The Northern Areas of Pakistan refers to the collection of spectacular territories located in the north of Pakistan. These northern areas are known for their wonderful scenic beauty, majestic snow-capped mountains, lush green forests, gushing rivers/ streams, and diverse wildlife, and are commonly known as the heaven of nature in Pakistan.
The tourist attractions and holiday hill stations in the northern areas of Pakistan are renowned for their outdoor activities such as mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, trekking, skiing, paragliding, ice-skating, rafting, and heli-skiing.
The northern areas also known as “The land of nature and adventure” are the dream destination of nature lovers and attract tourists from the rest of Pakistan and from different parts of the world.
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History & Geography of the Northern Areas
Historically, (in 1948) the geography of northern areas of Pakistan was outlined mainly including the Gilgit-Baltistan regions. These regions i.e. Baltistan (Divisional Capital Skardu), Gilgit (Divisional Capital Gilgit), and Diamer (Divisional Capital Chilas) were kept under the direct control of the federal government. In September 2020, Pakistan decided to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan’s status to that of a full-fledged province.
Although, in history, the geography of the northern areas of Pakistan was deemed to include the Gilgit-Baltistan regions. However, from the layman’s standpoint especially when referring to tourism in the north of Pakistan, other neighbouring areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa providence such as Swat, Kumrat Valley (Dir), Chitral, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Naran Kaghan, etc. are also referred to as northern areas of Pakistan.
My trip to the northern areas in June 2021 with my family was a great experience. During these 14 days of the tour, I found myself far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and was completely surrounded by nature. During this 2 weeks tour, I learned that the north of Pakistan is much beautiful and diverse than what you normally imagine. I learned so much in those few days that I don’t even know where to start! The kindness of local people, the culture, the food, and all the daily travels and adventures.
From Swat to Gilgit-Baltistan, every place has a special story to tell. In the north when you travel from one place to another, you find yourself discovering new attractions, you meet different people, and experience new cultures. I really recommend visiting the northern areas of Pakistan, especially to the young generation to not only enjoy their time but also to learn about the geography, culture, and people of this beautiful country.