Fun things to do in Pakistan

4 more images

(November 11, 2011) Taking advantage of the long Eid weekend I took a couple of days break and drove all the way to Umerkot, South Western city of Pakistan, which is the Eastern gateway to the Thar Desert, or the Great Indian Desert.

The city is rich in culture and heritage and has the following to attract an inquisitive traveler:

* Umerkot Fort with impressive entrance, high watch tower, and colonial structures
* Birthplace of Akbar, the most famous of Mughul Emperors
* Religious aspects because of significant Hindu population, alien to other Pakistan cities
* Refresher drink: Thadal
* Red Chili and Cottonseed crops
* Priceless handicrafts and Thari bangles
* Adjoining Thar Desert
* Wild Peacocks

Please click here for pictures and trip details.

Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan. The city represents ancient period, Moughal era, colonial regime and modern era. The old walled city is the most interesting part. It has Lahore fort (UNESCO heritage), Badshahi mosque, beautiful buildings, unique culture, mouth watering local dishes and much more.

To the west of Haripur is one of the Pakistan's geo-technical wonders, The world's biggest earthen dam,"Tarbela", spanning the Indus where it empties onto the plains it was meant to ease Pakistan's fragile dependence on irrigation water from rivers like Chinab and Sutluj that rise in India. It was started in 1968 and not yet finished. It is immense -150 m high and 2.5 km across and most dramatic when in summer its 95 sq. miles long resevoir is full & the monster spillways are thundering.

2 more images

NathiaGali is a hill station located almost 2 hours drive from Islamabad. It comprises of a series of villages and dwelling reffered to as Galiyat. Dunga Gali is one such village. It offers various trails for trekking the famous being the Mushkpuri to Lalazar trek. The trail is almost 3 hours and becomes challenging when it rains. The best time to go is July when it rains and the scenery is breathtaking. Local porters/guides are available for carrying equipment for camping.
It is a unique experience if the weather permits. Remember to negotiate with the locals.

Kalash is doable in a single day, go to the cemetery, visit the houses and come back.
Terichmir view's location is excellent and it is a very nice place.

Trip to Gilgit from Chitral, needs 2 days, first day to Mastuj, some 100 Km, 4 hrs trip from Chitral and then the NATCO bus leaves for Gilgit from Mastuj.

Safar Bekhair..

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
In 1980 Moenjodaro city was declared as world heritage site by UNESCO in 1980.Moenjodaro had gaot the ruins of lost Indus valley civilization.The remains of the civilization are situated on the west bank of Indus river,about 12 km from moenjodaro railway station in Larkana District of Sindh(province) .it was flourished in 3rd millennium B.C .The main feature of this civilization is its TOWN PLANING which includes Baked and Dry bricks,Sewage system,Covered Drainage system,Public baths,Colleges for priests,soak pits for disposal of Sewerage system,Large state Granary which was about 45 meter long and 15 meter high.it was meant to store food grains and it had line of circular brick platform for pounding grains,Assembly Hall it was 24 square meter pillared hall.Kiln baked bricks were used to construct these pillars.
The Indus valley civilization was so dably lost that the present inhabitants of Mehrgarh the had no idea that a complete civilization is buried under the land on which they r living.the history of excavation of lost IVC begins when the people found out that if they dig the land they can get good quality of bricks buried under it,so people started digging inorder to have bricks to construct their homes with no concern about how those so many bricks got buried under the land.They were just happy about the fact that they were getting free good quality bricks.In 1856 six miles from river Ravi in the foot hills of Himalayas construction workers come up with a small curmbling hill of bricks which they used for the railway line ballasts.Along with the bricks some steatite(soapstone) seals were also found .Archaeologists, Sir John Cunningham,quickly confirmed their antiquity this started the journey of discovery of Lost Civilization.

Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol:
Taxila or Takshashila university that dates back to the reign of the Kushan dynasty was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1980.The kingdom of Gandhara lasted from the 6th century BC to the 11th century AD. It attained its height from the 1st century to the 5th century AD under Buddhist Kushan Kings.The existence of large number of Buddhist stupas and monasteries in Gandhara is very sacred for Buddhists and an important part of Pakistan's historic culture.Besides Taxila, other neighbouring districts of Mansehra, Swabi, Mardan, Swat, Peshawar and Khyber Agency also possess similar sites, including edicts of emperor Ashoka (304 BC-232 BC)Tourism to these sites flourished during 1990s, when a large number of scholars, pilgrims and cultural enthusiasts from across the world flocked to Pakistan.

salam from Peshawar,

Medina-tul-Awlia, city of sufi hermits, do visit the shrines of Hazrat shah shamswari, Hazrat Bahudin Zikria Multani etc.

Stay at
Hotel Shabroze
Hotel Mavra
at Hasan parwana road.

besal's given some very nice suggestions about Darewar fort, it should be given a try if you've time.

You could find Multani Sohan Halwa everwhere but try to get the
Hafiz Brand.

All the best,

Imran Schah

Photos of Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker/