When the monsoon arrives, the hills around Islamabad come alive with hidden pools and cascades. Here is how to find the best of them safely.
There is a short window every year when the hills around Islamabad are at their most spectacular. The monsoon fills the streams, and trails that are dry for most of the year turn into chains of pools and cascades. If you time it right, you can spend a weekend chasing waterfalls without leaving the wider capital region.
Start with Bruti, on the eastern edge of the Margalla Hills. A short walk behind the Bari Imam area follows a stream lined with boulders to a series of deep, clear pools that locals use for cliff jumping. It is wild, green and refreshingly close to the city.
Next, drive out toward Shahdara Valley for Shumber Waterfall. The trail threads between towering rocks to a sheer amphitheatre where the water crashes into a deep basin. It is seasonal, so this is very much a post-rain destination.
For the grand finale, head to Noori Waterfall in Haripur. A short riverside walk brings you to a turquoise pool set inside a cove of rock, with a second, even more dramatic fall just minutes upstream for anyone willing to scramble.
A word on safety, because it matters most in the monsoon. Water levels rise fast and rocks get slippery. Never swim alone, watch the sky upstream for incoming rain, and turn back if the flow looks stronger than you expected. The waterfalls will still be there next weekend.