Pakistan is a country of unique tourist attractions. A trip through Pakistan is a face-to-face encounter with a fascinating land ranging from high altitude mountains to vast fertile plains and coastline. The historical monuments and archaeological heritage of the country together with a secure and friendly atmosphere offer added attraction to the tourists.
Pakistan is a special interest destination. Its main attractions include adventure tourism in the Northern Areas, cultural and archaeological tourism as found in Taxila, Moenjodaro, Harrappa, and early Muslim and Mughal heritage of Multan and Lahore, Thatta, Peshawar, Swat. Besides this, bird watching, jeep safaris, desert safaris, trekking and mountaineering and other adventure opportunities abound in the country.
For centuries, the ancient Silk Road remained the main trading route between the South and the Central Asia. After the construction of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) along the same alignment, which joins Pakistan with the Chinese region of Xinjiang, the ancient trade link has been revived. The KKH has provided a great opportunity for international travelers to explore the unspoiled natural beauty, unique culture and traditions of the Northern Pakistan together with other Silk Route destinations like China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The 805-km long Karakoram Highway traverses through high altitude mountains and valleys surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks, and is rightly considered the eighth wonder of the world.
Northern Areas of Pakistan spread over 72,496 sq. kilometers are as fascinating as its southern region. Amidst towering snow-clad peaks with heights varying from 1,000 meters to over 8,000 meters, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu recall Shangri-La. The cultural patterns in this region are as interesting as its topography. The people with
typical customs, folk dances, music and sports like polo and buzkashi (sheep hunting) provide the traveler with an unforgettable experience.
Nowhere in the world there is such a great concentration of high mountains, peaks, glaciers and passes except Pakistan. Of the 14 over 8,000 meters on earth 4 occupy an amphitheater at the head of Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram range. These are K-2 (8,611 meters, world's second highest), Broad Peak (8,047 meters), Gasherbrum I (8,068 meters) and Gasherbrum II (8,035 meters). There is yet another which is equally great, that is, Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) at the western end of the Himalayas. In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over 7,000 meters and hundreds which are over 6,000 meters. The Northern Pakistan has some of the longest glaciers outside Polar region; Siachen (72 kilometers), Hispar (61 kilometers), Biafo (60 kilometers), Baltoro (60 kilometers), Batura (64 kilometers), Yenguta (35 kilometers), Chiantar (34 kilometers), Trich (29 kilometers) and Atrak (28 kilometers). The lower Himalayan valleys of Swat, Kaghan and Chitral in the Hindukush range equally share the beauty and diverse culture of the Northern Pakistan.
From the mighty stretches of the Karakoram in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure and nature. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities which entice the adventure and nature covers to Pakistan.
Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora and fauna. High Himalayas, Karakorams and Hindukush ranges with their alpine meadows and permanent snow line, coniferous forests down the sub-mountain scrub, the vast Indus plain merging into the great desert, the coast line and wetlands, all offer a remarkably rich variety of vegetation and associated wildlife including avifauna, both endemic and migratory. Ten of 18 mammalian orders are represented in Pakistan with species ranging from the world's smallest surviving mammals, the Mediterranean Pigmy shrew, to the largest mammal ever known; the blue whale.
The Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak from the 3rd till the middle of the 2nd millennium BC discovered in 1922, Moenjodaro was once a metropolis of great importance, forming part of the Indus Valley Civilization together with Harrappa (discovered in 1923), Kot Diji and recent discovered in Mehr Garh (Balochistan). Moenjodaro is considered as one of the most spectacular ancient cities of the world. It had mud and baked bricks' buildings, an elaborate covered drainage system, a large state granary, a spacious pillared hall, a College of Priests, a palace and a citadel. Harrappa, another major city of the Indus Valley Civilization, was surrounded by a massive brick wall fortification. Other features and plan of the city were similar to that of Moenjodaro. The Kot Diji culture is marked by well-made pottery and houses built of mud-bricks on stone foundations.
Gandhara remains had once been the hallowed center of Buddhism, the cradle of the world famous Gandhara sculpture, culture and learning. The archaeological remains found in Taxila, Peshawar, Charsadda, Takht Bhai, Swat Valley, and rock carvings and inscriptions along the ancient Silk Route (Karakoram Highway) has well recorded the history of Gandhara. Lying in Haro river valley, Taxila, the main center of Gandhara, is over 3,000 years old as it had attracted the attention of the great conqueror, Alexander the Great in 327 BC, when it was a province of the powerful Achaemenian Empire. It later came under the Maurian dynasty and reached a remarkable matured level of development under the great Ashoka. Then appeared the Indo-Greek descendants of Alexander's warriors and finally came the most creative period of Gandhara. The Kushan dynasty was established in about 50 AD. During the next 200 years, Taxila, Peshawar and Swat became renowned centers of learning, philosophy, art and trade. Pilgrims and travelers were attracted to Gandhara from as far as China and Greece. In 15th century AD, the White Huns snuffed out the last of the successive civilizations that held unbroken sway in this region for several centuries.
Pakistan is a treasure house of Muslim architecture. Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan is situated along the bank of Ravi River. The city has witnessed rise and fall of many dynasties like Ghaznevis (1021-1186), Ghoris (1186-1202) and Slaves (1206-1524) before arrival of the Mughals. The city was conquered by Babur of Ferghana (now Uzbekistan), the founder of the Mughal dynasty (1524-1764). All the important monuments of Lahore like the Royal Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan's Mosque, tombs of Jahangir, Asif Khan, Noor Jehan and Anarkali, the Shalimar Gardens and Hiran Minar etc. were constructed during this period.
On the other hand, the shrines, mosques and forts located in and around Multan and Bahawalpur are masterpieces of Muslim architecture. Some important buildings are, Forts at Multan and Derawar (Bahawalpur), shrines of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria, Shah Rukan-e-Alam, Hazrat Shams Tabrezi at Multan and Tomb of Bibi Jiwandi at Uchh Sharif near Bahawalpur.
Pakistan has well defined seasons that suit tourists from all regions of the world. Air links with major capitals of the world, a wide range of accommodation from modern well equipped hotel chains to rest houses, comfortable road travel within the country, homely atmosphere, traditional culinary delights, are added attractions, combined the warmth and simplicity of the people make Pakistan a destination full of adventure and enjoyments.
