Nature has blessed Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with abundant beauty that words struggle to capture. Its northern mountain districts, in particular, offer otherworldly attractions such as spectacular waterfalls, alpine forests filled with the melodious chirping of birds, and vast, lush green plateaus. Many of these enchanting spots remain unexplored despite successive governments’ frequent claims to tap the region’s rich tourism potential to foster the local economy.

Pathiali Top is one such breathtakingly beautiful location situated southeast of the state capital, Muzaffarabad. This over 9,000-foot-high plateau has largely escaped public attention. Though some young, avid sightseers from nearby communities occasionally visit to enjoy its serene atmosphere, the site remains largely unknown to most people, even within Azad Kashmir, let alone in other parts of the country.

The primary reason for this obscurity is the alleged failure of the relevant institutions to introduce and market Pathiali Top as an ideal mountain retreat for nature lovers.

From the main Jhelum Valley Road, the journey to Pathiali Top begins at a Bailey bridge just past Majhoi village, about 20 kilometres south of Muzaffarabad. The bridge takes travellers to the right bank of Jhelum River, where a link road zigzags through the sloped mountains, ascending to Pathiali Top.

The entire journey spans over 40 kilometres from Muzaffarabad to Pathiali Top. Most of the road is metalled and offers eye-catching views, with streams flowing along the track, dotted with pine trees and Guchhi bushes, and nomads camping at various sites to rest their livestock and pack animals.

Although some bends of the road are quite steep and a two to three kilometre long portion before Pathiali Top is still unmetalled, causing discomfort if the vehicle is not suitable, the spectacular panorama at the top makes travellers forget the minor inconveniences of the journey.

Locals say that a long stretch of plateaus extends over more than 80 kilometres, beginning from the 8,724-foot-high Daokhan, a tourist resort at the gateway to Leepa Valley, and ending at the 9,500-foot-high Pir Chinasi. In between, each plateau, with its unique name, surpasses the other in beauty.

At Pathiali Top, one can see various villages of the Punjkot Union Council to the north, which is otherwise accessed from the main Neelum Valley Road. The mountain ridges housing Indian army posts across Chilyana village in Neelum Valley are also visible from here.

Many previous AJK governments had vowed on several occasions to connect Pathiali Top with Nauseri, a town some 40km from Muzaffarabad along the main Neelum Valley Road, but there has been no progress in this regard. A pedestrian track between the two areas still exists and is used by nomads and local communities to traverse from one area to the other.

In the vicinity of Pathiali Top are temporary accommodations of villagers, where they move in the summers along with their livestock. These accommodations have different names in different dialects, such as maahli, dhok and behk. Herds of cows and buffaloes grazing the meadows are therefore a common sight in the summer.

“It’s a place where the earth meets the sky, and the soul feels light and boundless,” says Mohammad Bashir Mughal of Pathiali Top. His views are echoed by others.

“This place is a mesmerising blend of natural splendour and tranquillity, offering panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, often shrouded in a mystical mist that adds to its ethereal charm,” remarks Saud Shafique, a student from Shala Bagh village along the main Jhelum Valley Road.

Saud has made it to the Top on his motorbike, along with two other friends.

Chaudhry Shahzad Mahmood, a villager who has erected a few tents that house his temporary tuck shop and accommodation for a handful of visitors, laments that despite being the most wonderful tourist location, the place has not received tangible attention from the government.

Both he and Mughal suggest that not only should the leftover portion of the link road be completed, but also an abandoned bridge to safely cross a small water channel should be prioritised by the departments concernedto facilitate tourists.

“As a motivation, the tourism department should build a guesthouse to provide decent accommodation to those who want to spend some nights here,” Mughal said.

However, he warns against permitting unmanageable constructions, lest they impair the serenity of the place.

“It’s better to develop this site as a daylong tourist resort, and all facilities in this regard should be provided by the government. If guesthouses are necessary, they should be built a little away from the meadows,” Mr Mughal added.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2024