Murree is a dream place where everyone wants to go. It is one of the top tourist destinations in Pakistan. It was established in 1851 by sir Henry Lawrence as a hill resort. The hill station stands at an altitude of approximately 7,516 feet above sea level. It takes a one and half hour drive from Islamabad. Due to its proximity to Islamabad, many people come here on weekends.
Murree is derived from the word “mar-hi” meaning ‘high place.’ It’s also called the Queen of mountains. When it comes to wandering around the country the first place that comes to mind is Murree. Particularly dense green trees, cold weather, fresh air, beautiful valleys, and roadside clouds offer a stunning view. The atmosphere is great; noise is not drunk that’s why peoples are drawn here. A large number of tourists from across the country and abroad come here to see the splendid beauty of Murree. Especially In the summer season, People from hot areas turn to Murree and spend their vacations.
Best Places to visit in Murree
Let us show the amazing beauty of Murree. Today we tell you about the best places to visit in Murree that increase the popularity of this place.
Mall Road
Mall Road is a busy marketplace for Murree. It is an exciting place with various shops containing handicrafts, cultural artefacts, popular souvenirs, different stalls, amazing hotels for stay, and many restaurants that serve mouth-watering dishes till late at night. All necessities of life are present here. This place is always crowded with tourists.
A short walk from Mall Road will take you to GPO (General Post Office) Chowk. GPO is an important landmark in Murree that was constructed in 1867. Now, this historical building is open to the public. There is a postal museum in the upper part of the building. The museum has many old and rare things that attract tourists including, swords, security sticks, letterboxes, order books, weights, ancient tickets, locks, postman bags, stamps, watches, and pictures, etc.
There is the British-era Holy Trinity Church near GPO. It’s also a very important historical building, constructed in 1850-1857. People must see these two historical buildings during their visit to Murree. One road from Mall Road leads to Pindi Point and the other to Kashmir Point.
Kashmir Point
Kashmir point is a wonderful hilltop of Murree, which is situated on Mall Road at an altitude of 7340 feet above sea level. The amazing views of the hilly places of Kashmir can be easily seen from here. Everything looks very clear at Kashmir point. Due to its elevation, the surrounding scenery is breath-taking. It is 15 minutes walking distance from Mall Road.
On the way from Mall Road to Kashmir Point, two very beautiful parks come in the way. If you go from Mall to Kashmir Point, you must visit these parks, especially PIA Park. In the middle of the Kashmir point, you can also visit the governor’s house.
A soft-wheel safari train runs from Kashmir Point to enjoy the incredible views of the valley. This is a very beautiful and unique train that has been imported from Germany. The safari train is full of tourists that provide a lovely ride around Kashmir point.
Pindi Point
Pindi point is located 5 km from Mall Road. From here you can see the incredible views of Rawalpindi’s upper areas. Its height is 7100 feet above sea level. The main reason for coming to the tourists here is horse riding, chairlift, and the wonderful pine trees of Murree hills. People like to have a 1.5 km Chair Lift ride from Pindi Point to Bansara Gali, which offers unforgettable views of the surrounding areas. Horse riding is available for 15 to 20 minutes. You can reach Pindi Point by car or public transport.
Patriata Chair Lift
The real adventure of Murree is Patriata and is also called New Murree. It’s an amazing family spot with good facilities. The point is 7,500 feet above sea level and 15 km southeast of Muree. Patriata is famous because of the dense forest, relaxing atmosphere, amazing chair lift, and cable car ride. The ride is 7 km long which starts from New Murree and ends at Patriata.
It’s a very remarkable view when you sit on a cable car and enjoy the cool breeze striking on your face, see the quiet forest and think about how beautiful it is, see the sunbeams out of the clouds, and when you gliding through the clouds this will be your lifetime experience. Patriata is a well-developed and great place to see in Murree. There is a hiking track, mosque, Family Park, restaurants, horse riding, shopping area, and Rescue staff. You will also see a lot of monkeys here.
Bhurban
Bhurban is a small town 11 km from Murree, named after the nearby forest. Bhurban is located at an altitude of about 6000 feet above sea level. If you visit Murree don’t forget to see Bhurban, otherwise, your visit will be incomplete. It’s a very cool, quiet, and calm place. Its luxurious facilities with a wonderful place and pleasant serene atmosphere make you come here again. Coming here will double the fun of your tour. You can have a lot of good views and you have some good food over there.
