Banjosa Lake

Banjosa is a small reservoir created in the hills above Rawalakot, and its appeal is entirely in the setting: pine forest coming down to the water on all sides, mist that sits in the bowl on cool mornings, and a walkway around part of the shore. Rowing boats and pedalos work the water in season, a rest house and a handful of huts and cabins provide the accommodation, and there are food stalls near the entrance. The altitude of around 1,900 metres keeps it cool through summer, which is what draws visitors from the plains, and the hills around Rawalakot are green and agricultural, terraced and dotted with villages. It is a modest place rather than a spectacular one, and it works best as an overnight stop in a wider trip through the Poonch hills.

What you actually see

• The forest lake - a small reservoir with pines down to the water.
• The shore walkway - a path around part of the lake.
• Boating - rowing boats and pedalos in the warm months.
• Poonch hill country - terraced green hills and villages around Rawalakot.

When to go

April to October; spring and autumn are the most pleasant, summer weekends are busy with families escaping the heat. Winter brings snow and most facilities close or become minimal. Mornings with mist on the water are the best of it.

Honest expectations

The lake is small and can be circled in half an hour, so it does not fill a day on its own. Facilities are basic, and huts vary in quality. In peak weekends the shore is crowded and littered. The road up from Rawalakot is narrow and winding.

Nearby

Toli Pir ridge is a drive away; Rawalakot is the nearest town.