Cities to Tour!

The land of the Puré (as the Urdu name Pakistan translates into English) is strategically placed at the crossroads of Asia, where the road from China to the Mediterranean meets the route from India to Central Asia. For thousands of years, this junction has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, attracting traders and adventures, pilgrims and holy men. 

TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

For any visitor, Pakistan has a wealth of attractions; its 4,000-year history is richly illustrated by archeological sites and imposing monuments scattered the length and breadth of the country. Brick cities from the Indus Civilization, which flourished around 2000 BC, stand beside Buddhist ruins contemporaneous with the birth of Christianity. Magnificent Muslim tombs from the 12^th century vie with the places, mosques and forts of the Mughal emperors of the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Best of all are Pakistan’s mountains, rivers, deserts and national parks for the adventurous and those interested in the great outdoors. In the north of the country, four great mountain ranges meet, offering some of the most challenging and scenic mountaineering, trekking and jeep safaris in the world. Five huge rivers flow south to the sea, forming the flight paths for migrating birds and providing exciting white-water rafting and boating. What is more, Pakistan is unspoilt.  Tourism is in its infancy, yet the four principal cities offer first-class hotels, with simpler but adequate accommodation available elsewhere. (Shaw, I; 1996)

Pakistan has potential in archaeological, religious, culture, and pleasures and in entertainment tourism. Pakistan is the meeting point of three high hills ranges and land of three big religions. It is famous for green vallies, oldest, civilization and big deserts. (Source: Paknews, 2005)

For the nature lover, this is a land of spellbinding beauty, for the adventure seeker, this is a terrain that challenges the most daring of spirits, for the historian, there are excavations, museums and artifacts aplenty. Such is the variety Pakistan offers, a country with an area of 803,950 square kilometers and a population of some114 million. Everywhere, you'll meet friendly and hospitable people, welcoming you to their homes. (Source: Pakistan Tourism, 2005)

The center of half a dozen ancient civilizations is evident in the sights and scenes you'll come across at diverse places. The Indus Valley civilization flourished at Moenjo Daro and Harappa 5000 years ago. Evidence of the glorious Gandhara era is still to be found in the country. Pakistan today is a tourist's delight. In its thriving metropolises are luxurious hotels, elegant restaurants and captivating shopping boutiques and ethnic bazaars replete with merchandise of all sorts. In the northern region of Pakistan stand eight of the ten highest peaks in the world. Here is the Karakoram Highway, popularly known as the Eighth wonder of the world. It is an epic feat of modern day engineering and it winds its way up to a height of 16,000 feet above sea level and on to the People's Republic of China. The beaches on the shores of the Arabian Sea are perhaps few of the unspoiled ones in the world. It is in this scenario that Pakistan has emerged as a favorable tourist destination. Its strategic location has made it a gateway to Central Asian States, and China by road. (Source: Pakistan Tourism, 2005)

Tourist Destinations

Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include adventure tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism in Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harrappa, and early Muslim and Mughal heritage in Multan, Lahore, Thatta, Peshawar, and Swat. Besides this, birds watching Jeep safaris, desert safaris, trekking and mountaineering are readily available tourist specialized products. (Source: PTDC, 2005)

The tourist destinations of Pakistan are:

• Islamabad
• Rawalpindi
• Lahore
• Karachi
• Quetta
• Peshawar
• Multan
• Bahawalpur
• Kashmir
• Northern Pakistan

 

Islamabad/Rawalpindi

The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad lie against the back drop of Margallah Hills on the Potohar plateau. On the basis of archaeological discoveries, it is believe that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau as for as back as 300,000 years. Based upon the stone implements found in Soan Valley, researchers have revealed various aspects of activities of the primitive human being. The earliest tools stuck from large pebbles have been named as “Early Soan” and “Late Soan”, when better and finer tools were made during Paleolithic period. In the new stone age known as “Neolithic Culture, i.e. 10, 000 to 5,000 BC, finer and polished stone and some Neolithic burials of long Homo Sapiens were found near Rawat. These discoveries are comparable to “Cromerien” tools of Paleolithic period discovered in Europe.

