Murree Hill Station

Murree is One of the Beautiful and Attractive Hill Station

Murree is one of the most visiting hill station of Pakistan and Murree is an exurb of Islamabad and the administrative centre of Murree Tehsil, in the Punjab province in Pakistan. It is in a subdivision of Rawalpindi District and includes the parts of the Margalla hills around Islamabad. It is located in the Pir Panjal Range, some 60 km northeast of Islamabad and Rawalpindi via the Murree Road and the Murree Galliat region is known for its scenic vistas of pine- and oak-covered mountains, criss-crossed with springs and rivulets and dotted with lawns and orchards. On clear days a fine view of the snowy peaks of Kashmir is possible, and the crest of Nanga Parbat can sometimes be seen. Tourist attractions in the area include the Murree Wildlife Park and Patriata. Patriata also called New Murree, is one of the pivotal attractions of Murree. This place, which is 15km away from Murree Hills, is famous for its chairlift that gives a bird-eye view of the Kashmir green hills. It lies at the highest point of Murree Hills that subsequently makes it the highest point of Punjab as well. Ayubia is also a center of attraction in Murree, which comprises four hill stations including Khanspur, Ghor Daka, Changla Gali, Khairagali. Ayubia Chairlift and shops offering cultural shawls, caps and necklaces are the major appeal of this place. Scenic Nathiagali, situated in Abbotabad at a distance of 2500m from Murree, is popular for its maple, pine, walnut and oak trees. Mall road in Murree is the center of major economic activities. The entire road is filled with shops selling a multitude of things for the tourists. Major Banks, hotels and restaurants are situated at Mall Road.. For those who live on downwards to it Murree is like a fantasy city. People from all over the country visit this beautiful hill station. 

Murree was the summer capital of the Punjab province of British India until 1864. The hill station is a popular getaway destination for Islamabad's populace. It is located on the southern slopes of the Western Himalayan foothills as they ascend northeastwards at an average altitude of 2,291 metres, 7,516 ft. It experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is important to note for its Tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. The permanent town of Murree was constructed at Sunnybank in 1853. The church was sanctified in May 1857, and the main road, Jinnah Road, originally known as Mall Road and still commonly referred to as, the mall, was built. The most significant commercial establishments, the Post Office, general merchants with European goods, tailors and a millinery, were set up opposite the church. Until 1947, access to Mall Road was restricted for, natives, non Europeans. Sikh Sardar Milka Singh Thepuria occupied Rawalpindi in the late seventeenth century but hilly areas including the Dhund and Karral country retained independence. Though Milka Singh granted 107 villages of the hill track Ghakkar chiefs, but the gift was more nominal than real. Maharaja Ranjit Singh took direct control of the Rawalpindi district in 1820. The Sikh armies, under the command of Hari Singh, attacked the area twice during next ten years but failed to subjugate the Karral and Dhund tribes inhabiting the area. Frustrated by the continued resistance of the local population, in 1831 Maharaja Ranjit Singh entrusted the rule of the area to Sardar Ghulab Singh, then Sikh Governor of Muzaffarabad. 

Sardar Ghulab Singh treated the local population, especially the Dhond tribe, in a very harsh manner. He lets loose his Sikh army over the tribe. His soldiers were granted one rupee for every hill man slain. It is stated that the killing by the troops of Sardar Ghulab Singh became so numerous that it became a burden on his treasury. As a result, the reward was initially reduced to half a rupee per person killed and then was further reduced to quarter of a rupee. However, as the Sikh empire started to disintegrate in the aftermath of palace intrigues which engulfed the Lahore court after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, the Dhunds and Karrals again rose in revolt and the troops had to be sent from Lahore to quell the resistance. Murree features a subtropical highland climate under the Koppen climate classification. It is located on the outer Himalayas, retaining high altitude. This type of area has cold, snowy winters, relatively cool summer with drastically escalated rain, in relation with lower altitudes, and frequent fog. Precipitation is received year round, with two maxima, first one during winter and second one at summer. July-August. Total mean precipitation annually is 1,789 m. Murree is very attractive hill station for tourists.