'''Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)''', or '''Azad Kashmir''' for short, is a self-governing state under Pakistani control. '''Azad Kashmir''' has its own president, prime minister, legislature, high court, and official flag. According to Pakistan's constitution, '''Azad Kashmir''' is not part of Pakistan, and its inhabitants have never had any representation in Pakistan's parliament but they have their own parliament. To this day, '''Azad Kashmir''' remains part of the Kashmir dispute and is claimed by India to be a Pakistani-occupied part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
There are two division of Azad Kashmir
Some parts of Azad Kashmir are off-limits to tourists, especially the 15-mile-wide buffer zone along the Line of Control that separates the state from the neighboring Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Large portions of Azad Kashmir were devastated in the October 2005 earthquake, which leveled entire villages and towns and killed over 75,000 people.
There are no direct flights to Azad Kashmir.
Traveling by road to Azad Kashmir is itself an attraction as you come across the most beautiful scenes of winding rivers and hills. It takes about 4 to 5 hours from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad in a car or van. You also pass through the beauty of hills the Murree during the journey. This is the shortest route to this city.
Buses and MPVs leave from Islamabad, Pakistan approximately every 20 minutes for different destinations in Azad Kashmir.
Muzaffarabad and Mirpur has the busiest bus network in Azad Kashmir, running from early hours of the morning to late night. Daily routes includs Bhimber District, Dina, Gujrat, Jhelum, Kharian & Kotli District.
The new coaches in Muzaffarabad / Mirpur travel to larger cities of Pakistan including Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi & Sialkot.
Also by Car hire
Azad Kashmir is rich in natural beauty. Its snow-covered peaks, forests, rivers, streams, valleys, velvet green plateaus and climate varying from arctic to tropical, join together to make it an excellent tourist attraction.
Visit scenic valleys like Neelum, Jhelum, Leepa, Rawalakot, Banjosa, Samahni & Baghser.
Azad Kashmir has varied mountainous landscape ranging from low hills to high mountains (2000 to 6000 m) which are suitable for '''adventure sports''' like climbing, trekking, mountaineering, summer camping and hiking.
Its Rivers & Stream are suitable for '''white water sports''', especially rafting, canoing and kayaking.
It has a varied '''wildlife''' to see which includes Leopard, Himalayan Bear, Ibex, Grey Goral, Musk Deer, Kashmir Stag, Monal Pheasant, Western Tragopan, Snow Pheasant, Red-led Partridge, Black Koklas Pheasant, Peacock, Dusk Markhor etc.
Azad Kashmir is considered to be relatively safe, but some parts of it are off-limits to tourists, particularly the 15-mile-wide buffer zone along the Line of Control that separates the state from the neighboring Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Domestic tourists can visit Azad Kashmir without any restriction but, however, are advised to keep their identity papers with them. Foreign tourists are only allowed to visit following places with permit; Dheerkot, Rawalakot, Chotta gala, Chikkar, Daokhan, Muzaffarabad, Mangia & Sehnsa. Permits are issued by the AJK Home Department at Muzaffarabad.
Large portions of Azad Kashmir were devastated in the October 2005 earthquake, which leveled entire villages and towns and killed over 75,000 people.