The 5-star Pearl Continental Hotel (PC) in Bhurban, the Mont Pleasant Apartments, and Holiday Grand Resort are some of the popular hotels that cater to tourists. There is also a helipad for somebody who lands on the helicopter. Another resort in Bhurban is “Bhurban Hill Apartments”, located less than 2 miles from PC Bhurban. Bhurban is a Perfect destination for honeymooners and family vacationers.
Ghora Gali
Ghora Gali is an administrative subdivision of Murree. It is located half an hour’s drive away from Murree, at an elevation of 5500 ft above sea level. There are many resorts and hotels in Ghora Gali that accommodate the incoming tourists. The main reason for the arrival of tourists is the 1100 meter long chair lift which goes from Gora Gali to Pindi Point. The historical Lawrence College also here, was built in 1860 for children who became orphans during the war. The College is considered as one of the most significant cadet colleges in the country. The place is also famous for its delicious food, Come here to enjoy it.
Nathia Gali
Nathia Gali is a hill resort that is known for its natural beauty and pleasant weather. It is 35 km from Murree and Abbottabad, located 8400 feet above sea level. The valley is surrounded by a variety of amenities such as hotels, guest houses, restaurants, and the surrounding tourist attraction. Miran Jani and Mushk Puri Top are famous places on Nathia Gali, where tourists come from far to enjoy the panoramic views of mountains. In winter, the valley is covered with snow, which makes it astonishing. Tourists especially come to see heavy snowfall in winter.
On a clear day, you may see the immense mountains of Nanga Parbat. The scenery along the way to Nathia Gali is very attractive; it feels like you’re in another world. It’s one of the most preferable summer resorts in Pakistan.
Ayubia National Park
Ayubia is an ideal tourist attraction because of the chairlift and pipeline walking track. Ayubia is also called Ayubia National Park. It’s named after the second President of Pakistan, Muhammad Ayub Khan (1958–1969). The area was declared as a national park in 1984. Ayubia National Park is a protected area of 3,312 hectares.
The tourist attractions here are the chairlift, Ayubia Donga Gali, and the hiking tracks. The chairlift takes you to the top of the peak, which is the highest point here. The park is a resort complex with a combination of four mini resorts of Khaira Gali, Changla Gali, Khanspur, and Ghora Dhaka. All are much upgraded and well maintained.
There is a 129-year-old British-era motto tunnel that is recently been discovered in Ayubia National Park. The tunnel was buried for many years. Now it has been restored to its original glory and opened for the tourist. The tunnel is 250-feet long, 6-feet high, and 4-feet wide, carved out of stones. Earlier the walk was of 4 km,s but now it has been extended to 16 km.
Parks in Murree
There are many parks in Murree but these three are very famous for tourists.
Sozo Adventure Park
Sozo adventure Park is a jungle-themed amusement park. It was established in 2003 in Lower Topa. It’s 12 km from Murree. The park is spread over an area of 15 acres in which is filled with many types of swings and fun activities. It is located at an altitude of 6220 feet above sea level. This is a great place for kids and adults to have fun. Tourists must visit it and enjoy its beauty.
Sangrela Park
Sangrela Park is a very pleasant picnic place, which is located near Patriata. It is surrounded by pine trees, running water, and beautiful terrain. It offers lot of outdoor activities such as camping, barbecue, picnic, hiking, and Bonfire, etc. The park is spread over a vast area. Here you enjoy cool weather, fresh air, dense forest, and beautiful clouds.
Chatter Park
Chatter Park is located on Murree Road at the center of Chattar. There is no substitute for the surrounding scenery here. A lake is located in Chattar Park, in which tourists also take a boat trip. It’s a wonderful place you can spend your day over there. The point is full of serenity that’s attracting the attention of visitors.
The natural beauty of our country is unparalleled. You feel great in the natural air, the smell of the soil, and the calm environment. Make sure you take the time in your daily busy life. Take a walk and do some adventures that will not only calm your physical health but also your mind. These things bring us very close to nature. If you are keen of natural beauty and love to visit green mountains do not forget to visit KP province and specially Swat Valley in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.
