Chasing clouds: Tourists head to Galiyat for rainy weekend escape

NATHIAGALI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd May, 2026) Following forecast of rains in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa till May 4, the ecotourists and adventurers on Saturday thronged to Galiyat to take some respite of the hot weather in plains districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

Tourists alongwith families arrived in large numbers enjoying traditional cusines with beverages while children play around them amid butterflies hovering over flowers.

The mesmerizing beauty of scenic Galiyat valleys with heralding melodies, chirping birds, landscape and fresh cool breezing eminating from snow clad Gilyat hills takes them into lap of serenity.

The snow-clad mountains peaks of Mukeshpuri and Miranjani on western Himalya hills in Abbottabad turn Thandyni and Nathiagali a paradise for tourists and adventure seekers.

Ayubia-Nathiagali, Donga Gali-Ayubia and Mukshpuri Top are the most frequented sites where local guides, photographers and horse riders are seen moving around to make quick buck.

A substantial number of tourists along with families and relatives have been seen on fast moving swings and Ayubi chairlift amid great thrill and excitement.

Unscrupulous business elements in hotels and restaurants industries are fully exploiting the situation by fleecing tourists due to shortage of accommodation at Nathia Gali, Ayubia, Khanaspur and adjoining scenic resorts.

A private hotel is charging Rs10,000 to Rs15000 per room per night while a quality hotel earns Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 from each tourist for a single room per night, which was beyond purchasing power of low income domestic tourists that need to be checked by the district administration.

“No hilly station carries diverse natural and mountainous beauty in world than Thandyani and Nathiagali where tourists are being heavily charged these days,” said tourist Gulzar Khan, a retired Forest Officer of Lower Dir district while talking to APP at Nathiagali.

While taking selfies with friends behind snow clad mountains of Thandyani, Gulzar's children was over-the-moon while sharing their photographs with relatives and friends at home town.

"Its a time of digital tourism. KP Govt can earn substantial revenue by projecting these hidden treasures through digital lenses before world," he said.

He said sharing short videos and photographs of Nathiagali and Thandyani on Facebook, instagram and others social media platforms can help attract foreign tourists in large numbers to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said high charges by private hotels may negatively impacted in total intake of tourists to scenic sites of Nathiagali, Ayubia, Dongali, Harnoi, Bagnotar and Thandyani.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a unique province of Pakistan with plenty of tourism sites if properly devoloped and showcased could generate jobs opportunities for youth, bolstering rural economy and significantly improve the country's image.

The lush green Khanspur, Donga Gali, Bagnotar in Abbottabad, Babusir top, Malaika Perbath, Dodipath and Anso lakes in Mansehra, Mahudhand lake and Gabryal mountains velley, Jaz Banda and Malam Jabba in Swat, Kumrat valley in Dir Upper and Chitral are most suited for ecotourism and adventure sports.

Besides these scenic valleys, rich cultural heritage of primitive era, and historical significance, the province offers a diverse range of attractions for ecotourists, mountaineers, adventurers, archaeologicalists, and culture lovers from D I Khan to Swat and Chitral to Waziristan.

Tourists from other districts of KP and provinces thronged to Malam Jabba in Swat to enjoy its pleasant weather on weekend following rain forecast.

Sajid Khan, another tourist said that every year he came to Swat and Nathiagali in summer to enjoy its serenity and hospitality of the locals.

"We hired a rent a car and take rooms in private hotel and then enjoy the whole day at scenic Malam Jabba and Kalam before arrived to Thandyani and Nathiagali with friends on Saturday, " he said.

He said Swat's trout fish, river rafting, snowfall and adventure sports features make it unique while Nathiagali-Ayubia colonial era tracks are full of adventure.

The tourists along with families could easily come here to spend some time in its relaxed environment due to better roads connectivity and tourism police before exploring the nearby tourists destinations.

The seasonal photographers and cameramaen are also earning substantial profits keeping in view of tourists positive response.

"KP is the land of tourism. Ecotourism spots are being developed at premises of small dams include Tanda dam Kohat, Chatri dam in Haripur, Naryab Hangu, Kundal Swabi and Chalgoza Abbottabad to promote day-long families tourism commonly known as ecotourism and provide relatively cooler weather to residents of these areas during summer," said spokesman of KP Tourism and Culture Department while talking to APP.

Under an Ecotourism Project, he said that camping pods were established at Sharan near Saiful Malook lake, Gabeen Jaba Swat, Mahaband Buner-Swabi, Allai Batagram, Bamburait Chitral, Tandyani Abbottabad, Bisigram Swat, Yakhtangi Shangla, Saheed e Sir, Malka Swat and Sheikh Badin DI Khan.

Bishigram, Shran, Yakhtangi, Shaheed e Sir and Malk camping pods have already been opened for tourists.

"Each pod has two to four beds for families, a wash room and a small kitchen," he said, adding Rs3500 to Rs5000 per day/night stay was being charged against Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per room by a private hotels at Khagan, Naran and Galiyat valleys.

As many as 10 more camping pods at Jargo and Sulatanr in Swat, Lashkargha Broghal Valley and Surlaspur Shandor valley Upper Chitral, Kumrat velley in Upper Dir, Laram Top and Shahi Bin Shahi in Lower Dir, Lilowani Alpuri in Shangla Samanah Top in Orakzai/Hangu and Kalam Swat will check high prices of hotels.

He said one of the key initiatives that the government has undertaken is to increase the presence of police personnel in tourist spots.

This has made tourists feel safer and more secure, which has resulted in an increase in the number of tourists and adventure sports enthusiasts visiting Nathiagali and other tourists destinations of the province.

Several initiatives, including the establishment of a tourist police force have been launched by the KP Government to facilitate tourists, he said, adding tourism police in Hazara and Malakand divisions were already made operational.

The tourist police force comprises well-trained officers equipped to handle any situation that may arise while influx of tourists are visiting the northern KP to beag heat.

These officers are fluent in several languages, including English, to make communication with foreign tourists easier.

The government has also launched a mobile application called the "Tourist Safety App," which enables tourists to quickly and easily contact the tourist police in case of an emergency.

Furthermore, the government invested heavily in improving the infrastructure in the province, including the road network, transportation, and accommodation facilities.

A road from Maidan to Bishigram lake is constructed and jeep track at Kandal lake has already built.

The road network was improved, making it easier for tourists to access remote and less explored areas of the province.

The construction of new hotels, resorts, and rest houses has made it easier for tourists to find suitable accommodations in these picturesque places.

The efforts made by the government to promote tourism have not gone unnoticed. Tourists are now returning to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in droves, and the province is once again becoming a popular tourist destination.

The government's proactive measures will help ensure the safety and security of tourists that instilled confidence in both local and foreign tourists.

The government's initiatives have shown that with the right policies and measures in place, it is possible to make KP a hub of international tourists.

The establishment of a tourist police force, an increase in security personnel in tourists spots, Swat and Hazara motorways and the improvement of infrastructure have contributed to the increase in number of tourists visiting the province.

Four colonial era tracks’ development including Thandyani-Nathiagali having 8, 200 feet height, 40km length and 1500 old trees belt, Thandyani-Biringali track, Dagri Bangla-Meera Jani-Nathiagali track and Kaghan- Mahnoor track starting from Shinkyari to Kund Bangla and onward to Shaheed Pani-Nadi Bangla to Musa Ka Musallah will make Upper Hazara a tourists hub.

These pro tourism measures would help make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a hub of domestic and foreign tourists by making positive effects on its economy and generate employment opportunities for youth.