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Nature from Pakistan
Murree is a former British hill station on the border between
Punjab and Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. An American journalist
Camille wrote, that, "Everything and Anything can happen in
Murree. Romance is in the atmosphere; intrigue is in the air.
The roads to this happy holiday's resort embrace both the heaven
and earth. In Murree it is easy to fall in love".
Murree remains charming all year round. In summer it is cool -
even chilly in the evening - while light rain is common. In
Winter Murree hides herself under thick blanket of snow. This
proves to be an extremely attractive vacation spot for travellers.
Taxis and buses run from Islamabad, and take about 1 hour.
It is a picturesque drive and has a few well developed tourist
spots at Charra Pani and Company Bagh. The Chat tar water park
is only 15 minutes outside Islamabad. There is also an alternate
but longer route to Murree from Islamabad via Nilore and Simli
Dam. The alternate route joins at Lower Topa. The mountain drive
is refreshing and the scenery is breath-taking especially on the
Nilore-Simli-Lower Topa route.
Another two way road is constructed from toll-plaza to Pataryata,
the drive is very scenic and refreshing. A link road is available
for those want to go to Murree.
Murree is the administrative Headquarters of the Murree district.
It is well connected by road to other towns of the area. These
small towns are Khanpur, Ghora Gali, Sunny Bank, Jhika Gali,
Bhurban, Nathia Gali, Ayubia, Kalabagh and Patriata. Murree
is also linked by road to the larger towns of Islamabad,
Muzafarabad and Abbotabad.
The best option is to travel by own car. Public transport
(buses, taxis and vans) are readily available but would be
generally crowded. Except for the Islamabad-Murree highway
all other roads are single / two lane roads and the driver
should be conversant with mountain driving skills.
The nearest air link is Islamabad International Airport and
the nearest rail Link is at Rawalpindi Cantonment Station.
• Kashmir Point
• Pindi Point - a chairlift runs up to here
• The Mall - the main strip with shops, hotels and restaurants.
• Many locals believe that Mary, mother of Jesus, is buried in
Murree and that the town is named after her (formerly Mari).
Her supposed tomb sits on a hill underneath a television tower.
Locals can point you in the right direction. You may need
special permission to visit.
The main attractions of Murree are its natural scenery and
refreshing atmosphere. It is an ideal place for a family get
away and vacation. With its many places of interests like
Patriata, Ayubia, Nathia Gali, Bhurban, Khanspur it offers
many spots for picnics, mountain hiking and trekking. The
best of these treks is from Dunga Gali to Murree on the water
pipeline. The Golf Course at Bhurban is unique because of its
altitude and tough layout. The area around Patriata has been
developed and provides excellent hiking and trekking paths.
It also has a scenic two stage cable car that would take the
tourists up to the top. Those not interested in waiting in the
queue for the ride can drive up to the Patriata top.
Murree has a variety of handicraft shops selling curios for the
tourist to remind them of their visit to this hill station.
Traditional clothing items, head wear, carved walking sticks,
jewelry items and leather goods are abundantly available.
There are many restaurants in Murree, mostly along The Mall.
One very popular restaurant is called Al-mai-dah.
• Red Onion Chain of Restaurants situated on the main mall road,
stands one of the most modern restaurant in Murree. Established
in 1993, pioneer to 'Buy one Pizza & Get the second one absolutely
FREE' this restaurant offers a wide range of cuisines not offered
anywhere else in the vicinity i.e. Mexican, Italian, Chinese,
Pakistani & Continental. Prices are very moderate, ambiance is
modern & customer service is very friendly! Other branches of
Red Onion; Nathia Gali, Abbotabad, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Rawal
Dam & Karachi.
• Saffron: An elegantly decorated restaurant with stunning views
of the surrounding hills and valleys. Saffron offered the ultimate
personalized culinary experience. The menu is a blend of continental
and local favorites including our very own rendition of the
ever-popular chicken karahi and chicken makhani. Saffron lies
overlooking crisscrossing paths, beautiful hills and valleys.
The restaurants outdoor patio allows you to dine under the roof
of the world, in the most breathing natural surroundings our part
of the world has to offer.
• The Huqqa Pani Lounge with its gracious old world charm serves
a variety of fruit flavored tobacco or sheesha. Apart from the
snakes and drinks, the room offers a wonderful and relaxing
atmosphere with a glorious view of Murree and the surrounding
hills.
• Angeethi - the Grill is located adjacent to the Huqqa Pani
lounge and follows the same earthen traditional theme. So after
relaxing in the lounge, you can come and watch our chefs prepare
a variety of mount watering barbeque dishes. The beautiful
backdrop and the traditional ambience, combined with the
delicious food make dining at The Grill an occasion to remember.
