Road trip routes / Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Jhelum Valley: Muzaffarabad to Chakothi
12.2h
Drive time
307 km
Distance
Opens turn-by-turn directions in your Maps app. This is a planning route, not a live booking or road-condition guarantee.
Route Details
Times assume a 7:00 AM start — a planning estimate, not a schedule.
7:00 AM
Muzaffarabad (Start)
The capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, starting point for the drive down the Jhelum River toward Chakothi.
7:15 AM
Red Fort (Muzaffarabad Fort)
A 16th-century fort above the Neelum River in the city.
5 km · 0.3 h from Muzaffarabad
7:31 AM
Domail Point (Sangam)
The confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers.
5 km · 0.3 h from Red Fort (Muzaffarabad Fort)
9:05 AM
Pir Chinasi
A 2,900 m hilltop shrine 30 km from the city, with wide valley views and snow in winter.
25 km · 1.6 h from Domail Point (Sangam)
11:04 AM
Chattar Class
A viewpoint area on the way down into the Jhelum Valley.
48 km · 2 h from Pir Chinasi
11:13 AM
Dulai Waterfall
A roadside waterfall on the way to Garhi Dupatta.
9 km · 0.2 h from Chattar Class
11:53 AM
Garhi Dupatta
A town on both banks of the Jhelum, with hotels, a bazaar, and a rest house.
36 km · 0.7 h from Dulai Waterfall
12:18 PM
Subri Lake
A small lake formed by a 1975 cloudburst, with an angler's hut.
15 km · 0.4 h from Garhi Dupatta
1:04 PM
Hattian Bala
District headquarters of Jhelum Valley District, and the turnoff for the Chikar side valley.
33 km · 0.8 h from Subri Lake
1:38 PM
Chikar
A cool hill station reached via Hattian Bala, and the base for Zalzal Lake and the Ganga Choti trek.
16 km · 0.6 h from Hattian Bala
1:51 PM
Zalzal Lake
A lake formed by 2005 earthquake landslides near Chikar.
7 km · 0.2 h from Chikar
2:12 PM
Sudhan Gali
A high meadow on the way to Ganga Choti.
11 km · 0.4 h from Zalzal Lake
3:05 PM
Ganga Choti
A 3,045 m peak near Chikar, one of AJK's most popular treks.
10 km · 0.9 h from Sudhan Gali
5:05 PM
Chinari
A town on the left bank of the Jhelum, 51 km from Muzaffarabad, with a rest house, bazaar, and post office.
48 km · 2 h from Ganga Choti
5:12 PM
Jaskol Waterfall
A waterfall near Chinari.
3 km · 0.1 h from Chinari
6:12 PM
Cham Waterfall
Another waterfall in the Chinari area.
17 km · 1 h from Jaskol Waterfall
7:14 PM
Chakothi (End)
A border village 8 km past Chinari, with panoramic Jhelum River views. A restricted area; domestic tourists are allowed.
22 km · 1 h from Cham Waterfall
Road Trip Routes / Jhelum Valley: Muzaffarabad to Chakothi
Jhelum Valley: Muzaffarabad to Chakothi
The Jhelum River corridor south-east of Muzaffarabad, a fort, waterfalls, and riverside towns on the way to the border at Chakothi, with a side detour up to Chikar's hill station, the earthquake-formed Zalzal Lake, and the Ganga Choti trek.
Distance
307 km
Drive time
12.2 h
Best time to go
April to October; the Chikar/Sudhan Gali side valley is accessible May to November.
Road conditions
An all-weather metalled road runs Muzaffarabad to Garhi Dupatta to Chinari to Chakothi, about 59 km.
Route Overview
The Jhelum River corridor south-east of Muzaffarabad, a fort, waterfalls, and riverside towns on the way to the border at Chakothi, with a side detour up to Chikar's hill station, the earthquake-formed Zalzal Lake, and the Ganga Choti trek.
Stop by Stop
In driving order. Significant stops link to their own field guide; the rest are labelled waypoints along the way.
Muzaffarabad
The capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, starting point for the drive down the Jhelum River toward Chakothi.
Red Fort (Muzaffarabad Fort)
A 16th-century fort above the Neelum River in the city.
5 km · 0.3 h from the previous stop
Domail Point (Sangam)
The confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers.
5 km · 0.3 h from the previous stop
Pir Chinasi
A 2,900 m hilltop shrine 30 km from the city, with wide valley views and snow in winter.
25 km · 1.6 h from the previous stop
Chattar Class
A viewpoint area on the way down into the Jhelum Valley.
48 km · 2 h from the previous stop
Dulai Waterfall
A roadside waterfall on the way to Garhi Dupatta.
9 km · 0.2 h from the previous stop
Garhi Dupatta
A town on both banks of the Jhelum, with hotels, a bazaar, and a rest house.
36 km · 0.7 h from the previous stop
Subri Lake
A small lake formed by a 1975 cloudburst, with an angler's hut.
15 km · 0.4 h from the previous stop
Hattian Bala
District headquarters of Jhelum Valley District, and the turnoff for the Chikar side valley.
33 km · 0.8 h from the previous stop
Chikar
A cool hill station reached via Hattian Bala, and the base for Zalzal Lake and the Ganga Choti trek.
16 km · 0.6 h from the previous stop
Zalzal Lake
A lake formed by 2005 earthquake landslides near Chikar.
7 km · 0.2 h from the previous stop
Sudhan Gali
A high meadow on the way to Ganga Choti.
11 km · 0.4 h from the previous stop
Ganga Choti
A 3,045 m peak near Chikar, one of AJK's most popular treks.
10 km · 0.9 h from the previous stop
Chinari
A town on the left bank of the Jhelum, 51 km from Muzaffarabad, with a rest house, bazaar, and post office.
48 km · 2 h from the previous stop
Jaskol Waterfall
A waterfall near Chinari.
3 km · 0.1 h from the previous stop
Cham Waterfall
Another waterfall in the Chinari area.
17 km · 1 h from the previous stop
Chakothi
A border village 8 km past Chinari, with panoramic Jhelum River views. A restricted area; domestic tourists are allowed.
22 km · 1 h from the previous stop