Serai Khola, located 03 kms south west of Bhir Mound, is considered as the earliest settlement of Taxila. The discovery of stone Celt’s, chert blades, cores, stone arrow heads, scrappers, terracotta animals and female figurines, clay bangles , stone and paste breads, copper pins, and wide range of poetry has pushed the history of Taxila from 600 BC to 3000 BC. Three cultural sequences, namely , historic at the top, Kota Dijian in the Middle and late Neolithic at the bottom have been discovered at Seraj Khola near Taxila. (Source: Islamabad PTDC, 2005)

Lahore

Legend has it that Lahore was founded by son of Lord Rama about 4,000 years ago. Historically, it has been proved that Lahore is about 2,000 years old. Hieun-tasng, the famous Chinese pilgrim has given a vivid description of Lahore city which he visited in the early parts of the seventh century A.D.

For 200 years, beginning from about 1525 A.D., Lahore was a thriving cultural centre of the great Mughal Empire. Mughal Emperors beautified Lahore, with palaces, gardens and mosques. During the British regime many monuments sprang up in Lahore which blended beautifully with the Mughal, Gothic and Victorian styles of architecture.

Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and the provincial capital of Punjab. Apart from being the cultural and academic centre of the country, Lahore is the Mughal "Show-Window" of Pakistan. The origins of Lahore are shrouded in the mists of antiquity. Reminiscence of its hoary past are the remains of a subterranean temple in the northern part of the Royal Fort, attributed to Rama, the legendary hero of Ramayana. Lying on the main trade and invasion routes to the South Asia, Lahore has been ruled and plundered by a number of dynasties and herdes. However, it touched the zenith of its glory during the rule of the Mughals. The Mughals, who were famous as builders, gave Lahore some of its finest architectural monuments that are extinct today. (Source: Lahore PTDC, 2005)

Karachi

Karachi the largest and the most populous city of Pakistan, presents an interesting and colourful combination of the old and new. The narrow twisting lanes and alleys of the old city throb with life alongside wide metalled road and elegant modern building. Within the city, talented artisans with age-old skills produce handicrafts of exquisite beauty.

Karachi offers a variety of pleasant attractions, wide sunny beaches deep-sea fishing. yachting, golf and horseracing, all year round. Its restaurants cater to a wide choice of Pakistani and Western cuisines. Its markets and bazaars offer an endless variety of exciting shopping, including indigenous handicrafts. Particularly rugs and carpets of rare designs and beauty.

Karachi `s recorded history goes back to the 18th century when its was a small fishing village known as Kalachi-jo-Goth. With the development of its harbour it gradually grew into a large city and an important centre of trade and industry. Its selection as the capital of Pakistan in 1947 added to its importance and accelerated its growth and development. (Source: Karachi PTDC, 2005)

Quetta

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, 1692 metres above sea level, lies at the mouth of Bolan Pass. It has three large craggy mountains. Chiltan, Zarghun and Koh-e-Murdar,that seem to brood upon this pleasant town. There are other mountains that form a ring around it. Their copper red and russet rocks and crests that are powdered with snow in winters add immense charm to the town.

Quetta is connected to the rest of the country by road, rail and air. The R.C.D. Highway connects it to Karachi and then on (via Koh-e-Taftan) to Tehran, Iran, 1435 kms away. The road to Sibi connects it with Punjab and upper Sindh. The road via Loralai - Fort Munro -D.G. Khan and Multan is a short route for Punjab. The Chaman Road is a link between the county and the Afghan border. Quetta is linked by PIA with Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad by daily flights.

Quetta is an excellent base for further exploration of Balochistan. Kan Mehtarzai (224 metres), the highest railway station in Asia, is a two-hour drive away. Loralai, the almond bowl of the country, is 265 kms away. Besides, there are numerous other valleys that are fascinating places to be in for explorers.

