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Top 50 Reasons to Tour Pakistan
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The
Chitral Valley| The Kalash
Valley | The Gilgit Valley
Shandur
Pollo Tournament in Northern Pakistan |
Hunza
Pakistan
The kaghan Valley | The
Karakoram Highway
| Skardu | Deosai,
Nanga Parbat | Shangrila
The
Chitral Valley
The Chitral Valley at
an elevation of 1,128 meters is favorite with mountaineers, anglers, hunters,
hikers, naturalists and anthropologists. The 7,705 meters Trichmir, the
highest peak of the Hindukush range, dominates this 322 kms. Chitral district
has Afghanistan on its north, south and west. A narrow strip of Afghan
territory, Wakhan, separates it from Tajikistan. The tourist season in
Chitral is from June to September. The maximum temperature in June is
35 C and the minimum 19 C. In September the maximum is 24 C and minimum
8C.
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The
Kalash Valley
One of the major attractions of Chitral
are the Kalash valleys - the home of the Kafir-Kalash or "Wearers
of the Black Robes", a primitive pagan tribe. Their ancestry is enveloped
in mystery and is the subject of controversy. A legend says that five
soldiers of the legions of Alexander of Macedonia settled in Chitral and
are the progenitors of the Kafir-Kalash. Over 3,000-strong Kafir-Kalash
live in the valley of Birir, Bumburet and Rambur, south of Chitral. Bumburet,
the largest and the most picturesque valley of the Kafir-Kalash, is 40
kms from Chitral and is connected by a jeep-able road. Birir, 34 kms away
is accessible by a jeep-able road. Rambur is 32 kms from Chitral. The
Kalash women wear black gowns of coarse cloth in summer and hand-spun
wool dyed in black in winter. Their picturesque headgear is made of woolen
black material decked out with cowry shells, buttons and crowned with
a large colored feather. The Kalash are fun loving people who love music
and dancing particularly on occasion of their religious festival like
Joshi Chilinjusht (14th & 15th May-spring), Phool (20th - 25th September)
and Chomas (18th to 21st December for a week).
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The Gilgit Valley
At an elevation of 1,454
metres lies the Gilgit Valley. The quaint little town of Gilgit has spectacular
scenic beauty. The peak tourist season is from May to mid-October though
the tourist season is round the year. The maximum temperature in May is
33 C and the minimum 16 C and in September Maximum 28 C and minimum 11C.
10 Kms. from Gilgit town is a beautiful rock engraving of Buddha of 7th
century A.D at the mouth of the Kargah Nullah. A victory monument of Taj
Mughal, built 700 years ago, is 30 kms. The bridge over the fast flowing
Gilgit River is the largest suspension bridge in Asia (182 metres long
and 2 metres wide) permitting enough room for one jeep at a time to cross.
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Shandur
Pollo Tournament in Northern Pakistan
One of the
first team sports ever played, polo is believed to have originated in
Persia in the 1st century AD. From there it traveled to Tibet, China and
India, where British cavalry officers adopted it with a vengeance in the
1850s. Nowhere is the charged atmosphere of "wild" polo better
viewed than in northern Pakistan where rules come a distant second to
derring-do and skilful horsemanship. To many, the Shandur Polo Tournament
is the highlight of the polo year. Here, at 4,000m, top teams take each
other on in maneuvers worthy of the Great Game itself, cheered on by thousands
of supporters.
Hunza
Pakistan
The
visitors to Hunza are overwhelmed by the rugged charm, the fragrant breeze
singing through graceful poplar trees and the velvet-like green carpet
of wheat fields, set against the background of snow-covered mountains.
Situated at an elevation of 2,438 meters, Hunza valley's tourist season
is from May to October. The temperature in May is maximum 27 C and minimum
14 C. The October temperatures are: maximum 10 C and minimum 0 C. Most
of the people of Hunza are Ismaili Muslims, followers of His Highness
the Aga Khan. The local language is Brushuski, Urdu and English are also
understood by a number of people. Karimabad, the capital of Hunza, offers
an awe-inspiring view of Rakaposhi (7,788 meters). The snows of Rakaposhi
glitter in the moonlight, producing an atmosphere at once ethereal and
sublime. The fairy-tale like castle of Baltit, above Karimabad, is a Hunza
landmark built about 600 years ago. Stilted on massive legs, its wooden
bay windows look out over the valley. Originally, it was used as the residence
of the Mirs (the title of the former rulers of Hunza).
The
Kaghan Valley
A holiday in the Kaghan Valley, the Himalayan hide-away, north-east of
the Hazara district of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, is an
unforgettable experience. Its mountains, dales, lakes, water-falls, streams
and glaciers are still in unbelievable pristine state, and unspoiled paradise.
