Murree

Murree is a city in province Punjab of Pakistan. It is an exurb of Islamabad and the administrative centre of Murree Tehsil, in Punjab. It is in a subdivision of Rawalpindi District and includes the parts of the Margalla Hills around Islamabad.

Name:

Historians differ on origin of Murree’s name. According to one theory Murree derives its name from local Marrhi which means a ridge. According to another it is derived from Turkish marg which means a meadow. It may not be far from reality as there is considerable Turkish cultural influence in the area. According to yet another explanation Murree derives its name from Hazrat Marriam, or Virgin Marry, who is said to be buried at Pindi Point which is one of the highest places around.

The Murree Galiyat

                                                                                                                           The Murree Galiyat

Location:

It is located in the Pir Panjal Range, some 55 km northeast of Islamabad and Rawalpindi via the Murree Road. It is located on the southern slopes of the Western Himalayan foothills as they ascend northeastwards at an aaltitude of 7500 feet (2286 meters) in the Himalayan foothills at 33 54′ 30″ north latitude and 73 26 east longitude.

Religion:

Islam is the main religion of Murree, however Christian churches from the British era can still be found in Murree and Nathia Gali.

Islamabad to Murree road

                                                                                                                     Islamabad to Murree road

History:

Murree Sanitarium (US sanatorium), as it was initially known, was selected because of its cool climate to serve as recuperation area for British troops and was one of the several such hill stations established in the foothills of Himalayas across the Indian subcontinent.

It was one of two important hill stations in the Punjab, other being Simla, in present day Hamachal Pardesh state of India. Murree was more accessible from the Punjab plains than Simla and served as summer capital of the province till 1875 when it was replaced by Simla.

Chair Lift Murree

                                                                                                                          Chair Lift Murree

Murree is a mountainous area, forming part of outer Himalayas, situated at 33.35’ north latitude and 73. 27’ eastern longitudes. It consists of four gradually increasing supers. On highest among them is situated Murree city itself at height of 7500 feet.

Others include Patriata, Kuldana and Gharial. It is bounded by River Jehlum in the east, NWFP districts of Abbottabad and Heripur to the North and West, Islamabad Capital Territory to the Southwest and Kotli Sattian Tehsil (town) of Rawalpindi district to the South.

Murree town was built in line with the European cities with Church in the centre and main road, The Mall, running along with commercial places and administrative offices around the same. The Mall was and still is still the centre of attraction. Non Europeans were not allowed access to the Mall till independence in 1947.

Murree Snowfall

                                                                                                                                              Murree Snowfall

Buildings:

  • Christian churches from the British era can still be found in Murree and Nathia Gali.
  • There is an Anglican church, built in 1857, located at the centre of the town, which is still used as a place of worship.
  • Old traditional restaurants have been replaced by fast-food shops and newer restaurants.
  • The Murree residence of the Punjab Governor is the Kashmir Point, an imposing building built in the 19th century by the British.
  • There are Punjab and Sindh Houses to cater needs of the provincial government.
  • There are rest houses for the judges of the Supreme Court and Lahore High Court.
  • A large number of government, semi-government and private departments and institutions maintain guesthouses in Murree.

Chla Gha Hazrat Syed Baba Lal Shah Qalandar Murree

                                                                                                                   Chla Gha Hazrat Syed Baba Lal Shah Qalandar Murree

 

Tourism:

  • Pine- and oak-covered mountains
  • Criss-crossed with springs and rivulets and dotted with lawns and orchards
  • Snowy peaks of Kashmir
  • Crest of Nanga Parbat
  • Murree Wildlife Park
  • Patriata (which is 15 km away from Murree Hills, is famous for its chairlift that gives a bird-eye view of the Kashmir green hills)
  • Ayubia (comprises four hill stations including Khanspur, Ghor Daka, Changla Gali, Khairagali. AyubiaChairlift and shops offering cultural shawls, caps and necklaces are the major appeal of this place)
  • Scenic Nathiagali (situated in Abbottabad at a distance of 2500m from Murree, is popular for its maple, pine, walnut and oak trees)

Murree City

                                                                                                                                 Murree City

Climate:

Murree features a subtropical highland climate under the Koppen climate classification. It is situated in the outer Himalayas, retaining high altitude. This type of area has cold, snowy winters, relatively cool summer with drastically escalated rain, in relation with lower altitudes, and frequent fog.

Murree-Mountains View

                                                                                                                        Murree Mountains View

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