Thandiani

Thandiani (literally meaning 'Very Cold') is a hill station in the Galyat area of Pakistan.

History

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[2] and Quintin Battye;[3] 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 also contained some private European houses, a camping ground, a small bazaar, and the small seasonal church of St Xavier in the Wilderness[4] which were occupied only during the summer months 

Location 

Thandiani 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 ofSwat and Chitral. The hills of Thandiani are about 9,000 feet (2,750 m) above sea level. Most of the people of residing here belong to the Qureshi, Gujjar, and Karlal tribes. The nearest villages are Inderseri, Chattri, Siyalkot, Pattan and Kukmang.

Tourism 

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.

Forests and wildlife 

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.

Earthquake 2005 

The area and its surrounding villages were damaged by the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake.