Quaid-e-Azam tourist lodge, Barsala, historic site in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Quaid-e-Azam Tourist Lodge in Barsala is a small hotel on the banks of the Jhelum river along the road connecting Muzaffarabad and Kohala. The building contains three spacious rooms, a large hall, and a green lawn with views of surrounding mountains, constructed mainly from cedarwood with light-colored stone walls.
The lodge was originally built during the Dogra rulers' period as accommodation for travelers. It gained historical significance in 1944 when Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his sister Fatima Jinnah stayed here while returning from Srinagar.
The lodge is named after Quaid-e-Azam, a title for Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. This connection to the nation's founding makes it a place of remembrance for visitors interested in the country's history.
The site is easily accessible, just 5 kilometers from Kohala bridge and 35 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, with parking available for visitors. Seven rooms are available for overnight stays and must be booked in advance through the tourism department in Muzaffarabad, and a small park nearby offers space for walking.
In August 2001 a memorial plaque was unveiled to honor Jinnah's visit, and after the 2005 earthquake damaged the structure, the Archaeology and Tourism departments carefully restored it. The restoration effort shows the local commitment to preserving this historically significant site.
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