How to plan tour of Neelum Valley Kashmir ? Complete Travel Guide & Information

How to Plan a tour of Nellum Valley Kashmir? Complete travel guide & information? If you are looking to answer these questions, you are in the right place, from the calm twirling winds of the north that play themselves like a chanting flute to the sapphire-tinted rivers and lakes with swirls of earthy mud impersonating the marbling effect of mother nature. The land of various hues, each giving its meaning, surrounded by lush shamrock-coloured mountains hiding its beauty within itself yet to be seen by these eyes is Neelum Valley, Kashmir.

 Neelum Valley, named after the Neelum River, was originally known as river Kishanganga, and so was the valley. Neelum Valley is among the most beautiful Azad Kashmir districts that lie north and northeast of its capital, Muzaffarabad. It’s filled with vibrant traditions belonging to its ethnic groups that speak their languages, including its local language known as Hindko. Kashmiri, Shina, locally known as Mardi, Pashto, and an endangered tongue known as Kundal Shahi.

See More: Neelum Valley Azad Kashmir Tour Packages

Why is Neelum Valley famous?

In recent years, Neelum Valley Kashmir has attracted tourists for its breathtaking views and scenery, leaving their mouths agape. There is no doubt why it’s often known as the paradise on earth. Kashmir is blessed with everything a human eye can crave to calm itself from the daily stress of work.

The district of Neelum is famous for its vegetated thick meadows, streams, and rivers gushing along the boulders, which are music to the ears. You can see dense forests and trees filled with fruits and nuts to the point they couldn’t hold any longer! And how can we forget about the green mountains that surround this land?

Neelum Valley weather

Neelum Valley Kashmir’s weather is lovely and breezy with calm winds. In Summer, the sky is mostly clear with cold and crisp breezes, while in winter, the mountains look like thick shawls of milky white snow, with temperatures falling below 0 degrees and extreme winter winds whistling throughout the valley.

Best time to visit Neelum Valley – Azad Kashmir

It preferred to visit from March till October mainly. These days, the trees and mountains are in their most lushes state. Most of the heavy snow of December-January has almost melted, which gives a lesser chance of land sliding.

Local businesses are striving to offer tourists the perfect taste of ethnic culture in their own hands. The weather in these months isn’t that extreme either, but cool enough for everyone to enjoy their time.

How far is Neelum Valley from Islamabad?

Depending on your side, a drive from Islamabad to Neelum Valley takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. The distance between the Valley and Islamabad is 234.9 kilometres.

Neelum Valley road condition?

The journey to Neelum Valley unfolds along a well-maintained road, ensuring a safe and pleasant travel experience up to Sharda. To enhance your exploration further, it is recommended to extend your trip from Sharda to Kel using a 4X4 jeep, readily available for a round trip at an approximate cost of 7,000 to 8,000.

This rugged vehicle adds an adventurous touch to your expedition. However, it’s crucial to note that during the winter months (December to February), the road to Kel becomes challenging due to heavy snowfall. Despite the potential hurdles, many travellers find the winter route uniquely enchanting as it transforms into a snowy wonderland, adding an extra layer of beauty to the journey.

Foods of Neelum Valley

The valley is gifted with its natural fruits, vegetables, and nuts, homegrown from scratch by its locals and carefully prepared into various mouth-watering and healthy yet fulfilling dishes, which can also be a secret to their old ages. 

Dum Aloo

Kashmir is also popular for its rich foods that follow its history, but its traditional dish known as “Dum Aloo” can surely take your taste buds to a whole new dimension.

Kashmiri Pulao

Other dishes include steamy Kashmiri pulao, a rice dish with meat, usually mutton or chicken.

Murgh Yakhni

Murgh Yakhni, is a flavored chicken broth with pieces of tender chicken, emulsified in it; usually served hot to warm up the cold winter spirit of your body.

Methi Maaz

An unusual yet interesting dish known as Methi Maaz is a flavored curry with lamb intestines and methi (fenugreek) leaves.

Kashmiri Chai

The last course, which can’t be forgotten, is the chai! This valley has its spin on its chai, known as namkeen chai, a green leaf-based tea with dried nuts and salt, which makes it stand out in its way.

