Getting to Abbottabad

Abbotabad can be reached by Bus from Islamabad or Peshawar. One can also take the car from Islamabad to Abbottabad visit Taxila and Haripur enroute.

You can also reach Abbottabad from Peshawar 210 KMs traveling along the GT road visiting the confluence of River Indus and Kabul river at the Attok bridge.

There is also a road from Abbotabad to Nathia Gali and the main road from Islamabad continues thru Abbottabad to besham and rest or Karakorum highway.

The Karakorams, the Himalayas and the Hindukush mountains can be approached from Abbottabad. Abbottabad continues to be a transit city for tourists, serving as a base for visits to numerous nearby places, such as Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu and Indus Kohistan, of the Karakoram Range.

While other hill stations are deserted during the winter Abbottabad has visitors due to its mild winters. A cricket stadium, is located on the Murree Road. The Cantonment area of Abbottabad is still very British. The European bungalows, the club, the church and cemetery are still there. Abbottabad is an hour's drive from Nathiagali, the summer capital of the North West Frontier Province. Shmila hill, Ilyasi mosque, Lady garden and the city itself is a place where one can enjoy the every movement and liberty of life.

Taking the PMA exit rather the "Supply Road" will put you on a road which will give you pleasant view of the most beautiful area of the city. You will have to take left exit just before PMA Academy and then you will enjoy the lush green fields and extremely beautiful surrounding. Due to the lush green fields and surrounding you will feel the sudden drop in temperature and cool breeze.

The "Chinar Road" (the Maple Tree Road) is a beautiful 500 meters of the road with more than 60 years old Maple Trees on both side. The tree tops are hovering the road high above and you pass through a beautiful tunnel of trees. And during the winter season its so romantic and soothing to have a walk on this road.

Just on the outskirts of the city is a fantastic site and it takes only 15 minutes to reach there, the amazing "Harno", its an awesome place and has extremely picturesque views. Harno has high mountains which run in parallel until Nathiagali (mountains are almost 200 meters apart ) and a stream of fresh water from the mountains flowing in between these mountains. During the summers, on every weekend there is some musical event going on there or a temporary playland or zoo are the reason of tourist attraction. The best part is having some fun in the cold running stream and then having snacks at the local hotels.

Abbottabad Cemetery

Abbottabad was established as a cantonment and headquarter of the Hazara District (of the present North West Frontier Province of Pakistan) in 1853. It was named after Major James Abbott, first Deputy-Commissioner (1847-53). The town is picturesquely situated at 4,120 feet above the sea. The Garrison during British-era in 1903 comprised "4 battalions of native infantry (Gurkhas) and 4 native mountain batteries." The municipality was created in 1867.

Abbottabad is home to the famed 'PIFFers' (Frontier Force Regiment). The regimental museum, the mess and centre are important places worth visiting which have a wonderful collection of over 150 years of military history. There are several chapels and buildings in the town dating back from the British period.

The Abbottabad Cemetery is located near the Baluch Regiment Centre in the heart of the cantonment. It is a pretty place and considering that the funds for its upkeep are modest, it is reasonably well-maintained. The family that has looked after the premises since 1903 lives in a stone-hut in a corner of the cemetery. The earliest burials date back from 1853 onwards and most of the graves are of officers, soldiers and their families. The cemetery is still in use by native Christians.

There are approx. 150-200 old graves and most of the headstones have now been recorded and photographed by Miss Maheen Rahman to whom I am grateful.

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