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