Hotels in Neelum Valley

Due to the recent uprise in tourism near these areas, many people have started building and starting their hotels with the best imaginal services. Most of them are near the lakes and the mountains to get the best view possible for the customers. The hotels are often built in the local architectural style to reflect their culture and give it a sense of being in a cosy home. The hotels are quite affordable for their services, including breakfast, bonfires, etc. These hotels are mostly made of wood with intricate designs to wow the visitor’s eye. The rooms can hold up to 5 members, depending on which room you choose to stay in. 

Neat & Clean Hotel With Reasonable Rates:

These are provided with blankets, wooden tables and chairs, and a clean bathroom; however, some hotel rooms might need room heating most of the time due to their cold temperature. Most hotels have set times for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, mostly regulating them with various options of both Western and local dishes. A full breakfast meal can include a freshly done omelette with fresh eggs and vegetables, juices, fresh preserves, fresh and rich homemade butter, and toast, but it can be changed to the visitor’s liking. Local options include naan, change, and chai. Some hotels provide buffets with goodies, from bread to fruits to desserts. Popular hotels include Neelum Good View Resort, Neelum Elite Hotel, Green Village Resort, and Pine Park Lodges Keran Neelum Valley.

Internet & cellular network facility?

In recent years, many famous networks of Pakistan, such as Zong and Ufone, have extended their facilities to these northern areas for more internet facilities for both the locals and the tourists. However, signals may sometimes lag due to the high altitudes of the valley. But many dhabas and hotels provide a stable internet and phone connection. However, many people prefer to avoid using the internet as they are busy enjoying their time.

Daily Budget/Trip budget

A budget can depend from person to person. A single-person trip can be inexpensive as many things are affordable, and most need the money to enjoy the local Bazaars and Restaurants. A budget of 50 USD per day for a person is more than enough if you are on a tight budget.

What to Pack for Neelum Valley?

The items you do need to pack up are:

• warm clothes
• sweaters
• mufflers
• jackets 
• gloves 
• A power bank to charge your phone at all times
• A 3-plug as most of the hotels have two plug boards 
• router for a stable internet connection
• strong grip shoes if you are looking to hike but walk on the sloppy areas in general 
• A water bottle.  

Is it safe to visit Neelum Valley?

During the past few years, Pakistan became a victim of terrorism, and many destructions took place during those times, especially in the northern areas. Still, many improvements have been made in these areas, and terror activities have been eliminated.

As tourism is rising in these places, many foreigners ask, is it safe to visit here? And the answer is! The locals are heartwarming and welcome you with open arms to look into their daily lives and culture, giving you the best they can. In terms of weather, it can sometimes be unsafe to visit these districts in extreme winters due to heavy snow and landslides.

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Things to do in Neelum Valley

But what can we do in Neelum Valley besides sightseeing?! No worries, this place has a lot to offer! For our adventure-loving guests, hitch-hiking is the best place to start, and many sites provide the ability to hike with equipment through the green mountains, which can be the best way to enjoy your adventure cravings.

The blue rivers are filled with fish, mostly trout, which is also the place’s speciality. You can also choose your own fish and request it to be cooked by the local chefs! Some restaurants have a whole fish tank where customers can pick their fish and eat it through the menu they provide near the gushing rivers and waterfalls.

The local villages run their family-owned businesses in the shape of Bazaars. Here, you can find handmade traditional Kashmiri lebaas (garments), handmade wooden cutlery, and ceramics. There is a lot to do, but what should you choose?

Read More: Toli Peer Rawalakot Azad Kashmir

Famous places to visit in Neelum Valley Azad Kashmir

1. Dhani waterfall

2. Uthmuqam

3. Kutton village and Upper neelum

4. Ratti Gali Lake

5. Karen valley

6. Sharda Peeth (A holy place for Hinduism)

7. Neelum River

8. Kel Village

9. Aurung Kel

10. Taobutt village

11. Chitta khatta lake

12. Rawalakot

13. Banjosa lake

14. Toli Pir

15. Pir Chinasi

16. Shounter Lake

17. Leepa Valley

 

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