Make Your Next Travel Destination Pakistan

Lakes of Pakistan

For the lover of adventure Pakistan is home to some of the most challenging peaks of the Himalayan Range. These mountains hide beautiful valleys in their midst and within them, lakes of mesmerizing beauty.

The two provinces of KPK and Gilgit are renowned for their beauty and largely untouched natural sceneries. The mountainous elegance at Lower Kachura Lake of Gilgit has been reputed as “Heaven on Earth”. There is amazing mountain climbing and trout fishing to be done at these locations. Human remains in this area date back to 2000 B.C.

The Upper Kachura lake is even more untouched by human civilization because of its raw terrain, but to get there is to enjoy pure Nature and the magnificence of the Western Himalayan mountain range.

The Saif-ul-Mulook lake “the lake of fairies” in Naran is another beautiful vision to behold. Although the landscape has become a little burdened by hordes of tourists, it is still a fascinating spectacle of nature. It is guarded by the regal glacial peak of a mountain called “Malika Parbat” or Queen of the earth. The lake is most famous for the fairy tale that was converted to a poem by a Sufi Saint and is indeed extremely captivating. It is fabled that an Egyptian prince “Saif”, fell in love with a fairy “Badi-ul-Jamal” who danced upon the lake on the night of the full moon every month, but was the captive of a white giant. Saif, being human had to pass several tests in order to rescue her from the white giant and become worthy of a “fairy queen”.

No one has ever seen the fairy but the view of the moon reflected in the still waters of lake Saif-ul -Mulook every full moon is indeed a sight worthy of fairytales.

Pakistan holds a key to the heart of any aspiring archaeological soul. The lap of Sindh houses the progeny of Indus Valley culture, civilization and artifacts.

Mohenjo Daro or “mound of the dead men”, a city built around 2500 BCE, has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1980.

Mohenjo Daro is one of the world’s largest ancient cities amongst those found in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Abandoned in the 19th century BCE with the decline of the Indus Valley civilization, it was discovered thousands of years later in 1920 A.D.

The city ruins stand majestically with a citadel at its center almost 34 ft high. The level of organization within the city’s architecture is fascinating, revealing well designed houses, marketplaces, wells and even a system of covered drains for the waste water.

The neighboring areas of Cholistan Desert are home to a people who have lived on the fringe of the Indus Valley civilization for over hundreds of years. Their colorful outfits lend a whimsical artistry to the arid background. Their pottery, leather products and beautiful workmanship produce some of the best terracotta products.

The cotton fabric, always a hallmark of the Indus Valley civilization is still a large part of marketable goods in the area. Special colorful patterned cotton called Ajrak and woven silks called “Sufi” are manufactured in this belt, along with the brightly lit colored scarfs called chunri which young girls wear on weddings. The rugs and carpets produced here are the finest to come from the whole subcontinent.

All in all, this area of Sindh and its rich desert culture provides some of the most fascinating cultural, historical and educational tourism for the unanchored spirit of the wanderer or the eager mind of a student.

When thinking of your next travel destination what comes in mind? How about Pakistan? If not, then I’d like to welcome you to my country.

When you visit, you will discover a country full of remarkable hospitality especially in the Punjab city of Lahore. Lahore is a modern city that is progressing with the times but at its heart, hides a historical gem: The walled city. This city within a city cradles the Mughal heritage, the rise and fall of the Sikh and British empire.

The one place you can see all these influences celebrated together is the Lahore Fort. A mud fort in 1021, Lahore Fort has been through many transformations, being given its current form in 1566 by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Every Mughal emperor, the Sikhs and the British, have added a pavilion, palace, or wall to the Lahore Fort, making it the only monument in Pakistan which represents a complete history of Mughal architecture.

Lahore Fort is also home to The Picture Wall, 17 meters in height and 450 meters in width, it is the biggest mural in the world. It was ordered by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1624 and constructed using a Persian art technique called Kashi Kari which is a decorative art form involving ceramic tiles, faience and fabric. This picture walls houses a hybrid of art:  angels form Europe, Chinese dragons, royal hunts, battles, birds, beasts and history all make an appearance on this glorious wall.

Within the Fort is the Sheesh Mahal a chamber fully encrusted with mirrors which shine like a million stars in the night sky when light catches them.So, welcome to the romance of the Mughals, the fragrant spices of the subcontinent, and the architectural colors of Pakistan, it will be an unforgettable trip filled with history, and magic.