Sorry guys. A year has passed and I did not gave a report of tour. Here is the brief.
Before moving I had booking in Kutton and Sharda with State Continental Guest house and in Urang Kel with ,,
It was third Day of Eid ul Fitr. We started our Journey from Bahawalpur and reached Kallar Kahar before Maghrib. Had lunch on Motorway. Stayed at a Cement Factory Guest House where I had booking. Very nice place.
Day-1. We started our journey at 8.00 and had heavy breakfast in Murree. Kids loaded with lot of junk food. We passed Muzaffrabad where we did some shopping and moved on. 1 hr stay at Dhani Abshar where we had tea and frech fries + pakoras. At kundal sahi I turned towards Kutton while my brother went straight. There one hour was lost. When we reached Kutton it was sunset (Maghrib) time. Accommodation in Kutton was OK to good. Hot water was available in washrooms.
Day-2 After breakfast we roamed around. The we boarded our cars and went to water fall. Crossed jagran river on hanging bridge. Enjoyed the water. Then came to tea stall on corner of waterfall. Had cold drinks and chips.
From there we went to Keran Resort. Saw the place. had lunch there and in afternoon we reached Sharda where we had to stay for 2 nights.
Day-3 We woke up late and had breakfast in hotel. The rooms were not good. Bedding dirty and smelly. Acute shortage of water. I wont recommend this hotel for staying. As I had already payed online, I had no other option. Only few rooms had attached bath. No hot water.
We went around the city. crossed hanging bridge and saw Sharda university ruins. My son bought a degree of Sharda University and a slovenlier. We move around. It is a beautiful place but next time I will not stay here as there are far better places in Neelam Valley. Keran and Sharda is just beginning. Dinner we had on the river bank. Food was good. Only chicken available in whole Kashmir. No daal, sabzi, mutton etc. Weather was awesome. Night very cold. People are generally very friendly with a few exceptions.
Day-4. We had heavy breakfast. left cars in Sharda. hired a Hiace for Kel. Plan was to drop luggage in a Hotel in Kel where I had booking and go straight to Urang Kel. The Hiace dropped us at the valley trakker guest house which is close to chair lift or Jhoola to cross Neelam river for Urang Kel. There was a long que and we had to wait for 2.5 to 2 hours to board in to jhoola which had a capacity of 8 persons. After reaching other side there was steep hike. It was difficult and very tiring. took 45 minutes to reach the top which is start of Urang Kel. We were very tired but reaching there was worth it. It is such a beautiful place. I had one night booking at Musk Dear resort for 4 rooms. They offered me an independent cottage of 4 rooms which was previously someones house and recently vacated and renovated. I objected to that for which they offered me to stay at their place. I checked their rooms and realised that offered independent cottage was much better. So we stayed there.
Beauty or UrangKel cannot be described in words. I am not a writer or poet. I cannot do justice. Neither can the pictures of my camera. This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Weather was awesome. Sometimes sun, sometime drizzling. Everyone of us wanted to stay here more than a night. Luckily the cottage was available for next night. so we settled for 2 nights.
We roamed around. Met local people. Ladies became friend with local women. Visited their house. All men and girls of this locality are educated. Hard to find an illiterate person.
One hour in Urag Kel. We were still mesmerised by its beauty. Decided to have tea and samosas as lunch time was passed. During tea there were three blasts one after the other which sounded very near. Every one ran to their accommodation so did we. Later we learned that Indian had fired cannons on the other side of mountain where there are Pak Army posts. No one was hurt as these were sort of warning shots. However tourists were asked to avoid going towards border area.
Day-5 Next day also we visited remaining areas. I strolled in the green fields with my wife while kids were enjoying horse riding. This place is too good to be real. In the night we did camp fire and had dinner sitting around fire with music.
