Rawalakot
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Rawalakot

Rawalakot

Azad Kashmir mountain town in a saucer-shaped Poonch valley, ringed by pine forests and ridges.

Rawalakot is the district headquarters of Poonch in Azad Kashmir, sitting in a saucer-shaped valley at around 1,600 meters. The town itself is small and functional, but the surrounding landscape is the real draw — green ridges, pine forests, and mountain views in every direction.

The valley is 76 kilometers from Kohalla and connected to Rawalpindi and Islamabad via Azad Pattan. In summer the hillsides fill with wildflowers and the temperature stays pleasant while the plains below bake. The town has a few bazaars covering everyday needs, but you come here for the mountains, not the shopping.

Rawalakot works well as a base for exploring the wider Poonch district. Banjosa Lake is a short drive away, Toli Pir offers panoramic views from the highest point in the area, and the hot springs at Tatta Pani make for an unusual day out. The drive down the Poonch River Valley is the scenic route south.

Guide

Day Trips from Rawalakot

The valley's best scenery is a short drive from town. Most of these destinations are reachable by local wagon or hired car; a driver for the day costs around PKR 2,000–3,000.

Tolipeer is the most popular outing — a high forested plateau at around 3,000 metres, roughly 20 km from Rawalakot. The meadows are carpeted with wildflowers in spring and early summer, and on a clear day the views across the ridges are exceptional. Basic food stalls operate near the top in season.

Banjosa Lake sits about 16 km from town in the middle of a pine forest. It is an artificial lake, small but pretty, with paddleboats available and a handful of guesthouses on the shore. Families come here on weekends; weekdays are much quieter.

Sudhan Gali and Toli Pir Road — the drive itself, winding through dense forest on the way up to Tolipeer, is worth doing slowly. Pull off anywhere along the upper stretches for a walk among the pines.

Pallandri, the headquarters of Sudhnoti District, is about 35 km south. The road passes through agricultural valleys at a lower elevation — a different landscape from the pine zone around Rawalakot.

Guide

Eating Out in Rawalakot

The main bazaar has a string of dhabas serving karahi, daal, and fresh bread. Meals are cheap and portions are large. Most places open from mid-morning through late evening; look for the spots with the most locals. There are no restaurants aimed at tourists — everything is straightforward local cooking.

Guide

Things to Do in Rawalakot

Rawalakot's attractions are all about the natural landscape. The district has mountain viewpoints, a lake resort, river valleys, and hot springs — enough variety to fill several days if you have the transport to reach them. Banjosa Lake and Toli Pir are the two most popular outings, the Tatta Pani hot springs are an unusual half-day trip, and the Poonch River Valley is the road to drive if you have time on your hands.