Behind the wheel & Contributor

Vinod Kumar...know more about me

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Mughal Road Kashmir

Mughal road is a longer route that connects Srinagar and Jammu, passing over Shopian, Balfiaz in the Poonch district of Kashmir. It connects Poonch and Rajouri to Kashmir. The road passes through the Hirppora Wildlife Sanctuary, where the Markhor goats can be seen. The road is open only during summer, and since its a landslide area its better to confirm before your travel. Its also not advised to take this route when there is a unrest or terrorist threat as the army can close the road anytime.

The name - Mughal Road, could be given due to history stating that Akbar used this route to conquer Kashmir back in the 16th century, and his son Jahangir died near Rajouri during his return.

A brief route map:-

Shopian at 479 11:35

Hotel Danish

Hirpora 487 11:51

Hirpora wildlife sanctuary

This is a landslide area

Dubjan bridge 492 11:58

Dubjan village cross

Lal ghulam bridge 12:26 509

Peer marg 12:44 at 515

Mobile working at dargah

Loops starts and roads are bad

Ratta chamb bridge 1:08 522

Chatta pani bridge 1:12 at 524

Army checkpost at 529 1:40 one hour wait at Poshana

Panar bridge 2:18 543

Lunch break at 545

Chandimarh is a small mkt there are shops and restaurants here 548 2:48

Buffliaz bridge at 2:59 556

A few dhabas and at 3:43 570

Thana mandi 580

Rajouri 598 at 4:50

Jammu at 10pm

Start early in the morning, the drive from Anantnag to Shopian is through narrow, good roads. The sleepy town of Shopian was yet to wake up, and so geared up for the good 10-12 hours drive, packed our lunch, water bottles and some snacks.

Shopian to Peerkigali is in good condition but beyond that roads are bad all the way till Rajouri. Srinagar-Anantnag-Kulgam-Aharbal-Peer ke Gali is an amazing drive with the most expressive form of nature's beauty greeting you. Till Bafliaz the roads were good, though lots of sign boards stating landslide prone places. Mobile phones dont work after Shopian till Buffliaz, but works at Peer ki Gali.

There is a beautiful waterfall in between. Total two check points, one was fast but the other one took around an hour, where manually your details were being noted down. There are a few dhabas as mentioned but it's better to carry your food. The tea available is the salted one. Around 5pm we were at Rajouri, and by dinner we reached Jammu. Rajouri to Jammu is in good shape but high traffic volume.

Some Imp tel numbers:-
TCU Srinagar (01942450022, 2485396), TCU Ramban (9419993745), TCU Jammu (0191245904 8, 9419147732) and PCR Jammu (0191-2544581, 2542000, 2542001, 2560401, 1090). They shall also contact Traffic Police officers viz. SSP NHW Ramban (8082895567); SSP Traffic, Rural Kashmir (9419007686); Dy.SsP Traffic Udhampur/Reasi (9419150589); Ramban (9419160806); Banihal (7006640663) and Dy.SP Traffic, Kulgam/Qazigund (9697009080) in case of any assistance enroute.

Some pics of the route:-

Drive starts


Apple orchards enroute


Shopian village










Mughal road starts






Checkpost




The scenic drive








































The beautiful waterfall
















Pir ki gali


























Checkpost




Landslide


Tea break somewhere near Morha


Dinner at KFC on NH44 at 10pm