Kohala is a place of historical importance in Bagh and the gateway of Kashmir. Situated on the River Jhelum, north of Murree, south of Muzaffarabad, and east of Circle Bakote. Kohala has been a transportation centre for goods since the Vedic Age. It gained military importance in 1814 when Maharaja of Kashmir Gulab Singh developed it as a business centre for Hindu merchants. Kohala is the site of the well-known Kohala Bridge across the Jhelum. Kohala is a gateway to enter the Muzaffarabad and Bagh district of AJK. It is a unique place where the Punjab, Kashmir and NWFP boundaries touch each other. Kohala was almost wiped away in 1992 floods but later on the resilience of local Dhondes restored the market back. The only bridge collapsed as a results of high tides of water and wood logs striking the pillars and structure. Later on the bridge was restored and one more bridge was erected in parallel. Another concrete bridge was built by Gammon a kilometre towards Murree. The place is known as Gujjar Kohala and traffic for Bagh diverges from that place.

Kohala is the site of the well-known Kohala Bridge across the Jhelum. Kohala is a gateway to the Muzaffarabad and Bagh districts of Azad Kashmir. It lies where the Punjab, Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa boundaries meet.

Kohala, Pakistan is situated on the River Jhelum, north of Murree, south of Muzaffarabad, and east of Circle Bakote. The word Kohala is derived from Kohal or "GOTRARHI" and means the place where domestic animals are tied up in the local Dhondi/Kareali language.

History

Kohala has been a transportation centre for goods since the Vedic Age. It gained military importance in 1814 when Maharaja ofKashmir Gulab Singh developed it as a business centre for Hindu merchants.

Strategic Location

Kohala is the site of the well-known Kohala Bridge across the Jhelum. Kohala is a gateway to enter the Muzaffarabad and Baghdistrict of AJK, it is a unique place where the Punjab, Kashmir and NWFP boundaries touch each other.

Tribes

Dhond Abbasi tribe is sole majority holding the area and surroundings but no permanent tribe in Kohala.

Bridges

Kohala was almost wiped away in 1992 floods but later on the resilience of local Dhondes restored the market back. The only bridge collapsed as a results of high tides of water and wood logs striking the pillars and structure. Later on the bridge was restored and one more bridge was erected in parallel. Another concrete bridge was built by Gammon a kilometre towards Murree. The place is known as Gujjar Kohala and traffic for Bagh diverges from that place. Sardar Babu Bashir Khan Abbasi hold the major market and only petrol pump at Gujjar Kohala.

 Tourist Attraction

 The Kohala Bridge across the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus, forms part of one of the routes from the Pakistani-controlled region of Kashmir to the rest of Pakistan. Kohala Bridge, is a Popular Tourist Attraction.The bridge is located at the town of Kohala, 38 km north of Murree and 35 km south of Muzaffarabad. A suspension bridge was constructed in 1877 which swept away in a flood of 1890. A new transportable steel bridge was constructed in 1899 and in 1990, it also disappeared in during bloody rains. A third bridge was constructed on the north edge of Union Council Birote Kalan, Abbottabad District, in 1993. Kohala Bridges carries great history. It is said that during Indo-Pak war of 1965, while having a dog-fight with Indian air plane, the then Air Chief Marshall Asghar Khan, had passed his plane through the bridge. This is one of the tourist attraction and people visit this bridge on regular basis. Good day-out family bonanza. Also recommended for tourists as well.

 When to Go

Climate of the district varies with altitude. The temperature generally remains between 2 °C to 40 °C. Bagh at Kohala and its adjoining areas (Mongbajri and Ajra-Bagh) remain cold in winter and hot in summer. May, June and July are the hottest months. Maximum and minimum temperatures during the month of June are about 40 °C and 22 °C respectively. December, January and February are the coldest months. The maximum temperature in January is about 16 °C and minimum temperature is 3 °C respectively. The annual precipitation is about 1500 millimeters. 

This area can be accessible throughout the year.

 How to Reach

This area can be easily accessible from the Bagh city through any public transport.