Mushkpuri — Attraction in Abbottabad Tehsil

Mukeshpuri or more commonly known as Mushkpuri is the second highest peak in the Galiyat region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located in the Pir Panjai mountain range which are a part of Lesser Himalayas. It is situated in Ayubia National Park nearer to Donga Gali in Nathia Gali some 90 kilometres from Rawalpindi on the Murree Abbottabad Road. One can climb to the top via one of the two routes, namely the Mushkpuri trek or the second one the Lalazar trek. The former one is about 2 kilometres long from the staring point to the top. It is tough and demanding. It is also very steep, so as to say that one has to climb about 400 metres ( about 1200 feet) in a distance of 2 kilometres or so having a gradient of about 25 to 30 percent. While the Lalazar trek is about 4-5 kilometres long and covers same elevation in a gradual manner. It commences from Nathia gali side via Lalazar park and then Lalazar picnic point and then up to the Mushkpuri top, one end of the same trek starts from the same point where the Mushkpuri trek in Donga gali side starts. . The elevation at the Donga Gali starting point is around 2484 m above sea level and the average elevation at the top is about 2850 m above sea level. The top comprises of some 5 to 6 peaks a little distance from each other, farthest one on the northern side being some half a kilometre away. It is a sub alpine pasture, mostly without trees but the southern peak and the northern peak are studded with tickets of pine and fir trees. Rest of the top is covered in grass and small herbs and shrubs which are in blossom from April till August. One can easily see Jhelum river, Miranjani peak and the adjoining towns and hamlets on a clear day. Local people have set up some small stalls which offer Pakoras, tea, snacks and biscuits. bottles of water and juices. The shade canopies and the benches provided by the park administration are nowhere to be seen. The whole place is in a state of neglect. People say that the best times to come here are from April to August and in winter after snowfall. I recommend to all those wishing to come here to wear good comfortable shoes/boots with firm grip, a good sun hat, an umbrella or a rain coat, a walking stick and all the water one can easily carry and some energy bars. One should avoid taking unnecessary risk if one has got some...

Mushkpuri, is a 2,800-metre-high (9,200 ft) mountain in the Nathia Gali Hills, in the Abbottabad District of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northern Pakistan. It is 90 kilometres (56 mi) north of Islamabad, just above Dunga Gali in the Nathia Gali area of Ayubia National Park. It is the second highest peak in the Galyat Region after Miranjani which is located at 2,992 metres (9,816 ft). Much of it the mountain is covered with Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. The name Mukeshpuri is possibly derived from the Sanskrit words: Moksha (liberation) and Puri (city). Mukeshpuri has a special of significance for the Hindus because of the Legends relating it to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata.[citation needed]

There are the five Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, who are favourite objects of worship in the east and sometimes addressed as the Panj Pir (five saints). Many are the legends current about these heroes and they are localised at quite a number of places. The Hill of Mokeshpuri's name means 'the hill of salvation' and on its summit is a Panduan da Sthan, or place of the Pandavas.

The route from Nathia Gali on western side of mountain is a steady and 4-kilometre-long (2.5 mi) climb. The mountain also has a route on the Dunga Gali side, with a steeper slope. There is a bird sanctuary on this side created with the help of the European Union.

From the top of Mukeshpuri peak, on the eastern edge of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the following areas can be seen: — Circle Bakote, Jhelum River, the Bagh District of Azad Kashmir, in the south the city of Murree and the Murree Tehsil, as well as Islamabad.

The route from Nathia Gali on western side of mountain is a steady and 4-kilometre-long (2.5 mi) climb. The mountain also has a route on the Dunga Gali side, with a steeper slope. There is a bird sanctuary on this side created with the help of the European Union.

From the top of Mukeshpuri peak, on the eastern edge of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the following areas can be seen: — Circle Bakote, Jhelum River, the Bagh District of Azad Kashmir, in the south the city of Murree and the Murree Tehsil, as well...

I am an avid hiker, and there are two trails in Pakistan that are my go-to trails for getting my fix: Fire-Line Trail 3 in Islamabad, and Mukshpuri Top from Lalazar Wildlife Park.

There are two ways to get to Mukshpuri peak (that I know of): Either from Ayubia starting point or from Lalazar Wildlife Park in Nathiagali. Lalazar Wildlife Park climb to the top is more challenging, and hence I always take that one.

In the summers, you are basically taking a gamble, because if its sunny, it isn't quite the serene hike that one hopes for, and it can get hot and humid , making it a bit more challenging to ascend. But if the weather is cloudy and misty, then you're in for a real treat.

I always go with a local (a very nice local I met two years ago when climbing a random hike in Changlagali has accompanied me ever since), and it provides for not only great company, but added security (in case anything ever goes south, which never happens honestly).

My most recent hike was in the middle of July, and fortunately the weather was misty, and we were surrounded by dense clouds at the peak. The hike is not easy, but if you hike frequently, it shouldn't be too much of an issue. I was able to climb up within 80-90 min, but it was mostly due to the local guide going really fast, and I was catching up to him the whole time.

I personally have never needed a hiking stick. Wear joggers, and gloves to use your hands for gripping if it ever becomes necessary (e.g., on your way down it can be tricky balancing sometimes, so gloves act as a good psychological protection).

The view from the top is gorgeous. Unfortunately it becomes quite crowded (with lame vendors serving generic coffees and snacks), but hey if that's your kind of thing by all means have at it.

If you'd like a more serene (and easier) hike, then Miranjani can...