Kakol, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kakul
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 Kakul
Location in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Kakul
Location in Pakistan
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| District | Abbottabad |
| Tehsil | Abbottabad |
| Province | Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa |
| Population | |
| • Total | 30,000 |
Kakul (sometimes spelled Kakol) is a village in Pakistan. It is located in the Abbottabad District, which is part of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. This village sits high up, about 1,300 meters (or 4,265 feet) above sea level.
Kakul is found about 5 kilometers (3 miles) northeast of Abbottabad city. It is also close to the beautiful Thandiani Hills. Around 30,000 people live in Kakul. The village is very well known because it is home to the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). The PMA is a special school where people train to become officers in the Pakistan Army. One of the gates to the PMA is even called the Kakul gate, because it is so close to the village.
A Look at Kakul's Past
Before it became famous for the military academy, Kakul was a quiet rural area. Its history changed a lot around 1899 to 1902. During this time, the Boer War was happening far away. The British government in India decided to build a special camp in Kakul. This camp was for prisoners of war (POWs) from the Boer War.
The 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, a military unit, was in charge of managing this camp. After the war, the POW camp changed its purpose. It became a school for army training, focusing on mountaineering and physical fitness. This continued until 1947–1948. Part of the site was also used as offices for the Royal Indian Army Service Corps.
Later, after Pakistan became an independent country, this very same site was chosen. It became the perfect spot for the new Pakistan Military Academy. The academy is located on the eastern side of the valley.
