Rawalakot/Poonch Azad Kashmir
Rawalakot is a city in Azad Kashmir, and is the capital of Poonch Division and Poonch District. It is in a saucer-shaped valley at an elevation of 1615 metres (5300 ft), also popular summer hill station.
Rawalakot is situated 76 kilometres (47 miles) from Kohala, Pakistan and about 120 kilometres (84 miles) from the city of Rawalpindi. It is linked with Rawalpindi and Islamabad via Goyain Nala(shortest and fastest link) and Tayeen roads. It is also linked with Rawalpindi via Sudhnuti.
Location
Bagh District lies to the north and Sudhnuti District lies to the south. The road passing through (Jalooth) Paniola connects Rawalakot to Bagh and Muzaffarabad. Toward the west are Murree, Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions of Pakistan.
Climate
Average temperature during the summer varies from 60 °F (16 °C) to 75 °F (24 °C). During the winter snowfall starts during the month of December and lasts through January.
Before the partition of the subcontinent, the Rawalakot trade route was the only road link between Poonch and Sudhnati, now called Rawalakot. The Line of Control (LoC) is 15 kilometres from Hajira and 43 kilometres from Rawalakot.
Transportation
Construction of the Guoien Nalla road between Rawalakot and Azad Pattan has considerably reduced travel times between Islamabad/Rawalpindi and Rawalakot. Buses, vans and taxis are available for long and short route travel.
Rawalakot Airport is non-operational, as there is no demand for the air service provided by Pakistan International Airlines. The airport has been closed since 1998.
Tourism
Rawalakot region is most visited and popular for tourism in Azad Kashmir, and its well-known spots are Banjosa and Toli Pir. Lodges, government-owned and private guest houses, and hotels are available in different parts of Rawalakot(Poonch district).
Attractions include: mountain-based adventure tourism, rock climbing, mountaineering, trekking, summer camping and hiking, water-based adventure tourism, and paragliding. Rawalakot has a downtown area, which consists of shops selling everything from groceries to electronic goods.
