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Banjosa Lake is at an elevation of 1,981 meters above sea level and is about 11 kilometers from Rawalakot in the Poonch District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The accommodation facilities are available in two main zones. The first zone is lakeside, which consists of a PTDC resort and a few private guest houses. The second zone is Rawalakot city, which is about 11 kilometers from the lake and has a greater variety of accommodation facilities. Guests should choose an accommodation facility in Rawalakot if they want conveniences of the city and if access to the lake is of less importance. On the other hand, guests should choose a facility on the lakeside if they want to access the lake and if staying in Rawalakot is of less importance.
It offers accommodation in Islamabad and Rawalpindi with Banjosa as a very long day trip. It can do this but reduces your stay at the lake to a few hours.
PTDC manages a resort on Banjosa Lake which provides the main hotel/lodge facilities at the lake. The location of the resort is in a forested area and provides a panoramic view of the lake and gives an edge over the city hotels of Rawalakot. The resort has rooms in cottages which are scattered in the area. A good portion of the common areas give a view of the lake.
The resort is relatively well-known and popular amongst PTDC lodges of AJK. The major appeal of the resort is the serene and beautiful view of the lake and surrounding forest, especially in the morning and at night. Resort guests get the opportunity to see the lake and forest before other visitors arrive.
As a government establishment, amenities vary between different resorts anddepend on when the resort was last updated. Most rooms have a bed and an attached bathroom. Each room is provided with blankets since the average elevation of the area is around 2,000 m.
PTDC’s in-house dining option is the only dining choice available to resort guests because there are no restaurants in the area. The resort kitchen provides a limited selection of foods. Find out what is included in the room rate, the hours of meal service, and the ability of the kitchen to provide for special dietary needs.
The PTDC resorts are not four or five star resorts. Guests expect a certain level of service at a PTDC resort, and if the service does not meet those expectations, guests are not happy. Most of the guests at the resort are pleased to have a nice, clean room to stay in and a neat and inviting setting.
The PTDC Banjosa Resort is very popular during the peak season, especially on the weekends from June to August, because guests from Islamabad and Rawalpindi come to the area to get away from the city.
It is best to book the resort through a reliable and Trusted PTDC Tour Operator. PTDC property Availability is often unreliable, and confirming through a Trusted Tour Operator provides more peace of mind.
It is often recommended that the operating status of a property be confirmed prior to booking. Recently, some of PTDC properties have been operated intermittently. HospitalityTours.com.pk often checks the status of PTDC properties to recommend or book these properties.
Some private guesthouses and cottages have started construction near Banjosa Lake. These have been constructed to accommodate visitors looking for forest and lake side stays in their proximity of the PTDC resort. Some of these structures have comparatively better architectural designs when compared to the others which are still family run econonomy class guest houses.
Private establishments near Banjosa have architectural designs comparable to economic class guest houses in Rawalakot. However, unlike most of the guest houses in Rawalakot, these structures have the added advantage of direct access to Banjosa Lake without having to take a daily trip to the lake. Some of these structures have lake view and are located a short distance from lake shore.
Not all structures located near Banjosa Lake have direct access to the lake. Some structures require guests to walk or take a short drive to the lake. When making your reservation, request for a lake view room, and ask how far the lake is from the property.
If a stay at an economically priced guest house near Banjosa lake is your primary objective, don't bother checking for the condition of the room. Ask the staff if you will be able to walk to the lake from the guest house. If the staff says you will be able to walk to the lake, don't worry about the condition of the room.
C) Booking and verification
There are many private guesthouses around Banjosa, but they are usually not included on large hotel bookings sites. Things change quickly in this industry. Owners come and go, and the standards of a guesthouse can change from one season to the next. If you want to be sure you have a place to stay, it is a good idea to book through a travel agency that specializes in this area.
The Rawalakot Hotel Market
Rawalakot has a hotel market, and compared to other towns in Kashmir, it has better facilities at a lower price. The rooms there have attached bathrooms, and the hotels provide guests with good quality food and electricity. It is a good place to stay if you want to visit the different places in Poonch District.
Rawalakot is near Banjosa. Tatta Pani and Sarsawa are also nearby, and Toli Pir is a couple of hours in the other direction. A hotel in Rawalakot is ideal if you want to visit all of these places.
A) What Rawalakot hotels offer over lakeside stays
Rawalakot hotels provide a more reliable power supply and internet. There are more restaurant options and a larger number of hotel rooms. During peak season, booking a hotel room is easier. Because of these benefits, people traveling with families and corporate groups find city hotels more comfortable.
Rawalakot city hotels also provide urban convenience. However, staying in city hotels means you have to sacrifice a morning drive to the lakes, as well as, a peaceful stay in a forest cabin along the lake.
B) Hotels in Rawalakot
There are a few hotels in Rawalakot that cater to the needs of travelers. At the time of writing this article, Rawalakot hotels were not listed by HT. HT needs to add listed hotels to this article. The city has the potential to house travelers in mid-range accommodations.
C) Camping at Banjosa Lake
A considerable number of visitors to Banjosa Lake prefer camping. Camping tents and other camping gear can be rented from local vendors. Setting up camp gives visitors the advantage of experiencing tranquility of Banjosa Lake at the beginning and end of the day.
A) Lakeside stay at PTDC or private guesthouse
Stays at PTDC or private lakeside guest houses allow guests to visit the lake at any time of the day. A large number of travelers choose this option. At least a two night stay at Banjosa is a good option for people not interested in other attractions of Poonch.
B) Rawalakot city base
Rawalakot is a good base for family, corporate and other groups visiting various attractions of the Poonch area. A minimum of two nights stay at Rawalakot allows visitors to cover Toli Pir, Banjosa and other places.
Staying closer to the lake means better views and easier access. The nearer the location to the lake the better. Keep in mind that trekking distance from your accommodations to the lake shore.
There are no restaurants near the lakes. Meals are available at the PTDC resort and at the private guest houses. PTDC includes meals in their rates and offers flexibility for special dietary requirements. Private guest houses may also have these policies.
The electricity supply is unstable in the forest area and near the lake. The PTDC resort has a back-up generator for a few hours. Private guest houses also have generators. Mobile Phone signal is also weak near the lake.
The peak season is from June to August and the most demand is on Fridays and Saturdays. The PTDC resort is the first to get booked. The private guest houses get booked after that. Expect to book in advance if you wish to stay on the weekends in peak season.
Operating status and level of service of PTDC resort on the main lakeside property.
Distance of private guesthouse from lake shore.
Meals at the lakeside resort. Are meals included in the rate? If yes, what and when are meals served?
Are generators available? What is the duration of power?
Is your operator’s PTDC Banjosa resort in order?
Is your operator’s private lake-side guesthouse in order?
What is the condition of the road between Rawalakot and Banjosa?
Going to Banjosa Lake on a Friday afternoon during peak season and expecting to find a room. There are a limited number of accommodation options at the lake.
Carefully checking walking distances for properties called “near Banjosa Lake.” Some businesses use Banjosa Lake in their names to attract visitors even if they are not located by the lake.
Using the 2022 PTDC Resort standards to assess government properties in AJK. PTDC properties in AJK can improve or worsen from one year to the next.
A) What is the best hotel by Banjosa Lake?
The PTDC Banjosa Lake Resort is the only resort managed by PTDC which is situated by Banjosa Lake. There are private lodges nearby managed by locals. Those wanting to stay in better facilities should look for a hotel in Rawalakot which is approximately 20-30 minutes away from Banjosa Lake.
B) Is PTDC Banjosa Resort worth it?
As compared to other resorts, PTDC Banjosa Resort is situated in an area of AJK which is beautiful and worth visiting. Other facilities managed by PTDC are average. It is recommended to check the status of the facilities offered by the resort and the condition of the rooms prior to making reservations.
C) Is camping allowed near Banjosa Lake?
Camping is available near Banjosa Lake. Prior arrangements should be made with a local tour operator. Camping gears appropriate for low temperature should be brought since nights are cold near the lake.
Banjosa Lake is situated approximately 11 kilometers from the city of Rawalakot. It takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes to drive there since the road through the pine forest is paved.
Cell phone coverage at the lake is very spotty. You should consider the area around the lake as a closed/no coverage area. Make sure to charge your phone and let your friends know you'll be going to the lake with no signal.
Banjosa Lake is a family friendly location. There is boat racing on the lake, and there are forested areas to have a picnic. The walk around the lake is also very nice. All of these make Banjosa an enjoyable location for families. The elevation of the location keeps it cool in the summer months. The PTDC resort and nearby private lodging are good family accommodations.
For lodging near Banjosa Lake and/or Rawalakot, contact HospitalityTours.com.pk for your travel dates and the number of guests in your party. They will confirm lodging based on your travel itinerary and handle the reservation. They will not charge you or make a reservation until you give them the ok.
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