Quetta can rightly be called the fruit basket of Pakistan. Plums, peaches, pomegranates, apricots, apples, guavas (locally called zaitoon), some unique varieties of melon like "Garma" and "Sarda" and cherries, pistachios and almonds are all grown in abundance. Some pistachios also grow in Qila Saif Ullah also. Saffron grows very well on mountains around 5000 ft (1524 metres) high. It is being cultivated on a commercial scale here. Tulip is an indigenous flower of Pakistan. The yellow and red varieties of tulip grow wild around Quetta. (Source: Quetta PTDC, 2005)

Multan

Multan is one of the oldest living cities in South West Asia. The history of Multan is the history of the sub-continent. Every invader from Alexander to the British has fought for control of the city. Multan is located about one hundred kilometers from Punjnand, where the five mighty rivers of the Punjab meet. Here in Multan, are more  tombs of Saints and Sufis located in one place than anywhere else in the world. The city is dominated by towering brick and marble shrines, in particular by those of its eleventh century patron saints Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Hazrat Bahauddin Zakria. The tomb of Shams Tabrez is also located in Multan. They are not only objects of veneration for the locals, but also for thousands of people who throng in massive numbers to these shrines, searching for spiritual enlightenment. In fact, the galaxy of mosques and mausoleums erected in Multan speak eloquently of the grandeur and sublimity of this great city. Other remarkable sights in Multan are the Fort and the 18^th century Eidgah Mosque. Multan flourished in the Moghal era, becoming famous for its musicians and for the skill is craftsmen who perfected a special style of blue painting and glazed pottery.

 

Peshawar

Peshawar derives its name from a Sanskrit word "Pushpapura" meaning the city of flowers. Peshawar’s flowers were mentioned even in Moghal Emperor Babur’s memoirs.

Alexander’s legions and the southern wing of his army were held up here in 327 B.C. for forty days at a fort excavated recently, 27 ½ kms north-east of Peshawar at Pushkalavati (lotus city) near Charsadda.

The great Babur marched through historic Khyber Pass to conquer South Asia in 1526 and set up the Moghal Empire in the South Asia. The pass and the valley have resounded to the tramp of marching feet as successive armies hurtled down the crossroad of history, pathway of commerce, migration and invasion by Aryans, Scythians, Persians, Greeks, Bactrians, Kushans, Huns, Turks’ Mongols and Moghals.

And Peshawar is now, as always, very much a frontier town. The formalities of dress and manner give way here to a free and easy style, as men encounter men with a firm hand-clasp and a straight but friendly look. Hefty handsome men in baggy trousers and long, losse shirts, wear bullet studded bandoleers across their chests or pistols at their sides as a normal part of their dress. There is just that little touch of excitement and drama in the air that makes for a frontier land. (Source: Peshawar PTDC, 2005)

Northern Pakistan

Northern Areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq. km are as fascinating as its southern region. Amidst towering snow-clad peaks with heights varying from 1,000 m to 8, 000 meters, the regions of Gilgit, Hunza and Baltistan recall Shangri-La. The cultural patterns of these regions are as interesting as its geography. The people with typical costumes, folk dances, music and sports like polo, provide the traveller an unforgettable experience. Nowhere is the world is such a great concentration of high mountains, peaks, glaciers and passes except Pakistan. Of the 14 over 8,000 meters high peaks on earth, 04 occupy an amphitheater at the head of Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram range. These are; K-2 (8,611 m, world’s second highest), Gasherbrum-I (8,068 m), Broad Peak (8,047 m) and Gasherbrum-II (8,035 m). There is yet another which is equally great, Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), located at the western most end of the Himalayas. In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over 7,000 m and hundreds others over 6,000 meters. The Northern Pakistan has some of the longest glaciers outside Polar region; Siachen (72 km), Hispar (61 km), Biafo (60 km), Baltoro (60 km) and Batura (64 km).

In addition to what is mentioned above for Northern Pakistan, following are the places where are also of greatest interest for domestic as well as international tourists. (Source: Northern PTDC, 2005)

• Chital
• Kafir-Kalash
• Gilgit
• Hunza
• Kaghan
• Karakoram Highway
• Skardu
• Swat
• Mingora
• Saidu Sharif