A spectacular one hour drive from Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad will take you to a scenic beauty of one of the most popular hill station of Pakistan, “the Queen of the Hills”, Murree. The breathtaking combination of towering peaks and lush green valley is simply irresistible.
Murree is at its best in summers and winters. In summers, it is cool, and even chilly in the evening. In winters, the snow is piled high along the roadsides. The road going up towards Murree is surrounded by beautiful mountains and deep valleys which makes the whole route looks stunning and gorgeous.
On our way up, we find various picnic spots offering snacks, cold drinks and tea. Also there are several roadside sales point which displays beautiful Kashmiri shawls and hand-woven carpets which can be purchased on reasonable rates after bargaining.
Pindi Point: is one of the popular locations in Murree. This point overlooks the twin cities, Islamabad-Rawalpindi and provides very attractive scenery particularly at nights. The most entertaining feature of Pindi Point is the chair lifts which goes down to the road a few kilometers below and offers a magnificent view. Lush green valley, tall pine trees and zigzag roads are worth watching.
Kashmir Point: is another famous spot which offers us a view of beautiful Kashmir peaks. That is why it is called Kashmir point. This point is at the top of the hill with lots of activities like horse riding, children play land, coffee shops and place for lunch. One can walk around the hill taking photograph and enjoying with snacks and tea. Hence this place proves out to be ideal for families.
Mall Road: is the well known market place of Murree, full of life, always bustling and colorful. During the peak season, it is fully jammed and the visitor love to parade on this road for several hours. No trip is complete without visiting the Mall Road.
It is the perfect place to dine a variety of Pakistani dishes and fast foods. Traditional clothing items, jewelry items, carved wooden sticks and leather goods are the essence of this place.
Patriata: is a hill resort, almost 25km from Murree. It has become very popular during recent years due to the installation of cable cars. It has both chair lift and cable car system which takes the visitors in two stages. Firstly, the chair lifts will take you to the middle hill where you can stop and refresh yourself. Next the cable cars will take you to the higher hills. The journey on cable cars and chair lifts are unforgettable and is cherished for lifetime.
Ayubia: is 26 km from Murree,. The attractions of Ayubia include a small park named “Ayubia National Park”. Animals like Leopard, Black Bear, Kashmir Hill Fox, and Red Flying Squirrels can be found here. It also has various species of birds including Golden Eagle, Vulture and Sparrow Hawk etc. Secondly the experience of chair lifts provided at this place is unforgettable. They take you to the peak of the hill at the point called “Neelam View”, as the River Neelam of Kashmir can be viewed from here.
Nathiagali: is almost an hour drive from Murree. It is famous for its extravagant beauty and magnificence. Fascinating landscapes, bracing climate, beautiful ridges thickly populated with pines, lush green valleys and foggy views are some of the gifts, nature has bestowed upon this land. Market place in Nathiagali also displays variety of traditional clothing and jewelry.
There is a spot on Murree- Nathiagali road called “Bunder Point”. Here you can find number of monkeys along the road sides which are very friendly. People use to stop and feed them with popcorns and bread. They are harmless and a great entertainment, especially for kids.
Chashma: is 30 min drive from Nathiagali. It is situated in a valley. Its stunning beauty takes one’s heart away. The view of water coming from the mountains is simply awesome. A small refreshment point is present here which have their colorful tables arranged in water. It is an amazing experience to be served on these tables with your feet inside the ice cold water. It is a fantastic place to visit along with your family and friends.
Bhurban: is located 10km from the city of Murree in the heights of Murree hills. Its main attractions are the hiking opportunities for adventure seekers. Also the animals found in its surrounding cannot be found anywhere else in Pakistan. A splendid hotel is there if you are looking for a luxurious stay with family or planning for an elite business conference.
So I would recommend every one out there looking to see some nature`s beauty, The Queen of Hills, Murree, awaits you
Shah Mehmood Qureshi resigned as Minister of Foreign affairs after the notorious Raymond Davis issue and Miss Hina Rabbani Kher is currently serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs. His opposition to the current policies of Asif Ali Zardari and Prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani were in news for some time now and it was said that Shah Mehmood Qureshi was going to make forward block in Pakistan Peoples Party. But his resignation washed those rumors. One such news left is his joing of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf. Mr Qureshi aid that he will annonce his next political move on 27th November 2011.
