Murree, Pakistan

Murree is a hill station, summer resort and the administrative centre of Murree Tehsil, Pakistan, which is a subdivision of Rawalpindi District and includes the Murree Hills. It is located in the Pir Panjal Range, some 60 km northeast of Islamabad and Rawalpindi via the Benazir Bhutto Road.

Murree was the summer capital of the British Raj in the Punjab Province until 1864. The city is a popular tourist destination located on the southern slopes of the Western Himalayan foothills as they ascend northeastwards; at an average altitude of 2,291 metres , it experiences pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is noted for its Tudorbethan and neo-gothic architecture dating from the colonial era.

Islam is the main religion of Murree, however 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. Many houses around the church are still standing, functioning mostly as hotels. Old traditional restaurants have been replaced by fast-food shops and newer restaurants.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. Similarly, 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. A number of diplomatic missions based in Islamabad established their camp offices in Murree in the 1960s, although they are now seldom used.

The Murree Galliat region is known for its scenic vistas of pine- and oak-covered mountains, criss-crossed with springs and rivulets and dotted with lawns and orchards. On clear days a good view of the snowy peaks of Kashmir is possible, and the crest of Nanga Parbat can sometimes be seen. Tourist attractions in the area include the Murree Wildlife Park.Whereas Arjun Bhandari, a senior journalist of Nepal, says the place looks like Nagarkot, a tourist destination of Bhaktapur, Nepal.

In 2005, the government of Punjab began a "New Murree Project" to develop a new Murree City and promote tourism. The location selected for the project was Patriata, 15 kilometres southeast of Murree, after consideration was also given to Ban, Barian and Charihan. Patriata is connected with Islamabad and Murree through a number of all weather roads. The project will cover 4,111 acres of land, including 3,849 acres of the Murree Forest Division and 262 acres of the Rawalpindi North Forest Division. The water for Murree City was to be supplied from the River Jhelum.

Murree features a subtropical highland climate under the Köppen 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. Precipitation is received year round, with two maxima, first one during winter and second one at summer, July–August. Total mean precipitation annually is 1,789 mm.

A variety of rare animal species can be found in Murree, including the leopard, which inhabits the neighboring Galiyat region. More common animals include the rhesus monkey, wild boar, foxes and various species of birds, including the Cheer Pheasant and Kalij Pheasant. The area gives its name to the Murree vole, a rodent species endemic to Pakistan.

Many fruits introduced to the region during the period of British occupation, including cherries, raspberries and strawberries, still thrive locally.

For administrative purposes, the military areas of Murree are divided into two separate cantonments, Murree Gali Cantonment and Murree Hills Cantonment. Murree houses the headquarters of the 12th Infantry Division of the Pakistan Army, several educational and training institutions, and a combined military hospital established to cater to the needs of the civilian populations of Murree and adjoining areas. The Pakistan Air Force also maintains a base at Lower Topa, near Patriata, with its own military boarding school for boys, PAF Public School Lower Topa.

During the British Raj, in the hot season Murree was the headquarters of the Lieutenant General of the Northern Command. The Commissioner of the Rawalpindi Division and the Deputy-Commissioner of Rawalpindi also resided here during part of the season, for which period an Assistant Commissioner was placed in charge of the subdivision consisting of Murree Tehsil. The site was selected in 1850 almost immediately after the annexation of the Province, and building operations commenced at once. In 1851 temporary accommodation was provided for a detachment of troops; and in 1853 permanent barracks were erected. The regular garrison generally consisted of two mountain batteries and one battalion of infantry.

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