has got before you set out.
Wildlife. The park is part of the Pir Panjal ecoregion. The species listed for it include the common leopard, rhesus macaques, wild boar and foxes, and among birds the cheer pheasant and the kalij pheasant. Wikipedia also lists the Panjal vole, a small rodent. You are unlikely to see a leopard. Macaques, birds and signs of boar are far more likely, especially early in the morning.
Weather you will notice. The climate is cool and wet for its latitude, with snowy winters, cool summers and about 1,789 mm of rain a year, much more than the valleys below. Fog is common in every season. On a clear morning the views are wide; by early afternoon cloud can roll in and hide everything, which is also when getting lost on open ground becomes a real risk.
How do you reach Panjal Mastan?
First get to Bagh. It is about 160 km from Islamabad by the usual road through Murree, Kohala and Dhirkot, and about 80 km from Muzaffarabad. Our Islamabad to Bagh road guide covers that drive and why it takes four to five hours rather than the two that map apps suggest.
From Bagh, the approach most often described starts at Kotla, a village about 18 km from Bagh, around an hour by car, at roughly 2,000 metres. Kotla sits where two streams meet and is the trailhead for several hikes into the hills: to Pir Kanthi (about 3,330 m), the Danna meadows (about 2,900 m), the Panjal Mastan plains and Ganga Choti. Our Kotla waterfall guide covers the village and its 150-metre fall.
Beyond Kotla, we found no published route description we would trust for distances or walking times onto the plateau. In practice:
- Drive to Kotla early, with food and water bought in Bagh.
- Hire someone local who knows the paths. Ask at your hotel in Bagh or in Kotla itself. This is not optional on ground where fog comes down quickly.
- Agree a turnaround time before you start, and keep to it.
- Be off the open plateau by mid-afternoon, before cloud and the drive back in the dark become a problem.
The other way into this high country is from Sudhan Gali, the base for Ganga Choti, which is about an 8 km uphill walk from the road there. Our Ganga Choti trek guide covers that side.
What to carry
- Warm layers and a waterproof jacket, even in summer
- Proper walking shoes; slopes are steep and wet after rain
- Water and food for the whole day; there is nothing to buy on the plateau
- Cash, your CNIC, and a charged phone, though you should expect weak or no signal
- A small bag for your rubbish, and carry it back down
Don't pick the flowers, don't light fires in the forest, and keep well away from any livestock you meet, and from the dogs that guard them.
Where to stay
There is nowhere to stay in the park itself that we could confirm. Most people base themselves in Bagh, which has the widest choice; see our guide to hotels in Bagh. Sudhan Gali has simpler places and puts you close to Ganga Choti if you want to combine the two.
Is it safe to visit Bagh district now?
Bagh sees regular Pakistani visitors, but 2026 has been a hard year in Azad Kashmir. The Joint Awami Action Committee protests from June were the deadliest unrest there in years, with at least 24 dead in the first two weeks and more than 50 by rights groups' later counts. There were long internet and phone shutdowns, and from 5 to 20 June the AJK government asked tourists to stay away and told those already there to leave.
The UK government (advice updated 22 September 2026) advises against all travel to Azad Kashmir within 10 miles of the Line of Control and against all but essential travel to the rest of the territory. Parts of Bagh district are close to the LoC, so check exactly where you are going against that advice. Overseas visitors should know that going against their government's advice can void travel insurance.
Before you set out, check local news, call your hotel in Bagh, and ask whether roads are open and whether there are any restrictions on movement. Our Azad Kashmir safety guide explains the wider picture.
Is Panjal Mastan worth the effort?
For fit walkers who already know Bagh, Sudhan Gali or Ganga Choti and want somewhere quieter and higher, yes. It is open, cool upland with real wildlife, and few visitors.
It is not a family day out. There are no facilities, no signs and no easy road, and the fog makes it a place to go with a local guide or not at all. If you want a gentler taste of the Bagh hills, Las Danna, the Kotla waterfall and Sudhan Gali are all reachable by car, and our places to visit in Bagh sets them out. For a wider look at the territory's protected areas, see our national parks of Azad Kashmir guide or the Kashmir destination page.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Panjal Mastan National Park?
In Bagh district, Azad Kashmir, on the outer Pir Panjal range north of Bagh town and a few kilometres west of Ganga Choti. The plateau averages about 2,800 metres.
When was Panjal Mastan National Park established?
Wikipedia's list of Pakistan's national parks gives 2005. We found no official AJK wildlife department page to confirm it.
What animals live in Panjal Mastan?
The species listed for the park include the common leopard, rhesus macaque, wild boar, fox, cheer pheasant and kalij pheasant. Leopards are rarely seen.
How do I get to Panjal Mastan from Bagh?
Most routes start at Kotla, about 18 km and an hour by car from Bagh, and continue on foot. Go with a local who knows the paths, because fog is frequent.
Is there an entry fee for Panjal Mastan National Park?
We found no ticket, gate or published fee. Rules can change, so ask in Bagh before you go.
What is the best time to see the wildflowers?
Spring on the plateau, which comes later than in Bagh town because of the height. Ask locally how far the season has got before setting out.
