PAKLINKS BANNER EXCHANGE
Murree in the Punjab and its adjoining hill stations, mostly situated in the Frontier Province, provide a cool retreat in summer to the people of the Punjab and the Frontier Province, particularly to those living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Murree is the most developed of these hill stations and has cool climate in summer and crisply cold in winter. It was developed by the British as a summer resort of the Punjab which it continued to be up to 1876 when the name was transferred to Simia. It is therefore a developed town with good hotels and roads and excellent shopping where products and handicrafts of the entire region are available.
Situated at an altitude of 2,100 meters, Murree is considered the most beautiful hill station in northern Punjab. The winding drive from Islamabad passes through Sarannab woodland, rocky shrubs and cedar, birch and at precisely 1,000 meters lofty pine forests.
As in the other hill stations the British tried to build a little England, with a mall for promenading, parks, churches, schools, not to mention clubs and cafes. Hence scruffy houses with names like ''Primrose Cottage" or "Goodland Walk". "Hotel Cecil' or those times still remain a colonial atmosphere in huge, high, ceilinged rooms with roaring log fires.
At the north end of the Mall, a good landmark of the city is the Post Office from where one may wander down through the bazaar below having stalls and souvenir shops all along the way. Walking down the Mall is perhaps the main amusement of Murree. You can also take horse or donkey rides. Going north and leaving Post Office on the left one finds the Murree Club. There are some walks down into the woods on your left along forest trails. From the Post Office to Kashmir Point is the area where many embassies have their summer residence and here are probably the best places to stay in Murree.
Murree lies at about two hours journey from Rawalpindi and a little less from Islamabad, especially so if you are driving in a car. There is a toll of a few rupees on the way and for the first few miles you pass through the flat country. Then, the climb starts which becomes pretty steep as you approach Murree.
On the way you pass Tret (40 kilometers from Rawalpindi a small town on the main road to Muree where for the first time pine trees make their majestic appearance. Tret is situated on an elevation of 3,128 feet. There is a police post and military camp and a forest Rest House and an inspection bungalow besides a small bazaar.
The next stop where you may rest for a few minutes is Chharra Pani, 6 kilometers ahead, where you may get a cup of tea if you are not carrying your own refreshments. Springs of cold water gush out of the hillside and for the first time you find the temperature difference when Islamabad is hot. The view of the adjacent hills is breathtaking.
About 3 kilometers from here a typical 'S' shaped turning is located on the main road and is known as Chitta Morr meaning white turning.
Between Murree and Abbottabad there are a number of popular hill resorts known as Gallies. Most of these are in Hazara District. They offer cool climate, marvelous scenery, well preserved and old forests with giant pine trees and terraced cultivation.
Here is a military rest camp and a supply depot. The agricultural department maintains a horticultural - agricultural demonstration farm here. Here the hills open up and give a look of brightness to the area, which is why it is called Sunny Bank.
From Sunny Bank you turn to Murree or move ahead. Another turning comes about 1 kilometer away. The road on the left leads towards Gailies, on right is Jhika Gali and Kohala and onwards to Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir