My trip from Karachi to Nathiagali

Total driving time 18-19 hours
I stopped in Multan at the highly recommended Avari Express in Cantt

Khi to Multan takes 10-11 hours - Sukkur-Multan M4 is like any highway (or even better) in the US

Google Maps was the only thing I relied on

After a night stopover in Multan headed to Nathiagali - The quicker route is one that bypasses Islamabad and takes you from the Abbottabad side - via the newly opened Hazara Expressway which has some great panoramic views of the surrounding plain and hills

Reached Nathiagali in 8 hours driving time - the Hazara Expressway was a great to drive on - then you go on the N35 (the famed Karakoram Highway m) which is much narrower though and goes to Abbottabad- a bustling town which is often used as a place to fill up on supplies

Saw a fantastic starry night - saw a couple of shooting stars (no pics of those unfortunately - the chilly weather made me forget Karachi’s hot and humid weather - and power breakdowns - and flooded streets

Did the well known pipeline walk. Starts in Dungagali bazar and ends in Ayubia (or vice versa) - goes through one of Pakistan’s best examples of Himalayan coniferous forest - animals found here include the leopard and the golden eagle

The pipeline walk is known for the water pipeline along it dating it from the times of British Rule - there’s a plaque at the Ayubia end with mention of the insignias of the British Army - a date of 1919 is engraved on one of the rocks

On the pipeline walk also saw a large lizard - looked liked a monitor - the leopard I was told stays in the higher reaches of the forest in summer

The views from the balcony in Nathiagali were magnificent - to say the least - on a clear day you could see well into Indian Occupied Kashmir

Found a quaint trail five minutes walks from the place I was staying with amazing views - the hills here in the background are AJK and the LoC

Also did the walk to the University of Peshawar Bara Gali campus - a gentle easy walk of a few kilometres

Took a trip to a mountain stream near the village of Namli Maira - that’s also the name of the local Union Council - was around 10 kms towards Abbottabad from Nathiagali - and lower and warmer - but the greenery was astounding

The drive back from the stream was very picturesque as well - on an older road back to Nathiagali entering it via the Governor’s House road

Back in Nathiagali I ventured to the same spot that I had discovered close to where I was staying - for some great sunset views

Next day went for a walk - with views of the local high peak Miranjani (9,800 feet) - a spot in Nathiagali by the church allows uninterrupted views of snowclad peaks - the snowy peaks in the far distance are Neelam Valley AJK (left) and Indian Occupied Kashmir (Gulmarg) (right)

Climbed Mushkpuri Peak (9,210 feet) - path starts either in Nathiagali near Pines Hotel or from Dungagali Bazar - the hike takes 1.5-2 hours and passes through meadows & dense forest - this is the second highest peak in the area

The views from the top of Mushkpuri Peak (9,210 feet) were fantastic - looking east you could see the Jhelum River winding its way from Indian Occupied Kashmir - on left are the mountains of Neelam and Leepa Valleys of AJK & Indian Occupied Kashmir is on right

On the way down from Muskpuri my hiking boot literally split into two and had to be died with a shopping bag and a piece of cloth - managed to make the hike down around 1,500 feet in one piece - the day ended with a brilliant starry night

This was followed by a short trip to Katha Samundar - a manmade lake near a village in a valley some 10-15 kms from Nathiagali - the lake itself had plaster wrappers on its edges. It the views around more than made up for that ugly sight. A short walk leads to a nearby village

A visit to Nathiagali won’t be complete visiting St Matthews Church right in its centre - made of wood, it dates back over a century

9,800 feet high Miranjani is the highest peak in Galyat and overlooks Nathiagali - a reasonably fit person can hike to its summit in 2-3 hours - the trail starts from below Governor’s House where one can drive up to - fantastic walk in dense forest - can be steep at times

The views from the top of Miranjani are brilliant - if the skies are clear - looking north you can see the majestic Nanga Parbat on a clear day - unfortunately we were above the clouds when we reached the peak

That said, the peak had a carpet of green grass and flowers - absolutely beautiful

Saw some brilliant fall foliage and a fascinating tree stump - aged by time - on the way down

Left a cold and rainy Nathiagali - temperature 11 degrees - and headed back to Multan - took around 8 hours of driving time

In Multan for a night, ate some delicious chicken handi, bought some Multani halwa and a friend gifted a yes set of featuring the exquisite designs and colours Multan is known for

Left Multan for Karachi and made it in around 10 hours - encountered very heavy rain in upper Sindh - could hardly see the road - and took the Indus Highway to Jamshoro and then to Karachi - paid Rs 750 for a speeding ticket on the Indus Highway - took Lyari Expressway home

So that’s a round trip of around 3,200 kilometres - kind of half way to London if you look at it - clearly Pakistan has a lot to offer to even those (myself included) who will otherwise easily take road trips in Europe or the US but hesitate to do that in their own country