Abbottabad 116 km from Rawalpindi and 217 km from Peshawar is a small neat
and clean town in a spacious valleys surrounded by green hills. It is a
popular summer resort, located at the end of Murree-Abbottabad hill tract at a
height of 1255 metres, noted for its verdant parks, gardens, golf course and
pine covered hills.
Abbottabad, apart from being famous for its educational institutions and
Military Academy, also serves as the gateway to almost all beautiful places in
Pakistan.
The formidable Karakorams, the enchanting HImalayas and the deadly
Hindukush, can also be approached from Abbottabad.
Though the importance of the city has been diminished a little by the
completion of Karakoram Highway because, in the past, the only track available
to reach Karakoram was through Babusar Pass, which in its turn, could only be
approached through Abbottabad.
In spite of this development, the city continues to be a transit city for
the tourists. Abbottabad is the junction from where one can go to places like
Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu and Indus Kohistan, of the Karakoram Range. One can
reach Swat, Swati Kohistan, Dir and Chitral of the Hindukush Range. And one
can approach Naran, Saif-ul-Muluk, Shogran and Babusar Pass of the Himalayan
Range. Neelum, Lipa and Jhelum Valley of beautiful Azad Kashmir are also
connected through Abbottabad.
While other hill stations are deserted during winter this place has
visitors due to the bracing winter. The place has beautiful gardens, Jinnah
Garden, Ladies Garden and another garden maintained by the Cantonment Board.
To the splendid stretch of turf with plenty of room for polo, football, hockey
and golf. At the back of the station to the west is the Brigade Centre, ideal
for walks and picnic.
The Cantonment area of Abbottabad is still very British. The European
bungalows, the club, the church and cementery are still there.
Abbottabad is an hour's drive from Nathia Gali, the summer capital of the
North West Frontier Province, which is from Nathia Gali to Abbottabad is about
34 km dropping steeply through the beautiful valleys with few trees to the
river bed.
