Neelum Valley provides its visitors with some breathtaking views and natural beauty. The untiring efforts of Pakistan Army to ensure peace along the border makes the valley a truly mesmerising place for the tourists.
Neelum Valley is a heaven on earth due to its lush green meadows, singing lakes and dancing rivers. It boasts enchanting beauty with its towering green mountains, clear and cool watercourses, temples and Mughal era gardens that have inspired the poets over centuries.
The valley is blessed with cool weather. One can enjoy heavy snowfall in winters which shifts to cold weather in summers. July and August are the best months to observe the spectacular sights of overflowing ravines, lush green fields and apples, pears and walnuts in full bloom.
To the north of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the valley starts from Noseri town. Located there, the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project is no doubt a state-of-the-art engineering marvel as Neelum River was diverted to a 64 kilometers underground tunnel which has an exit point in Chattar Kalas. The view at this point is simply mesmerizing. After Noseri, when you cross Chalyana crossing point, River Neelum plays the role of Line of Control (LOC). Across the river, you can see a glimpse of Teetwal town in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
In Chalyana, the people are grateful to Pakistan Army that is serving day and night and has made this place a peaceful part of the valley. Along the roads, the residents have converted their houses into guestrooms and tourism is flourishing with every passing day only because of Pakistan Army’s peace efforts. Along the road, you will cross different towns like Jura, Sandok and Jhambar, where Pakistan Army has established a well-equipped hospital. After crossing these areas, one arrives at Kundal Shahi Bridge where there is a power station on Jagran Ravine from which flows cold and clear glacier water. Taking left from the bridge along the Jagran Ravine, after traveling for seven kilometers, one reaches Kuttun Colony. This colony was established by a Sweden-based company, Skanska, for its engineers who resided there for the completion of phase one of the hydropower project. This project is unique due to its underground construction. It is located two to three kilometers above the colony, and is producing 32 megawatts electricity after phase one. Phase two of the project is being undertaken by Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) Engineers which, once completed, is expected to produce 48 megawatts electricity.
If one wants to enjoy the cool weather of Neelum Valley in a very reasonable range, it is advised to stay at Kuttun Colony, which was handed over to Azad Jammu and Kashmir government in 2017 when the engineers from Skanska left after the project’s completion. Breathtaking sights await the visitors. Moreover, this colony has a tennis court, a gym, and a dining hall with a well-organized kitchen and a wonderful terrace where food can be enjoyed with a mesmerizing view of apple, walnut and pear trees and Jagran Ravine. Nature seems to be one’s kind neighbor there. It is refreshing to see tree branches that are bent due to the weight of tons of fruits. The nighttime brings with it sounds of animals as forests of fur, pinecone and kail (blue pine) surround Kutton Colony. The morning air is filled with enchanting sounds of chirping and twittering of numerous birds.
If you plan your stay in Kutton, you can visit the valleys of Shawl, Goryal and Baboon during the day. These are grassy plateaus enriched with eye-catching beauty, watercourses and springs.
The people of this area are very kind and humble who would surely make their place in your heart with their hospitality. Thanks to Pakistan Army and its support, care and untiring efforts for the natives of Kashmir, they breathe a sigh of relief in the air of freedom and peace. We, the Kashmiris, are not only blessed, we are beyond blessed. Pakistan Zindabad!
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