What happend in Galyat, Didn't Stay in Galyat

Little did I know, I'd be on another travel trip when I barely finished sharing the adventures of last year. I'm not a travel blogger but seems like I'm turning into one. This wannabe traveler doesn't mind though.

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This time around, my stay was in Nathiagali (one of the cities/towns of galiyat in Abbottabad district and KPK province); we enjoyed day visits to a couple of nearby places.

^{Galyat (Urdu: گلیات) region, or hill tract, (also written Galliat and Galiyat) is a narrow strip or area roughly 50–80 km north-east of Islamabad, Pakistan, extending on both sides of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Punjab border, between Abbottabad and Murree.}

I've visited this place a couple of times in the past but this time it was a group trip so the dynamics were a little different. I'm an ambivert with a slight inclination towards introversion which means I don't mind company if it's good and doesn't invade my personal space too much.

Our stay was in a beautiful setup on a hill in Nathiagali. The clear blue sky and cotton-white clouds screamed, 'we're clean and pure'.

^{I took a hundred pictures of the sky there, it won't be fair if I don't share an exclusive picture of this bright blue sky because this sight is rare in the rest of the country due to pollution. The blue becomes paler and paler as you descend the mountains.
(not-edited)}

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While at the hill, it's a must thing to visit green spot - It's a wide green slope that also serves as a skiing spot in winter. The elevation of the spot is 2500 meters and the track which leads into the beautiful clearing comprises roughly 425 uncomfortable steps/stairs. One can trek on the sides too which are less heavy on the knees. But whichever path I take, I always suffer from dyspnoea and hypoxia walking uphill.

^{Beautiful Green Spot}

^{A picture at the green spot is a must}

Kids came rolling down the foothill while we walked down carefully to the sunroom.

^{sun room}

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Another must-visit in Nathiagali is the Alpine Resort. I have shared a detailed post during my first visit in 2022, so this time I'm only attaching two new pictures for the record. It was raining the whole time, hence the wet handrail and cobblestone steps.

view from the deck	beautiful alley

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During the first half of the trip, it rained almost all the time, and two times, we witnessed a heavy hailstorm. So, all we did was "eat". If it weren't for sunny days towards the end of the trip, we wouldn't be able to shed all those extra pounds we gained while in food coma.

^{Hailstorm in Nathiagali bazar while having a scrumptious meal at بٹ کڑاہی}

^{Best Chinese food in the town at Qubed (Nathiagali) while it rained outside}

^{Best food of the trip at Foodster (Nathiagali) except this pretty dessert from another place - and yes, it was raining. ((:}

^{Look at the sky - that's how rain clouds covered the sky during most days (not edited)}

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When it was sunny finally, we trekked a 4.5km track in Ayubia National Park.

Ayubia is also one of the galiyat.

There was a pipeline stretching along the whole track, hence the name Pipeline Track. This is no ordinary trekking area, it holds some history which I got to read on one of the boards mounted along the track. I have attached the picture and also copied the text for quick-read.

^{This historical track was developed from 1892 to 1900 by the British Regime mainly to provide water for their army unit deployed in the Murree cantonment area. For this purpose, some units have also been assigned the task of developing water sources by collecting natural springs' water of Makshpuri and adjoining areas as well as rain and snow harvesting to ensure consistent water supply to the Murree. Today this historical track is an integral part of Ayubia National Park and has developed into a prominent attraction for eco-tourists: The track leading from Dungagali to Ayubia is 4.5 km long and the wildlife department has maintained it for all age groups.}

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During our stay at Nathiagali, we visited a couple of Gali-s - Ayubia, Dungagali, and Thandiani. I had been to all places multiple times in the past except Thandiani and this is now my current favourite place.

It's a hill station in the north-east of Abbottabad district in the foothills of Himalayas.

The road to the hilltop was very narrow - it was a single road that was being used for two-way traffic in the past but now the mountains were being cut to widen the road. Along with the mountains, trees were also being removed which once made the whole passage green and beautiful, like driving in a forest. We had to walk half a mile at the end because the road got very narrow - not suitable for our vehicle.

The scenery at the top was breathtaking. The pictures don't do justice even a tiny bit.

^{Camping Pods}

I've been to many remote places but this was the first place that felt like stepping right-into-the-nature. There were some dwellings infact a small village that made me wonder how those people live without the facilities of the city which was 37km downhill.

^{It rained again...}

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We ended the trip with the mandatory bonfire and barbecue, for which we all prayed for a clear night.

And of course, I had to take out the telescope on a clear night. But it was another failed attempt. I couldn't focus on that stubborn star which went far as the night grew... )):

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What happened in Galyat, will stay in my heart, forever.

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^{All pictures are mine unless otherwise stated, taken with my phone's camera. No filter or editing process is applied on any picture to keep the scenes as original as possible.}