Rawalpindi to Rawalakot by public transport means a coaster or van, not a large coach service, running from the Faizabad and Pirwadhai terminals in Rawalpindi through Kahuta and the Azad Pattan bridge. Expect a slower journey than driving yourself: figure on around five hours where a private car takes four, since coasters stop to pick up and drop off passengers along the way.
This guide covers where to catch a coaster, roughly how the journey runs, and how to carry on from Rawalakot town to Banjosa Lake once you arrive.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Departure points | Faizabad and Pirwadhai, Rawalpindi |
| Vehicle type | Coaster or van (no large coach network) |
| Route | Rawalpindi, Kahuta, Azad Pattan, Rawalakot |
| Journey time | Roughly 5 hours, longer than driving yourself |
| Fares | Change often; confirm at the stand on the day |
| Onward to Banjosa | Local taxi or hired car from Rawalakot, about 18 to 20 km |
Where coasters and vans leave from
Vans and coasters for Rawalakot run from Rawalpindi's Faizabad and Pirwadhai terminals, the general hubs for services heading into Azad Kashmir and the wider region. There is no single dedicated Rawalakot bus company running large coaches the way there is for routes like Lahore or Karachi; this is coaster and van territory, with several operators running the route through the day rather than one central timetable.
If you are coming from Islamabad itself, the simplest approach is a short taxi or rickshaw to Faizabad first, then the coaster onward from there.
How the journey runs
The route out of Rawalpindi follows the same road a private car would take: through Kahuta, down to the Jhelum at the Azad Pattan bridge, then up into Poonch district to Rawalakot. It's the same road our Islamabad to Rawalakot route guide covers in more detail for drivers, including how it compares with the longer route via Murree and Kohala.
What's different by coaster is the pace. A private car covers the distance in around four hours in normal conditions; a coaster or van making stops along the way to pick up and set down passengers typically takes longer, and five hours is a realistic planning figure rather than an outside estimate. Build in extra time if you have a connection to make in Rawalakot, such as onward transport to Banjosa the same day.
Fares and how to book
Coasters and vans on this route run on a pay-as-you-board basis rather than advance online booking, which is normal for this kind of regional service in Pakistan. Fares are modest compared with driving yourself once fuel and any hired-car cost is factored in, but they change fairly often, so the only reliable way to know the current fare is to ask at the terminal or check with the driver before boarding.
Don't rely on a figure you've read online, including this one, for exactly what you'll pay: treat any quoted fare as an old snapshot and confirm it on the day.
Getting from Rawalakot to Banjosa Lake
Rawalakot's coaster and van stand is not the same place as onward transport to Banjosa Lake, so arriving travellers need a second leg. Banjosa is about 18 to 20 km from Rawalakot town, a drive of 30 to 45 minutes on a paved road.
The practical options once you're in Rawalakot:
- A local taxi from the town centre, arranged on the spot rather than booked ahead.
- A hired car with driver, which hotels in Rawalakot can usually arrange, useful if you also want to see Toli Pir or Devi Gali the same trip.
- Asking at your guesthouse or hotel, since many in Rawalakot and Banjosa can point you to a driver they use regularly.
There is no scheduled public van service running specifically between Rawalakot and Banjosa, so budget for a taxi or hired car rather than expecting to flag down a bus at the lake road. Our travel guide has more on getting around Azad Kashmir without your own car.
Who this suits, and who should drive instead
Bus and coaster travel to Rawalakot suits solo travellers, students and anyone travelling light who doesn't need to carry much beyond a bag. It costs less than hiring a car for the whole trip and doesn't require anyone in the group to drive a mountain road.
It suits fewer people if you're travelling as a family with luggage, want to stop at Toli Pir or Devi Gali on the way, or are short on time, since the extra hour or so over a private car adds up, and the onward leg to Banjosa still needs arranging separately once you land in Rawalakot. For a group of three or four, hiring a car for the whole trip often works out similar in cost to a coaster plus taxis, with far more flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
Where do coasters to Rawalakot leave from in Rawalpindi?
From the Faizabad and Pirwadhai terminals. There's no single dedicated company, so ask at the terminal for the next departure.
How long does the coaster journey to Rawalakot take?
Around five hours, longer than the roughly four hours a private car takes on the same road, because coasters stop along the way.
How much does a coaster from Rawalpindi to Rawalakot cost?
Fares change often, so confirm the current price at the terminal or with the driver on the day rather than relying on a figure found online in advance.
How do I get from Rawalakot to Banjosa Lake without a car?
By local taxi or a hired car with driver, arranged in Rawalakot town. There's no scheduled public transport running directly to the lake.
Is Azad Kashmir safe to visit right now?
Pakistani travellers use this route every day. As of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel within 10 miles of the Line of Control and against all but essential travel to the rest of Azad Kashmir, and 2026 brought protests in the region with road closures and internet shutdowns. Check your own government's current advice if you hold a foreign passport, since travelling against it can void insurance, and check local news before setting out regardless.
