Pakistan Transportation

Theme: Train

Website: http://www.pakrail.com


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: Crossing the Mastuj river Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

Crossing water was always an adventure. Here, we are crossing the Mastuj river, which is not far from the Afghan border. I left the jeep before it crossed the river, so I could take this picture - not that I was afraid of crossing the river in the car ;-)

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	School is out! Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

Skardu

It is said that the Baltis have more in common with the Tibetians than with the Pakistani. The balti language is of tibetian origin and in Baltistan you will find temples that resemple tibetian culture more than muslim culture in Pakistan.

However, in Skardu, like anywhereelse in Pakistan, boys and girls go to separate schools. The picture shows the guys leaving school in their orange-colored uniform.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: Chinese cemetery near Gilgit Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

Near Gilgit there is the Chinese cemetery with Chinese road workers that died during the construction of the Karakorum Highway in the 60s and 70s. Some statistics say that over 1000 Chinese and Pakistani workers died. People believe that the number is much higher, because the number of casualties of road workers during the 1974 earthquake near Pattan was never published by the Pakistani government.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: "One pen!" Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

People were always very nice when we passed them in our jeep. They were waving at us and were shouting "Hello!" However, many kids had a different way of greeting us. They welcomed us with a request for "One pen!" Apparently, some tourists thought it more appropriate to give them a pen rather than sweets or money.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: At the Shandur plain Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

The Shandur Pass between Chitral and Gilgit is at 3735 m. Each year, the polo teams of Chitral and Gilgit compete during a three day festival here. The Pakistani don't play polo like Prince Charles does. The way they play it in Asia is fast, exciting and dangerous. Unfortunately, in 2001 the Pakistan Tourist Office (PTDC) had a wrong schedule for the annual polo tournament on their Web site. So, when we arrived at the Shandur Pass during the second half of July, we found out that the festival had been advanced by a month.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: On the Karakorum Highway Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

This picture is quite typical for the Karakorum Highway. All major bridges were built by the Chinese. However, neither Pakistan nor China had any engineers that were capabale of building tunnels. Therefore, you won't find a single tunnel on the Karakorum Highway that could provide shelter from falling rocks.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: Arriving in Hunza Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

When we arrived in Hunza, we realized that there was no gasoline available. The road from Islambad to Hunza had been blocked by landslides for two weeks. Usually, these landslides (see picture below) are removed within one day or two; this time however, an entire bridge was completely distroyed. It took the military two weeks to rebuild it.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Road to Moutains: Leaving the Swat valley Tip Rating:

on March 23, 2003

With the exception of our first two days in Islamabad and Peshawar, where we went by bus, we did all our travel by jeep - a 25 year old Chrysler. This had the advantage of seeing more of the beautiful landscape, much more than from a seat in a bus.

On the picture you see us on our way to the Lowarai pass, shortly after we left the lower Swat valley.

Theme: Car/Motor Home


	Travelling by Bus: Bus travel in Pakistan Tip Rating:

Updated By AndreSTGT

on May 11, 2004

by AndreSTGT
Send Photo to a Friend

Rawalpindi bus terminal

Pakistani buses are colorful and beautiful to look at from the outside. Unfortunately, they're not very comfortable.
Bus terminals are usually dirty and chaotic, and you will never find the right bus if you don't ask around. Fortunately, everyone will be happy to show you where you have to go, so don't worry.
Buses are dirt cheap. We paid 70 Rupees (1.20€) for the 7-hour trip from Rawalpindi to Mingora.