Road trip routes / Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Neelum Valley: Muzaffarabad to Taobat
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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, at the confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers, and the starting point for the drive up the valley.
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Dhani Waterfall
A tall waterfall dropping right onto the road about 40 km from Muzaffarabad, with roadside tea stalls.
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Neelum-Jhelum Dam
A viewpoint over the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project.
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Chilhana / Teetwal
A border viewpoint where the Neelum River itself marks the boundary between Pakistani and Indian-administered Kashmir.
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Kutton Waterfall
A wide weir on the Jagran River near Kundal Shahi, where the pine-forested Jagran Valley meets the Neelum road.
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Baboon Valley
A jeep-track side valley reached from Kundal Shahi/Kutton, with meadows and streams.
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Athmuqam
District headquarters of Neelum, with river views and a small bazaar.
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Keran & Upper Neelum
A riverside village on the LOC, with India visible across the water.
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Dowarian
The base village for the trek up to Ratti Gali Lake.
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Ratti Gali Lake
A high-altitude glacial lake, 1-2 hours' trek above Dowarian.
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Sharda
The valley's largest town, home to the ancient Sharda Peeth university ruins.
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Kel
The last town in the valley with a proper road, and the gateway to Arang Kel and the jeep track onward.
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Arang Kel
A storybook meadow village above Kel, reached by chairlift and a short walk.
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Shounter Valley
A high side-valley detour from Kel, with the mirror-still Shounter Lake.
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Chitta Katha Lake
A remote glacial lake reached by a demanding trek above Shounter.
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Janwai
A small settlement on the Kel-Taobat jeep track.
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Halmat
A cluster of hamlets, Sardari, Hilmat and Makroon among them, with traditional wooden houses along the jeep track.
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Taobat
The last village of the Neelum Valley at 7,500 ft, where the Kishenganga River becomes the Neelum.
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Taobat Bala (End)
A 30-40 minute hike above Taobat for panoramic views over Pakistan's last village.
Road trip routes / Neelum Valley: Muzaffarabad to Taobat
Neelum Valley: Muzaffarabad to Taobat
The full Neelum River corridor from the AJK capital at Muzaffarabad, past waterfalls, Sharda's ancient university ruins and Kel's gateway villages, to Taobat, the last village in Pakistan before the Kishenganga becomes the Neelum.
Distance
0 km
Drive time
0 h
Best time to go
June to September; the Kel-Taobat jeep track and side valleys are only reliably open in these months.
Road conditions
Muzaffarabad to Sharda is a metalled road in good condition. Sharda to Kel is decent but narrower. Kel to Taobat is a 4x4 jeep track only, about 2 hours.
Route overview
The full Neelum River corridor from the AJK capital at Muzaffarabad, past waterfalls, Sharda's ancient university ruins and Kel's gateway villages, to Taobat, the last village in Pakistan before the Kishenganga becomes the Neelum.
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, at the confluence of the Neelum and Jhelum rivers, and the starting point for the drive up the valley.
Dhani Waterfall
A tall waterfall dropping right onto the road about 40 km from Muzaffarabad, with roadside tea stalls.
Neelum-Jhelum Dam
A viewpoint over the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project.
Chilhana / Teetwal
A border viewpoint where the Neelum River itself marks the boundary between Pakistani and Indian-administered Kashmir.
Kutton Waterfall
A wide weir on the Jagran River near Kundal Shahi, where the pine-forested Jagran Valley meets the Neelum road.
Baboon Valley
A jeep-track side valley reached from Kundal Shahi/Kutton, with meadows and streams.
Athmuqam
District headquarters of Neelum, with river views and a small bazaar.
Keran & Upper Neelum
A riverside village on the LOC, with India visible across the water.
Dowarian
The base village for the trek up to Ratti Gali Lake.
Ratti Gali Lake
A high-altitude glacial lake, 1-2 hours' trek above Dowarian.
Sharda
The valley's largest town, home to the ancient Sharda Peeth university ruins.
Kel
The last town in the valley with a proper road, and the gateway to Arang Kel and the jeep track onward.
Arang Kel
A storybook meadow village above Kel, reached by chairlift and a short walk.
Shounter Valley
A high side-valley detour from Kel, with the mirror-still Shounter Lake.
Chitta Katha Lake
A remote glacial lake reached by a demanding trek above Shounter.
Janwai
A small settlement on the Kel-Taobat jeep track.
Halmat
A cluster of hamlets, Sardari, Hilmat and Makroon among them, with traditional wooden houses along the jeep track.
Taobat
The last village of the Neelum Valley at 7,500 ft, where the Kishenganga River becomes the Neelum.
Taobat Bala
A 30-40 minute hike above Taobat for panoramic views over Pakistan's last village.