Taking Your Own Car to Kutton, or Not?

TA Asked

Dear Muzzammil,

 

I am planning to visit Kashmir with my family, hence, I am looking for some current information about the situation and road conditions.

 

In this regard, I came across your Blog named Muzzammil's Travels and glad to know your detailed info about the Valleys.

In fact, I once crossed Noori Nar Peak around 16500 ft from Athhmukam to Jalkhad Kaghan Valley and in the mean time I visited Kel cantonment area too in 1988.

It's long time passed so I wanna know the current information of the area.

I am intending to visit Kutton, Kundal Shahi (Jagran Resort) by my Corolla XLI Car in June.

I would like you to please share your experience and guidance.

 

Is it possible to reach Kutton by car?

Thanks

TA

 

Muzzammil Replied

Dear TA

Thanks for your email and visiting my travel blog.

Yes, it is possible to visit Kutton by your own car, and most people do that way. Sometimes, due to rain and landsliding, which can happen anytime, Kutton - Kundal Shahi road gets blocked and takes time to get restored for vehicular traffic. This was what happened with us during our visit last time. To avoid this, one can park their car in Kundal Shahi. Regular taxis (cars) are available easily from Kundal Shahi to Kutton, and even if there is a landslide, one can cross over without much problems, like we did.

You can even reach Kutton, Jagran Resort, by you own car and then send/take the car downhill to Kundal Shahi for parking as there is no need of a car as such when in Kutton. For visiting Jagran Power House one needs a four-wheeler anyways.

Also, when we visited, the resort staff warned in advance about the flood, so people with their own cars had enough time to leave the place.

I believe you are aware of the advanced booking procedure for Jagran Resort.

These are my two cents worth.

Regards

Muzzammil

Travelling to Northern Areas or Kashmir in February

Zohaib asked:

Hi Muzammil,

Is it advisable to travel to Kashmir or northern areas like Naran/Shogran in last week of February? Will everything be frozen? Will there be avalanches and road blocks? Is it useless to go during winter?

Regards,

Zohaib

Muzzammil Replied:

Hi Zohiab. Thanks for your email.

As you suspected, Kaghan valley will be closed for traveling now for blocked roads. As such there is no life around Kaghan valley around winters, and local inhabitants - if there are any - come down to lower mountains. The maximum you may go is Balakot.

On the other hand, Kashmir keeps open in winters; although it will be really cold out there.

Swat might be one option. Mingora keeps open in winters and you can make day excursion to Malam Jabba, which used to be the only ski resort in Pakistan before Swat operations.

Largely depends upon where are you going from, i.e. Karachi or Lahore? and with whom, i.e. family or friends?

For more insights, I find this forum really helpful:
http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/

Hope this will be helpful. Please feel free to contact me if you need further information.

Regards

Muzzammil

http://mozumbus.blogspot.com