Azad Kashmir · Pakistan
Muzaffarabad travel guide
Muzaffarabad is a city in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, home to about 150,000 people.
- Best months
- May, October and November
- Nearest airport
- ISB109 km · Islamabad International Airport
- Currency
- PKRPakistani rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Karachi
- Language
- English, Urdu
About
About Muzaffarabad
Muzafarrabad was established in 1646 by Sultan Muzaffar Khan who ruled the Kashmir. He set up a red fort in the city to defend it against the Mughals. Muzafarrabad was the epicenter of the October 2005 earthquake that killed over 75,000 people. The city was devastated and filled with tent camps and non-government organizations. Rebuilding has been slow.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Muzaffarabad
See
- AJK Assembly, AJK Supreme Court, Mosque Assembly Secretariat, Kh. Khurshid Tomb
- Red Fort Muzaffarabad
- Jalalabad Garden
- Patikka
- Pir Chinasi
- Shaheed Gali Tourist Rest House
- Subri Lake
- Makra Choti
- Dhani Waterfall
- Chikar Highland Resort
Do
You can indulge in different activities like hiking, trekking and camping at the foothill regions of the Pir Chinassi, Saran, Sun Bun, Muskhi, Sakki and Jarran.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Muzaffarabad to stay in
There are various guest houses, rest houses, motels and hotels at most of the tourist spots which can be booked in advance from their offices in Muzaffarabad. (Tel: 058810-32625).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Muzaffarabad
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Continental Hotel, Muzaffarabad | 2.3 km | |
| Sangam Hotel | 1.6 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Muzaffarabad
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Muzaffarabad are May, October and November. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; July is the wettest, with about 251 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Muzaffarabad: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Islamabad International Airport (ISB), about 109 km from the city centre in a straight line; Srinagar International Airport (SXR, 127 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
By road is practically only way to get in. There's an airport in the city but not operational. Buses and minibuses make the scenic journey regularly from Islamabad (4-5 hours). If you're self-driving, the route via Murree is the quickest if you're coming Islamabad. Kohala is the entry point into Azad Kashmir, where you'll need to get through a checkpoint. On own transport you need an hour to reach Murree. After Murree the road becomes thin and winding (and very scenic). Give yourself 3 hours to reach Kohala Bridge and another hour to reach Muzaffarabad.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ISB · Islamabad International Airport
SXR · Srinagar International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Muzaffarabad
Eat
The Pearl Continental has Chinese & Continental restaurants (with amazing views). Neelum View Hotel (which is no longer a hotel) has a nice terrace and OK food. Pakistani and Kashmiri food is available everywhere. Many restaurants offer Chinese and Italian dishes as well. In restaurants, it is a good idea to ask what is freshly cooked. Chicken Karahi is a dish recommended for Pakistanis and Kashmiris as it can be cooked easily and one can see this being cooked. Kashmiri Nan are wonderful in taste. Try Kashmiri Pink Tea. You can take Kashmiri Kulcha as snack. Kashmiri Kulcha is different from the Kulcha sold in Lahore or Gujranwala.
Drink
Please drink bottled water, locally called mineral water and is available in ½-, 1- and 3-litre bottles.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Muzaffarabad: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Muzaffarabad?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Muzaffarabad are May, October and November. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; July is the wettest, with about 251 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Muzaffarabad?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Islamabad International Airport (ISB), about 109 km from the city centre in a straight line; Srinagar International Airport (SXR, 127 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Muzaffarabad?
Pakistani rupee (PKR).
Nearby
Destinations near Muzaffarabad
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.