Neelum Valley a haven for nature lovers

Hello steemians,
Off the beaten path, Neelum Valley offers you a chance to get away from the trials and tribulations of city life and explore one of the most beautiful places on the planet, right here in Pakistan.

The valley is situated in the north-east of Muzaffarabad, running parallel to the valley of Kaghan. The two valleys are separated by snow-covered peaks, some over 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) above sea level. The valley stretches from about 50 kilometres north of Muzaffarabad to the existing Line of Control between AJK and Indian Kashmir.

There is plenty being written about the region these days. But did you know the word ‘Neelum’ literally translates to emerald itself? The valley is named after the streams of chilly, bluish-green waters that feed into Neelum River – a lifeline for the local. Amongst its specialities is the brown and rainbow trout, which is hard to come by elsewhere.

The valley is connected to Muzaffarabad by the Neelam Road, which leads up to Kel. In the winters, the road from Keran onwards is blocked due to heavy snowfall, making it difficult to reach the upper parts of the valley.

With tourism to the Neelum Valley, comes new wealth, new opportunities and new sources of income. In the last two years, in particular, the valley has seen a rise in local tourism. The most popular destinations lie on the banks of the Neelum River, which curves along the 200-kilometre valley, trailing westwards along the Line of Control (LoC) until it finally submerges into the Jhelum on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad. The valley’s name comes from the colour of the river — sapphire. Over 350 villages are established along its banks. Some of the most commonly visited spots include Jura Camp, Kundal Shahi, Kutton and Jagran, Salkhala, Kutha Peran and Meengal, Athmuqam, Keran, Nagdar, Dawarian, Dodnial, Sharda, Kel and Halmet. The very last station is Taobat.

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