BANDI CHAMIALI is a mountainous rural area located in Abbottabad District. Dhand Kheter (Bandi Chamiali) is the biggest village of Galiyat/Circle Bakot located approximately 40 km from Abbottabad on the Abbottabad-Muzaffarabad Road. A lush green valley full of pines.it can be termed as the most peaceful place in Pakistan as it's free from the hustle & bustle of cities life" it is 8,500 feet above the sea level. Dhand Kheter (Pattan Kalan) is located in the eastern edge of Abbottabad district where it forms part of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's border with Muzaffarabad District, Kashmir. It also borders the following Union Councils within Abbottabad district, Kukmang and Boi to the north, Kuthwal to the west, Beerangali and Nambal to the south. The people of Dhand Kheter are all Muslims. Most of the people of residing here belong to the Qureshi, Gujjar, and Abbasi tribes. The mother language of the people of Dhand Kheter is Hindko. The highest peak in Abbottabad District, Thandiani, is located in Dhand Kheter (Bandi Chamiali) and is located in the south of Abbottabad District at 34°13'60N 73°22'0E[ and is about 31 kilometres from Abbottabad city in the foothills of the Himalayas. To the east beyond the Kunhar River lies the fabulous snow covered Pir Panjal mountain range of Kashmir. Visible to the north and northeast are the mountains of Kohistan and Kaghan. To the northwest are the snowy ranges of Swat and Chitral. The hills of Thandiani are about 9,000 feet (2,750 m) above sea level. The nearest villages are Inderseri, Chattri, Okhrila, , Khokhriala, Lari, Banota, Sialkot and Bandi Chamiali (Dhand Kheter). Thandiani was originally granted as a lease to some members of the famous Battye family , in British India, who were dynamic Christian missionaries and also found in civil and military service, and who produced such famous scions as Wigram Battye and Quintin Battye; and the Battyes subsequently gifted the location to the church authorities, where a Sanatorium and various other facilities were set up during the British rule, mostly for the convenience of missionaries, Anglican church personnel and officers stationed at the neighbouring cantonment of Abbottabad. It contained some private European houses, a camping ground, a small bazaar, and the small seasonal church of St Xavier in the Wilderness which were occupied only during the summer months. Thandiani is characterized by excellent weather and lush greenery in the summer months, and snow-covered vistas and hills in the winter. Many tourists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and all over Pakistan visit here, especially in the summer season. Being at a high altitude, with attractive scenery and several fine hiking trails into the forests and other nearby locations, it is a very attractive prospect. The mountains around Thandiani are still quite thickly forested, compared to most other hill stations in the locality, which have suffered some degree of deforestation over time. The local wildlife includes leopards, monkeys, several kinds of pheasants and the increasingly rare Flying squirrel and Pine Marten, to name only a few. As this area is away from sea and is above the sea level its winters are extreme. Winter lasts from October to April. April tends to be quite pleasant as the climate is temperate. The summer season is very pleasant and humid the temperature rises maximum to 25-30 degree, due to which it is good picnic spot. From mid July to mid August people enjoy the fifth season, monsoon, which provides relief after the hot months (i.e.May and June). Farming is the main occupation of the people. The farming is done by oxen in the remote area of village but in proper village i.e. Chamiali, Pattan is ploughed by machinery because of accessibility the two crops are grown there i.e. rabi and kharaif. The major rabi

• published: 08 Jul 2015
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