MUZAFFARABAD: Nature has bestowed innumerable blessings upon Pakistan, including breathtaking views, lofty pines, snow-capped hills, gushing brooks and rivers, verdant plains, and uneven terrains.
These unparalleled gifts of nature, from Karachi’s coastlines to the towering peaks of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, combine to provide visitors with dazzling and fascinating sights.
Taobat, set on the banks of the River Neelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez Valley, stands out among them as a one-of-a-kind location.
Neelum Valley, one of three sections of Gurez Valley and the final station in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) along the Line of Control, located approximately 200 kilometers from Muzaffarabad and 39 kilometers from Kel Valley.
This country has a centuries-long history and was described as “one of the most beautiful scenes in Kashmir” by British author Sir Roper Walter Lawrence, who visited the region in 1895.
Walter Lawrence said in his book ‘The Valley of Kashmir’ that “it is the most beautiful scenes in all of Kashmir, where the tourmaline waters of the Kishenganga River are framed by mountain scarps of indescribable grandeur.” This location remains as magnificent today as it was when Walter Lawrence visited 13 decades ago.
The drive from Kel to Taobat is undoubtedly enchanting, leaving travelers in wonder as they pass by the lovely towns of Machhal, Phulwai, Halmat, Janawai, Sardari, and Makroon.
Wooden cottages, gorgeous waterfalls, flower-covered meadows, thickly forested mountains, and a roaring river all combine to create the appearance of ‘Heaven on Earth,’ for travelers traveling to Taobat via a road that winds through these little communities.
Sharda is the most scenic site on the approach to Taobat, with its mesmerizing landscape, springs, and tree-covered hillsides, as well as buildings built on steep slopes with roofs partially embedded into the mountain.
Sharda is still home to the ruins of an ancient Buddhist university, which served as a seat of knowledge and wisdom.
“Coming here is a true pleasure. Rashid Mahmood, a tourist from Islamabad, remarked that as you arrive in Neelum Valley, your eyes are drawn to the breathtaking scenery. “Travelling on uneven roads is quite thrilling. Nature surrounds you as you travel to Taobat. This magnificent beauty leaves a lasting mark on your thoughts.”
Tourists who had to go by jeep from Kel to Taobat had a thrilling ride and breathtaking vistas. Men grazing cattle and farming adjacent to their wood cottages, and ladies roaming around wearing long black velvet robes to stockpile food and fuel for the winter, create a truly rustic look.
At Taobat, Krishanganga reaches the Pakistani side of Kashmir and becomes the Neelum River, making the landscape awe-inspiring for tourists.
“We face a difficult winter. “From December to March, snow covers our houses and pavements,” said Nasir Ali, a local resident. “Our people have to gather ration and wood during summers and lock inside their houses during peak winter season.”
Nasir stated that the majority of locals labor on maize, bean, potato, and vegetable fields to make a living. “People here commonly survive on farming and income from tourists with some opting for other professions.”
Because of its remote location, the area lacks some basic services such as well-equipped hospitals, paved roads, gas, and higher education institutions.
“Although 60% tourists coming to Kashmir visit Taobat, yet the area still lacks basic amenities,” Nasir said in a statement. “Even for communication, tourists must obtain special SCOM.
As Taobat becomes a popular tourist destination, the AJK government has taken steps to ensure visitors’ safety, including the formation of a tourist police patrol and the distribution of brochures containing travel and residential information.
“We have two government staying facilities – one lodge of the forest department and a hut of the local government,” said Khawaja Raees, Publicity Officer at the Tourism Department. “Some 20 private guest houses are also available for tourists to stay.”
Raees, who is also from Neelum Valley, said an eight-kilometer road from Kel has recently been built, but the 25-kilometer jeep track needs to be repaired. “Despite weather constraints, we fully try to promote eco-tourism in this pollution-free region where people enjoy organic food and captivating views.”
Taobat’s main attraction is a long beautiful bridge with the Neelum River flowing beneath it, linking the unpaved road to the meadows beyond. It was the last place accessible by jeep; from there, guests had to trek to explore meadows and feel the murmuring peaceful breeze.
Dense forests, chattering birds, blooming flowers, babbling rivers and streams, and, most importantly, simple people tell stories about the amazing nature all around them.
White daisies remind nature lovers of William Wordsworth’s “the golden daffodils,” while dense dark trees recall William Shakespeare’s “Under the Greenwood Tree,” in which everyone wishes to stroll around alone as a cloud.
