The northern areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir region are blessed with some world’s most beautiful places, whose natural beauty cannot be described in words. Especially, the gorgeous valleys of these areas are something which leaves one spell bounded. Below are a list of top five valleys of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, which one should visit in his life.
Hunza Valley
The Hunza valley is situated to the north of the Hunza River, at an elevation of around 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). Merely at a distance of 100 Kilometers from Gilgit, Hunza is a small town on Karakoram Highway. The main town of this valley is Karimabad (formerly called Baltit), which is also a very popular tourist place due to stunning scenery of the adjacent mountains like Ultar Sar, Rakaposhi, Bojahagur Duanasir II, Ghenta Peak, Hunza Peak, Passu Peak, Diran Peak and Bublimating (Ladyfinger Peak), all 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) or higher.
Leepa Valley
The Leepa valley is situated in Azad Kashmir, which is the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir now in Pakistan. It is located 105 Kilometers from Muzaffarabad. A fair-weather road for Leepa starts from Naile 45 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, climbs over Reshian Gali (3200 meters above sea level) and then descends to 1677 meters on the other side into the Leepa valley. The Leepa valley is divided into the Leepa, Reshian, Dao Khan and Chananian sections, that all are considered scenic by tourists.
Naltar Valley
Naltar is a valley near Gilgit and Hunza in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Naltar is 40 Kilometers from Gilgit and can be reached by jeeps. Naltar is a forested (pine) village known for its wildlife and magnificent mountain scenery. Now the communication is available by the efforts of Pakistan Army Signal Corps (SCO special communication organization). There are skiing lifts under the ‘Ski Federation of Pakistan.‘ There is a base camp of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at Naltar. Skiing competitions are held at Naltar under the supervision of PAF. Naltar Bala and Naltar Pine are two villages of Naltar valley.
Naran Valley
Naran is a medium sized town in upper Kaghan valley in Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the Pakistan. It is located 119 kilometers from Mansehra city at the altitude of 2,500 meters (8,202 ft). Naran is one of the most scenic town in Pakistan, attracting thousands of tourists, trekkers, photographers and nature-enthusiast, every year. The Kunhar River, swollen by glacier melt, passes through this town as it meanders its way through the valley. Babusar Top, Noori valley, Purbi valley, Makra Peak, Malka Parbat, Lalazar and Saiful Muluk are the main attractionsof this area.
Shigar Valley
The Shigar valley is located in Baltistan in northern Pakistan that is streamed by the Shigar River. The valley stretches about 170 Kilometers from Skardu to Askole, and is the gateway to the high peaks of the Karakoram. The town of Shigar is the largest settlement in valley. Even though the Shigar valley is a remote and largely inaccessible place, there are several villages in the valley. Askole is the last settlement in the Shigar Valley which is still far from the high mountains. Shigar was formerly an administrative sub-division of Skardu District, but is now a district in its own right.
Ahmed Raza is a frequent traveler and loves cricket. He is a graduate in Journalism and works as Assistant Travel Editor for Kluchit.com
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