Day-6 After breakfast we left for Kel. The path was very steep and slippery due to last night rain. After crossing Neelam River in Jhoola / Chair lift, we hired 2 jeeps for Taobat. On these jeeps we went to Oriental View Guest house where we had left our luggage. I had already requested them to change my booking dates which they had accepted on phone. We collected luggage and left for Taobat. The owner of Oriental View guest House had told me that he has sent message to Al-Syed- Shabistan for room reservation.
In they way we had lunch at a small town hotel. Here raajma (Big red beans) were available. So we had raajma and chicken curry with roti. After that we left for Taobat. The path is all scenic and mesmerising.
Reached Taobat before sunset (6 Hours including lunch). The person at Al-Shabistan told that they did not receive any booking message and they are already booked. They had only 4 rooms and all 4 were booked. (Although their guests did not arrive). There was a guest house adjacent to them where 2 rooms were were available and one hall on upper floor. Initially we decided to book 2 rooms and hall for children but later we settled for only 2 rooms due to safety. We did not want to separate children.
People there were very friendly and cooperative. They provided extra mattresses and bed sheets (On payment) but was neat clean. Over all good experience.
They prepared BBQ chicken and Chicken karahi. It was delicious.
Day-7 In morning we got ready. Water was no issue. only it was too chilled. Close to zero dgree. I dared to take a bath with this chilled water. Managed it without getting sick 
We had breakfast. Paratha anda and Aloo ki bhujia. Weather was too good. Chilled air. Drizzling. Lush green everywhere. We walked around. Went to military check post by mistake where we are attacked by big dogs from which an army jawan saved us. He told us about this area, people and weather. Showed us around. With him we also saw the small hydal power unit supplying electricity to this area.
From there we went to Taobat city on foot (1KM). We reached to Ali Tuck Shop. Nice place on river bank. Scenic beauty. They have a half bridge that goes to almost middle of river. Excellent place for photography. Many other tourists were also there mostly families. While comming back a person was selling fish. I asked him about trout to which he responded that trout capturing is banned however he will try. I told him where I was staying. In the evening he brought us 4 KG trout. This was our dinner along with camp fire. What a night it was.
Day-8 Again we saw the remaining areas after breakfast. It is so beautiful one cannot just describe its beauty. The people of this area are also beautiful in their hearts. Friendly, loving and cooperative.
At 1:00 PM we boarded 2 Jeeps and went to Kel. Stayed at Oriental View. Its accommodation is OK. They had internet and wifi. So all kids got busy uploading pictures to whatsup and facebook. Kel is a city and dirty. We did not saw much around. I asked for next plan. One option was to see Shounter valley and try to hike for Chitta Khatta lake. However we were told that it is very bad and dangerous road plus there is 4 hours hike to Chitta Khatta lake. Also everyone was tired. Secondly we received a message that a close relative of my bhabi (travelling with us) was seriously sick and admitted in hospital. So we decided to go back in the morning.
Day-9 In morning after breakfast of Anda Paratha we hired 2 Jeeps and reached Sharda. Our cars were there. I learned that I had left on the cabin light which had completely drained the battery. It was a difficult search for the cables to start the car with battery of other car. Took some time and my car started. We left Sharda at 12:30. On my way after 2 hours I stopped the car and switched off engine at a very beautiful scenic place, believing that car battery is recharged. But it failed to start in the middle of nowhere. After half an our a group of tourists passed and we requested them for the toe chain cable if they had it. Luckily they had one. So the car was started again. Then I did not stop before Muzaffarabad. There I purchased a new battery. Problem solved.
In automatic vehicles especially going in northern areas one must have a toe chain cable for such emergencies.
Meanwhile we had tea in Muzaffarabad while battery was being initial charged. Just after sunset we left for Murree. I stayed there for one more night while family of my brother went straight to Islamabad.
Thats all folks.
If I go again to Neelam valley, my destination will be UrangKel where I would like to stay for 2 three nights and then Taobat. Keran and Sharda are good places but compared with above two these are not so good.
Imran