That is why it can be such a deeply satisfying experience to spend a few
days in Kaghan. The Valley extends for 155 kms. Rising from an elevation
of 2,134 meters to its highest point, the Babusar Pass, at 4,173 meters.
Kaghan is at its best in the summer months (May to September). In May
the temperature is: maximum 11 C and the minimum 3 C. From the middle
of July up to the end of September, the road beyond Naran, snow-bound
throughout the winter, is open right up to Babusar Pass. Movement is restricted
during the monsoon season also. Balakot is gateway to the Kaghan Valley.
Balakot has the shrines of Syed Ahmed Shaheed and Ismail Shaheed Brelvi,
the South Asia great freedom fighters. At Naran 23 kms, from Kaghan you
reach the half-way point. Naran also serves as the base for the whole
valley. From here you can ride a jeep or horse or hike in excursions to
several picturesque lakes, valleys and peaks. Lake Saiful Muluk has a
touch of the unreal about it; nestling 3,200 meters high in the shadow
of the Malika Parbat (Queen of the mountains) 5,291 meters high. You can
go boating on the lake and hear the local legend about Prince Saiful Muluk
who fell in love with a fairy. Further up are quaint woodland villages;
Battakundi, Burawai, Besal Gittidas and Lalazar.
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The
Karakoram Highway
A new all-weather road, the Karakoram Highway connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad
with China's Xinjiang Province runs through the Northern Areas. The 805
kms, dual carriage metalled road starts from Havelian, 100 kms from Islamabad
and winds through Abbottabad-Mansehra-Thakot-Besham-Pattan-S azin-Chils-Gilgit-Hunza
to the Chinese Frontier across the 4,733 meters high Khunjerab Pass. The
road built by the Pakistan Army engineers in association with the Chinese
experts and technicians has been described as a marvel of civil engineering
and even as "the Eighth Wonder of the World." Completed in 15
years, it has been forced through some of the world's toughest terrain.
The road not only opens up the Northern Areas to trade and travel but
provides easy access to hitherto closed regions, connected by jeep or
goat tracks.
Skardu
Skardu, capital of Baltistan is perched 2,438 meters above sea level in
the backdrop of the great peaks of the Karakoram mountain range. Baltistan
is known as the "Tibet-e-Khurd" or Little Tibet since its life-style
reflects that of the roof of the World and Land of Lamas. It borders on
the Chinese province of Xinjiang and Indian-occupied Kashmir. The tourist
season is from April to October. The maximum temperature is 27C and the
minimum (October) 8C. Apart from its incomparable cluster of mountain
peaks and glaciers Baltistan's five valleys- Shigar, Skardu, Khaplu, Rondu
and Kharmang are noted for their luscious peaches, apricots, apples and
pears. Skardu has a historic Fort atop a ridge known as the Mindoq-Khar
or Castle of Queen Mindoq and three lovely lakes. The two- Kachura Lake
29 kms and Stapra Lake 8 kms from Sakrdu-are ideal for fishing. Before
reaching Deosai, you will also witness the magical views of Nanaga Parbat
(8126 m), the ninth highest peak of the world. At Deosai, you first stop
will be at Sheosar Lake. This place offers beautiful views of south face
of Nanga Parbat and a panoramic view of Deosai Plains. At Bara Pani, you
can spend one day and visit the core of the National Park for Bear watching
or you may enjoy fishing in the cold waters or Barwai Stream. From Deosai,
you can travel back via Skardu and Gilgit to enjoy the most thrilling
drive along the Indus River.
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Deosai, Nanga
Parbat:
Before reaching Deosai, you will also witness the magical views of Nanaga
Parbat (8126 m), the ninth highest peak of the world. At Deosai, you first
stop will be at Sheosar Lake. This place offers beautiful views of south
fact of Nanga Parbat and a panoramic view of Deosai Plains. At Bara Pani,
you can spend one day and visit the core of the National Park for Bear
watching or you may enjoy fishing in the cold waters or Barwai Stream.
From Deosai, you can travel back via Skardu and Gilgit to enjoy the most
thrilling drive along the Indus River.
Shangrila:
Shangrila
Resort is generally the place referred to in Pakistan as the "Roof
of the World". This is an extremely beautiful place which is surrounded
on all sides by mountains and is cut off from the rest of Pakistan (unlike
Hunza). Comparable yet different to Hunza in several aspects, this area
is a wonderful place to visit.
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AFFORDABLE HOTELS IN PAKISTAN
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