Abbottabad

Understand

thumb|Painting by James Abbott, near the town The town was founded as a British district headquarters and military base in the 1850s. It was named for the founder, Major James Abbott (later General Sir James Abbott).

At one time, the city was quite important as a transport hub, a stop on the main route north toward Gilgit and China. Its importance in this role has been somewhat diminished by the completion of the Karakoram Highway.

Get in

From Rawalpindi or Islamabad you can reach Abbottabad by road in less than 3 hours. Daewoo bus service operates more than three services daily for under Rs. 500 per passenger. It is an hour's drive from Nathia Gali which is about 34 km dropping steeply through the beautiful valleys with few trees to the river bed.

Abbottabad is the junction from where you can go to places like Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu and Indus Kohistan, of the Karakoram Range. You can reach Swat, Swati Kohistan, Dir and Chitral of the Hindu Kush. And approach Naran, Saif-ul-Muluk, Shogran and Babusar Pass of the Himalayan Range. Neelum, Lipa and Jhelum Valley of Azad Kashmir are also connected through Abbottabad.

There is no railway service to Abbottabad, trains terminate in Havelian which is about 30 minutes south of the city.

See

Mukeshpuri 9800 feet and Miranjani 9750 feet are its highest peaks. Ilysi Mosque, Shimla Pahari hill) Takaya Dodheyal Nawansheher Bazaar stairs Harno (tourist area with open water) Thandiani (~25 km) Dhamtoor Swinging Bridge near Harno

Do

Trekking, Hiking, Camping, Photography, Golf, Picnic

Abbottabad in addition to being a hill station has some of Pakistan's best educational institutions (e.g. Army Burn Hall School & College, Abbottabad Public School, International Public School, Ayub Medical College, Frontier Medical College, Hazara University). It has therefore become a leading learning seat in Pakistan.

Eat

Pakoras and fish at Ilyasi Masjid. A lot of people gather there to enjoy those tasty pakoras. Kebab of Qalandarabad. Pulaw opposite to AMC

Sleep