Thandiani Hill Station Travel Guide
At a Glance:
As you leave Abbottabad, the curving route leads you to Thandiani, an enchanting hill station surrounded by lush pine and juniper forests. Green mountains, captivating valleys, gushing rivers, thick natural forests, and a variety of appealing tourist resorts abound in the Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is endowed with immense natural beauty.
Thandiani is one of the most popular natural attractions in the lovely Galiyat region of Pakistan. The metalled road leading to Thandiani hill station offers panoramic views of the natural splendor on this mountain range.
“Thandiani” meaning “cold” in the local language is an amazing hill station for nature lovers, the best place to visit in summer to break away from hot plains and cityscape. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions to visit both in summer and winter. Thandiani in summer offers lush green scenic views and in winter the snow-covered mountains look ravishing.
The mountains around Thandiani are densely forested and leopards, monkeys, pheasants, the rare flying squirrel, and pine marten, to name a few, are among the local species in these forests.
How to Access Thandiani
Thandiani is located in northeast of Abbottabad in the foothills of Himalayas at a distance of 37.5 kilometers from Abbottabad and 147 kilometers away from Islamabad. It is a 3 hours drive from Islamabad via Hazara motorway.
The Neighborhood of Thandiani
This modest but fascinating hill station is a calm and tranquil retreat sitting on a ridge overlooking Nathia Gali. The snow-capped Pir Panjal mountain range in Kashmir is located to the east beyond the Kunhar River. The mountains of Kohistan and Kaghan can be seen to the north and northeast. The Swat and Chitral snowy ranges are to the northwest. Thandiani’s hills rise to roughly 2,750 meters (9,020 feet) above sea level. Villages nearby Thandiani are Inderseri, Chattri, Mohalla Jabbri, and Sialkot.
Activities in Thandiani
Take a hike around the hill station Thandiani to explore the area’s natural beauty.
The steep outpost, which is surrounded by pine trees, provides spectacular views and gorgeous scenery.
A soothing atmosphere as you stroll through the flower beds, with a variety of trekking pathways to evoke your adventurous spirit. While hiking, keep a lookout for monkeys, pheasants, pine martens, and squirrels.
When you reach the summit of the hill, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Galiyat region, Kashmir, Chitral, and Swat forests.
Pack a picnic lunch and seek out the ideal location for a dinner in the great outdoors. Thandiani is the best camping site as the government of KPK has installed camping pods for tourists at several picturesque spots. Visit the small historical St. Xavier church in the wilderness which used to be occupied only during the summer months.
History of Thandiani
In British India, the government leased Thandiani to members of the Battye family, who were Christian missionaries and government and military servants. During British rule, the Battles gave the land to the church authorities, who built a sanatorium and other amenities, largely for the convenience of missionaries, Anglican Church staff, and officers stationed at the nearby cantonment of Abbottabad.
There were also a few private European dwellings, a camping ground, a tiny mart, and the little seasonal St. Xavier church in the forest.
