Hill stations are towns at a higher altitude than the nearby plains or valleys. While rulers in precolonial times also used to escape the heat and humidity of summer by venturing to higher ground, most hill stations were established in what's now Pakistan (then part of British India) during the British Raj as they sought to live in a climate more comfortable and similar to home. The concept of the hill station spread beyond British India to Britain's other colonies in Asia such as Burma and Malaya, and even to the colonial possessions of other Western powers, such as the French-ruled Vietnam.

Understand

The tourist season for the hill stations generally peaks during the summer. People from all over the country flock to these hill stations to enjoy the cool summers away from the hot plains. However, they have a different kind of beauty and charm during winter, with many hill stations receiving healthy amounts of snow and offering activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

Destinations

Gilgit-Baltistan

• 1 Gilgit. The capital city of Gilgit-Baltistan, surrounded by mountains. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Hunza. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 Skardu. Home to some of the world's highest mountain peaks, glaciers, forts, museums and resorts. (updated Apr 2021)

Northwest Pakistan

• 4 Abbottabad. A military garrison city, it is infamous as the place where Osama bin Laden had been hiding for much of the time following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan until his death during a raid on his compound by U.S. Navy SEALs. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Ayubia. (updated Apr 2021)
• 6 Chitral. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 Kaghan. (updated Apr 2021)
• 8 Naran. (updated Apr 2021)

Azad Kashmir and Punjab

• 9 Murree, Punjab. The most popular hill station in Pakistan. (updated Apr 2021)
• 10 Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. The capital city of Azad Kashmir, surrounded by mountains. (updated Apr 2021)

Stay safe

Some hill stations, particularly those in Karakoram and the Himalayas, are prone to landslides during the monsoon season.

See also

• Hill stations in India
• Trekking in Nepal