Abbottabad

General james Abbott | 1853 |

Autumnal Chinar Road, Abbottabad By Asmar Hussain

BRIEF HISTORY

The town of Abbottabad, under the British Raj, was the headquarters of the Hazara District. It was named after Major James Abbott who founded Abbottabad in January 1853 after the annexation of Punjab. He remained the first Deputy Commissioner of the Hazara district from 1849 until April 1853.

INTRODUCTION

Abbottabad is a city located in the Hazara region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in northeastern Pakistan. The city is situated in 110 kilometres (68 mi) north of the capital Islamabad, 130 kilometres (81 mi) from Rawalpindi and 150 kilometres (93 mi) northeast of Peshawar at an altitude of 1,260 metres (4,134 ft) and is the capital of the Abbottabad District. Kashmir lies to the east of the city. The city is well known throughout Pakistan for its pleasant weather, high-standard educational institutions and Military Establishment Pakistan Military Academy Kakul. It remains a popular hill station attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Rainbow, Mirpur Village Abbottabad

WEATHER

Abbottabad has a humid subtropical climate, with mild to warm temperatures during the spring and autumn months, hot temperatures during June and July and cool to mild temperatures during the winter. The temperature can rise as high as 38 °C (100 °F) during the mid-summer months and drop below −5 °C (23 °F) during the extreme cold waves. Snowfall occurs occasionally in December and January, though it is sparse, while the heavy rainfall events occurs during the monsoon season stretching from July to September that frequently cause flooding in lower lying parts of City.

Water Streams, Baghbandi Village Abbottabad

GEOGRAPHY

The city is bounded at all four sides by the Sarban hills, from which residents and tourists can see breathtaking views of the region and city. The location of the city and the hills allows Abbottabad to experience pleasant weather in the summer and cold winters. The Dor river flows south of Abbottabad through the town of Harnol, eventually reaching Tarbela Dam, situated west of Abbottabad. Neighbouring districts are Mansehra to the north, Muzaffarabad to the east, Haripur to the west and Islamabad Capital Territory to the south.

Nightview of Abbottabad from Sarban Hills.

LANGUAGE

According to the 1998 Census of the 881,000 who resided in the Abbottabad District, Hindko, a dialect of Punjabi, was spoken by 94.26% of the population, followed by other Punjabi dialects at 2.30%, Pashto at 2.22% and Urdu at 1.05%. Urdu is understood and spoken fluently by majority of the residents and used in markets, offices and formal functions as the official language. English is widely used in business and education. 

Winters in Nathia Gali Abbottabad

TOURISM

Abbottabad has been attracting tourists to the city since the colonial era, as it is a major transit point to all major tourist regions of Pakistan such as Nathiagali, Ayubia and Naran. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India, "the town is picturesquely situated at the southern corner of the Rash (Orash) plain, 4,120 feet (1,260 m) above the Sea.

Autumnal View of Eid Gah, Abbottabad

Like much of the mountainous Northern Areas, tourism is one of the important sources of income in Abbottabad. In the summer when temperatures rise to around 45 degrees Celsius in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a large number of tourists travel to Abbottabad. The Karakoram Highway, which traces one of the paths of the ancient Silk Road, starts from Hasan Abdal on the N5 and heads north passing through the city, eventually reaching Khunjerab Pass. The Karakorum Highway is a major attraction itself for its views. The Karakoram,Himalayas and the Hindu Kush ranges can be approached from Abbottabad and it continues to be a transit city for tourists, serving as a base for visiting numerous nearby places, such as Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu and Indus Kohistan, of the Karakoram Range.

View of Mountains from MiranJani Hill, Abbottabad

Abbottabad is popular not just with visitors but with those looking to relocate. Its weather, peaceful reputation and the perceived security of a garrison have drawn many from other cities to work or educate their children. There was an influx of migrants from Azad Kashmir after the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake, another from the Swat District during military operations against militants in 2009.

Abbottabad in summers

EDUCATION

Abbottabad has one of the country's highest literacy rates with 67% in 2007, and 87% in 2011 ranking first in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and second overall in Pakistan (proof). The city also has a young demographic (ages 15–30) due to a large number of students who have come from across the country to study in its schools, for example PIPS, Army Burn Hall College, Army Public College and Abbottabad Public School. The city has a wide variety of post-secondary institutions, such as Ayub Medical College, Frontier Medical College, COMSATS University of Science and Technology, and the University Of Engineering & Technology

Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad

Abbottabad is also home to the Pakistan Military Academy, a four-year co-educational federal service military academy that provides training to the officers of the Pakistan Army. The academy has three training battalions, and 12 companies. Another 2,000 guests each year, from over 34 countries, receive some training at PMA.

SPORTS

The Abbottabad Falcons are the professional cricket team of Abbottabad plays in the national Twenty 20 and List A cricket tournaments. Apart from cricket, field hockey and taekwondo are the other popular sports here.

Cricket Ground, Comsats University, Abbottabad

TRANSPOTATION

Abbottabad's main public transport consists of modified Taxis, Carry pick-up vans Suzukis, which can accommodate anywhere from 1 to 14 people at one time. Taxis are also available as well as wagons that connect Abbottabad to the surrounding cities and towns (ex. Nawanshahr, Nathiagali, Sherwan, Dhamtour, Haripur, Mansehra) in the region. Abbottabad is also served by Daewoo Express and Niazi Express, the NATCO, Skyways and many other bus services. Pakistan Railways does not serve Abbottabad, however a PR Reservation Office is located in Fawara Chowk in the city centre. The nearest railway station is located in Havelian, which is the last and most northern station on the Pakistan Railway network. The station is approximately thirty minutes’ drive south from Abbottabad city centre.

Winters, Mansehra road, Supply Abbottabad

Asmar Hussain

About Me 

My name is Muhammad Asmar Hussain. I am from Dera Ismail Khan, Residing in Abbottabad since 2007. I am an Electronic Engineer by Profession but Photography is my calling, my passion, and the thing that will undoubtedly drive me insane someday. Traveling is my addiction. I am on an Assignment assigned by myself to travel throughout my Country Pakistan and Promote the Better and Brighter side of Pakistan to the World. I always try to capture scenes that’s attract me the most and to show it to the people who are unable witness them live. The phenomenal vistas of Nature captivate me to capture the Nature scenes by Almighty ALLAH. I have learnt many new theories and concepts that have further improved my understanding of capturing photographs in Day light as well as in Dark Starry Nights. Experiencing light Composition in different weather and in different areas allowed me to witness firsthand what skills are required for becoming successful Landscape Photographer. My Facebook Page Is Asmar's Photography.

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