Islamabad to Berin Gali Drive via Hazara Expressway, Abottabad, Harnoi and Bara Hootar

For our Berin Gali forest hike to explore Jawehyan meadow and dewan sar peak, we drove from Islamabad to Berin Gali on a slow Saturday Morning.

In order to reach the hike starting point early in the day, we took the quickest route suggested by google map, which was via express way. There was not much traffic on either of the motorways. Ride went pretty smooth. From Islamabad to Havellian interchange, toll was Rs. 160. After getting our we passed the Abbottabad city center and took turn on the Murree Road.

We were in Abbottabad back in December 23 for Raja Rasalu Caves hike on Sarban Hill. That time we took breakfast at a neat restaurant on Murree road, we stopped by at the same place to grab a quick breakfast. After which we continued out ride.

From Harnoi we took the left U-turn towards Berin Gali. It’s a valley and also the starting point of Dor river. Just a few minutes before the village of Bara Hootar, there was a big rock at the edge of the road. It was quite picturesque so we stopped there, climbed atop and clicked some pictures.

After Bara hootar, drive became extremely scenic. The villages of Singimera and Malsa are heaven for photography. The beautiful lush green mountains which keep changing with every turn. There are plenty of water springs with the road where you can get water for drinking. Finally we reached Lower Berin Gali from where we filled our bottles.

Due to unavailability of the mobile signals we skipped our stop and kept moving on the jeep road towards village of Kutla, however as soon as we realized that we turned back from the dense forest to the Parking point at the Berin Gali Bazar.

It’s a few minute walk from the forest guest house. There are 3-4 shops from where we bought fruits before the hike. People are friendly and hospitable there.