In this post
- All About Snow Festival
- Murree & Galiyat
- Nathia Gali
- Ayubia National Park
- Mushkpuri Top
- Miranjani Trek
- Thandiani
Galyat in Pakistan are some of the most scenic areas in the country. Located up north, this region of a narrow strip of 50-80 kilometers is dotted by small hills, and spreads from north-east Islamabad on towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Galiyat is derived from the word ‘gali’ which means an alley between two mountains. This place is cooler than Punjab’s plains and warmer still than the rest of the northern areas. The ease of accessibility and a number of hotels makes this place the most loved tourist destination. With this year’s dense snowfall, the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) has planned to hold a three-day snow festival starting from 22nd January to 24th January 2021. Here’s all you need to know about the snow festival in Galiyat, and what makes this place an exciting place for tourists.
All About Snow Festival In Galiyat
The GDA says this snow festival in Galiyat is being held with the aim to promote winter tourism in the region, and will have a number of snow-related activities that can be enjoyed by tourists in a safe manner. These activities include; Skiing, snow hiking, snow tubing, bonfire, tug of war, snow camping, and snow cartoons. While food stalls are especially being placed for the families to have the best time, all in one place! Moreover, a musical evening will make everything a lot better, and give the tourists a chance to enjoy all kinds of festivities in one place! Renowned singers and artists will be performing, and it is for you to find out who they’ll be!
To make the festival more interesting, GDA has introduced travelling festivities which means the three day long snow festival in Galiyat would be held at different venues including Nathiagali, Ayubia, Donga Gali, Khanaspur, and Mushkpuri top. This will allow the tourists to familiarise themselves with the beauty, exciting activities, and adventures of the area that make Galiyat the most popular tourist destination in Pakistan.
Murree, known as the Queen of Hill Stations, is the most popular tourist attraction, during both winters and summer. People throng to these hills to have a good time and enjoy the pleasant weather. The number of tourists here keeps increasing on an annual basis, and with Pakistan termed at the top of the Conde Nast Traveler’s list of best traveler’s destinations in 2020, not only local but foreign tourists are also coming to explore the beauty of Pakistan.
All About Murree & Galiyat
The Galiyat consist of many breath-taking, picturesque tourist attractions, these include:
- Nathia Gali
- Ayubia National Park
- Mushkpuri Top
- Miranjani Trek
- Thandiani
Nathia Gali
Nathia Gali is situated approximately 7,900 feet above sea level. It is particularly famous for its pine, oak, and walnut trees, vibrant flowers, beautiful hiking tacks, historic buildings, and artifacts markets that sell all things from clothes to dried fruits. It is a beautiful valley that gets covered in snow during the winters. The white snowed-in hill is enough to transform the place into a magic wonderland in the winters. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and the natural beauty that makes Pakistan a burgeoning tourist hotspot.
Ayubia National Park
This area is famous for its picnic spots, and chairlift. People come here especially with their family to take them on an aerial tour of the lush green forests. People from all over the country come here, and enjoy with their family. You can also go for horse riding, and buy a number of artifacts from the local shops. Here you’ll find the most scrumptious local tempuras (pakoras) that you can’t possibly find anywhere else.
You’ll find coniferous trees here that are home to one of the most diverse species as the area is 8,000 feet above sea level. Ayubia National Park is surrounded by seven major villages and three small towns of Thandiani, Nathiagali and Khanspur. The park has been developed as a resort complex from a combination of four mini resorts of Khaira Gali, Changla Gali, Khanspur and Ghora Dhaka in Galyat.
Mushkpuri Top
This is the second highest hill of the Galiyat, 9,452 feet above sea level. It takes a three hour trek from Pines Hotel in Nathiagali through the beautiful green pine forest, giving a bird eye view of Ayubia National Park. The second path leads from Dunga Gali which further extends towards River Jhelum. Both of these treks are good for people looking for an adventure while also wanting to spend a good time at beautiful natural pine forests. There is also a very small water spring at the top. Also you can see scenic Kashmir valley from Mushkpuri Top. Tourists, especially students from universities have been coming here regularly in recent years as hotels and cafes continue to spring up providing more avenues of picnic spots.
Miranjani Top
This is the highest hill in Galiyat at about 1968 feet above sea level. The Miranjani trek starts a few minutes drive away from the Governor House in Nathia Gali. this trek is only advised for people who are professional trekkers as the path is made of soft dirt with sparse rocks that can make trekking here quite hard. The path to the peak is canopied with tall trees and is abundant in greenery. Nathia Gali, Mushkpuri Peak and Azad Kashmir are easily visible from the Miranjani top.
Thandiani
Thandiani is a hill station in the Galyat area of Abbottabad District. To the northwest are the snowy ranges of Swat and Chitral, and the hills of Thandiani are about 9,020 feet above sea level. This place is the coldest in all of the Galiyat areas, and has a number of picnic spots for you to enjoy.
If you are to go to the Galiyat Winter Festival, you’ll have a lot of attractions to visit and picnic spots to enjoy. Mark your calendars for the 22nd to 24th January and visit the natural winter wonderland.
Similar winter festival in Kalash Valley is held annually that you can enjoy. There are also a number of tourist festivals in Pakistan that you should definitely make a checklist for this year.
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