Hard liquor is only available to foreign passport holders at PC
Bhurban hotel. However night receptionists at nearly all hotels
are able to arrange some stuff for a little consideration. There
are no bars and pubs were liquor is otherwise sold.
Health and medication
There are many well equipped medical centers in Murree and
surrounding which can always provide you with basic medical
treatment, like Abbasi hospital at Suny Bank, Tariq medical
centre Bhurban, alshafa clinic Murree and many more. Along
with these medical centers there is a military hospital "CMH"
situated on Murree mall road. So you don’t need to worry for
medical treatment in case of any emergency while visiting
Murree and surroundings.
Murree being a well established tourist destination has a wide
variety of lodgings available to suit all pockets. The top of
the line is the 5* Pearl-Continental Hotel at Bhurban. However
PC Bhurban is 25 minutes drive away from Murree proper. Other
good standard hotels are available in Murree proper besides a
number of other hired lodgings of various standards. Another
option is to hire summer houses. Murree also has a number of
private and government owned rest houses or Dak bungalows.
Generally the summer season rates are 5 to 6 times the winter
off season rate.
There are a lot of hotels and restaurants on Mall Road Murree.
In May 2007, Usmania Restaurant charged us Rs.3500 for five
triple bedrooms. They serve good Pakistani cuisine as well.
• Shangrila Resort Hotel Murree, adjacent to the Punjab House
on Lawrence College Road in Murree is fabulous and a bit
eccentric. A nice and quiet get-away high up in the pine
trees, Shangrila has a full restaurant, a grill, a tobacco
bar, and a billiards room. Located near the shopping and
commercial districts, as well as the famous Mall Road.
Saffron all-day fine dining restaurant, offering breakfast,
lunch, and dinner buffets as well as an extensive ‘a la crate
menu with an emphasis on natural and fresh ingredients. Full
Service Restaurant, BBQ-Buffet Restaurant, Lounge for Family
Re-Unions and Private Gatherings, Dining and Entertainment
facilities, as well as several individual cottages, which
are located in a secluded corner of the premises.
• PC Bhurban, the top of the line is the 5* Pearl-Continental
Hotel at Bhurban. However PC Bhurban is 25 minutes drive away
from Murree proper.
• Murree Holidays (Murree Apartments), Mount view road Cecil
Hotel Murree (5 Minutes walk from Murree Bus stand),
☎ +92 322 500 0106, Checking: 4:00 PM; checkout: 12:00 Noon.
Amurree.com is the first service in Murree to provide online
reservation and booking. It is situated in main city with
beautiful mountains and landscape PKR 1000/night.
(33.90646,73.38855) Cecil Hotel, Cart Road,
☎ 0513411131-32-34
Murree can serve as a focal hub of your stay. Day trips can
be planned for Nathia Gali, Kalabagh, Muzafarabad, Ayubia,
Patriata, Khanspur, Bhurban and Gharial.
• Nathia Gali is about 32kms from Murree. The bracing air of
the surrounding mountains is as pure as fresh spring water.
• Ayubia is about 26kms from Murree, (Khairagali, Changlagali,
Khanspur and Ghora Dhaka, these four mini resorts spread over
an area of 26 km have been developed into a resort complex
called Ayubia). In addition to riding trails, hiking places
and picnic spots, Ayubia has a chair lift at Ghora Dhaka, which
attracts visitors to enjoy scenic beauty of Pine Hills.
• Thandiani is the coldest among other hill stations near Murree.
It can be reached from the Murree-Nathia Gali route, but it takes
more time and the road is too winding. Thandiani is 31 km from
main Abbotabad City and 25 km from Thandiani-Nathia Gali crossing.
The drive takes more or less 80 minutes from Abbotabad with
lovely views on both sides of the road. The road spans more than
1219 m above Abbotabad. On the way along with tall majestic pine
trees you come across groups of monkeys. The major place on the
way is Kalapani at 23 km from Abbotabad. It has a beautiful local
Dak bungalow. Hule ka Danna is about two kilometers north of Thandiani.
It is one of the most beautiful glades in the region. Thandiani
offers lush green lovely views.
Trekking is the best sport to do; following are some of the treks:
• Ayubia-Changla Gali
• Ayubia-Khanspur
• Ayubia-Dunga Gali, 4km, a must to do
• Dungagali-Mushkpuri Top
• Mushkpuri Top-Nathia Gali
• Nathiagali-Miranjani Top
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