Abbottabad - the world's most talked about city

The "million dollar luxury house" as claimed by US authorities is in fact a relatively modest $250K house in a middling neighbourhood of Abbottabad, a city located about 100 kilometers by road from the capital, Islamabad. The house has aready beceome a tourist attraction and both international media and local residents can be seen taking pictures of it.

Abbottabad nestles 4,000 ft above sea level and has a cool, refreshing climate which attracts tourists from across Pakistan in the summer. The nearby Ilyasi Mosque which is built on a mountain spring also brings in tourists who are amazed by the cool water of the spring that is used for wudu (ablution).

The equivalent of Westpoint or Sandhhurst - Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul - is located a short distance from the house where bin Laden lived.

As has been proven by Osama bin Laden, Abbottabad is a place to escape to - if you want to get away from it all!

If you are looking for hotels in Abbottabad here are a few suggestions:

Alpine Hotel - Phone: +92992-334255 - this hotel has 32 rooms some of which have been recently renovated and is the largest hoel in Abbottabad

PC Hotel - Phone: +92992-334717 - not related to the Pearl Continental chain in Pakistan but boasts of being the best in terms of quality. Its 18 rooms are all currently fully booked

North Heaven - Phone: +92992-381974 - another one of the better hotels in Abbottabad with 25 guest rooms

Sarban Hotel - Phone: +92992-336167 - this is one of the older hotels of the city with 29 rooms

La Vista Hotel Guest House - Phone: +92992-382284 - this guest house has six rooms which are well equipped to meet the needs of tourists

The above hotels are all priced between $50-$100 per night. It is best to call ahead and check on availability prior to planning a stopover in Abbottabad as decent tourist accommodation is limited. For the adventurous there are several other budget hotels which can best be classified as hostels aimed at the backpacking tourist. During the summer it is advisable to book in advance.