| |
Traveling and Hoteling in Pakistan
Pakistan The Land of Adventure and Nature
From the mighty stretches of the Karakorams 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 lovers to
Pakistan.
Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora and fauna.
High Himalayas, Karakoram and the 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.
:: Diverse Culture and Ancient Civilizations
Situated in the heart of the South Asian sub-continent, it is
a country with its own fascinating history and cultural
heritage. Pakistan was the site for one of the world's
earliest human settlements, the great prehistoric Indus Valley
Civilization, the crucible of ancient empires, religions and
cultures. Pakistan traces its history back to 2,500 years B.C.
when a highly developed civilization flourished in the Indus
Valley. Excavations at Harappa, Moenjodaro, Kot Diji and Mehr
Garh have brought to light, the evidence of an advanced
civilization existing even in more ancient times.
:: Landscape, Location and Geography
The landscape of Pakistan ranges from lofty mountains in the
north, the Karakoram and the Himalayas, through dissected
plateaus to the rich alluvial plains of the Punjab. Then
follows desolate barrenness of Balochistan and the hot dry
deserts of Sindh blending into miles and miles of golden
beaches of Mekran coast.
Pakistan is situated between latitude 24 and 37 degrees North
and longitude 62 and 75 degrees East. The country borders Iran
on the West, India on the East, Afghanistan in the North-West,
China in the North and the Arabian Sea in the South. The great
mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the
Hindukush form Pakistan's northern highlands of North West
Frontier Province and the Northern Area; Punjab province is a
flat, alluvial plain with five major rivers dominating the
upper region eventually joining the Indus River flowing south
to the Arabian Sea; Sindh is bounded on the east by the Thar
Desert and the Rann of Kutch and on the west by the Kirthar
range; the Balochistan Plateau is an arid tableland, encircled
by dry mountains. Its total area is 803,940 Sq.Km and total
land area is 778,720 Sq.Km. (including FATA and FANA).
:: Unique Mountains, Valleys and Glaciers
Northern areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq.Km. are
fascinating as its southern region. Amidst towering snow-clad
peaks with heights varying from 1000 m to over 8000 meter, 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 costumes, folk dances,
music and sports like polo and buzkashi provide the traveler
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 8000 peaks on
earth, 4 occupy an amphitheater at the head of Baltoro glacier
in the Karakoram range. These are: K-2 (8611 m, world second
highest), Broad Peak (8047m), Gasherbrum I (8068m) and
Gasherbrum II (8035m). There is yet another which is equally
great, that is, Nanga Parbat (8126m) at the western most end
of the Himalayas. In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over
7000 m and hundreds which are over 6000 m. The Northern
Pakistan has some of the longest glaciers outside Polar
region; Siachen (72 km), Hispar (61 km.), Biafo (60 km.),
Baltoro (60 km.), Batura (64 km.), Yenguta (35 km.), Chiantar
(34 km.), Trich (29 km.) and Atrak (28 km.). The lower
Himalayan valleys of Swat, Kaghan and Chitral in the Hindukush
range equally share the beauty and diverse culture of the
Northern Pakistan.
:: Indus Valley Civilization:
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 recently 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 Heritage
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
carving &* 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 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 A.D. during the next 20 years,
Taxila, Peshawar and Swat became a renowned center of
learning, philosophy, art and trade. Pilgrims and travelers
were attracted to Gandhara from as far as China and Greece. In
5th century AD, the White Huns snuffed out the last of the
successive civilizations that held unbroken sway in this
region for several centuries.
:: Mughal And Early Muslim Heritage
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 Gaznavis (1021-1186), Ghoris (1186-1202) and
Slaves (1206-1524) before arrival of the Mughals. The city was
conquered by Babur of Ferghana (now in Uzbekistan), the
founder of the Mughal dynasty (1524-1764). All the important
monuments like the Royal Fort, Badshahi Mosque. Wazir Khan's
Mosque, Tombs of Jehangir, Asaf Khan, Noor Jehan, 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
master pieces 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 Bib Jiwandi at Uchh Sharif near
Bahawalpur.
:: The Silk Route
For centuries, it remained the main trading route between the
South Asia and the Central Asia. After the completion of the
Karakoram Highway (KKH) in 1978 along the same route, joining
Pakistan with Chinese Muslim autonomous region of Xinjiang,
the ancient trade link has been revived. The KKH has provided
a great opportunity for international travellers to explore
the un-spoilt natural beauty, unique culture and ancient
traditions of Northern Pakistan together with other Silk Road
countries like China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and
Uzbekistan.
:: Valleys of the Himalaya and the Hindukush
The Murree Hills and the Gallies, 55 km from Islamabad, at an
altitude of 2,286 m are the most popular summer resorts in
Pakistan. With a perfect Himalayan atmosphere and equipped
with all modern facilities like good communication network,
resort hotels, golf course and chair-lift/cable cars, Murree
and Gallies are a wonderful retreat from the hot weather of
the plains in summer. A holiday in Kaghan Valley, the
Himalayan hide-away in the North West Frontier Province,(NWFP)
is an un-forgettable experience. Its peaks, dales, lakes,
water-falls, streams and glaciers are still in an unbelievable
pristine state. The valley extends for 155 km rising from an
elevation of 2,134 m to its highest point, the Babusar Pass,
at 4,173 m. The lush green valley of Swat, has a rich
historical past. This is “Udyana” (the garden) of ancient
Hindu epics; the land of enthralling beauty, where Alexander
of Mecedonia fought and won some of his major battles. This is
the “valley of the hanging chairs” as described by famous
Chinese pilgrims, Fa-Hien and Hsuan Tsang in the 5th and 7th
centuries.
Azad Kashmir rivals the Kaghan and Swat valleys in natural
beauty. It extends from the plains of Mirpur at the northern
edges of the Punjab through the outlyng foothills of the
Haimalayas, to the mountains in the north at 6,000 meters
above sea level. It is blessed with three major rivers, the
Jehlum, the Neelum and the Poonch. Chitral valley is like a
crown on the Hindukush mountains with its high peaks, green
pastures and unique culture, Chitral has attracted
mountaineers, trekkers, naturalists and anthropologists alike.
One of the major attractions of Chitral are the Kalash valleys
- the home of the Kalash “wearers of the black robes”, a
primitive pagan tribe.
:: Trekking In Pakistan
Pakistan is a paradise for trekkers. Most of the trekking
routes lies in the northern mountains of the Hindukush, the
Karakorams and the Himalayas. For most of the treks, trekking
season is between May to October. The Ministry of Tourism,
Government of Pakistan, has defined trekking as walking below
6000 m. It has designated three zones for trekking; open,
restricted and closed. Foreigners may trek anywhere in open
zone without a permit or services of a licensed mountain
guide. For trekking in restricted zone, foreigners must pay a
fee of US$ 20 per person per trek to obtain a trekking permit
from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of Pakistan Islamabad. It
also requires to hire a licensed mountain guide; buy a
personal accident insurance policy for the guide and the
porters and to attend mandatory briefing and de-briefing at
the Ministry of Tourism, on the beginning and end of the
trekking trip. No trekking is allowed in closed zones which
are the areas near Pak-Afghan border and near the Line of
Control with Indian-held Kashmir.
:: Mountaineering In Pakistan
Northern Pakistan has the greatest concentration of the
highest peaks of the world. It has 05 peaks over 8,000 metres
including the world’s second highest, K-2 (Chogori, 8611 m),
29 peaks of over 7,500 metres and 121 of over 7,000 metres.
Hundreds of peaks are still lying un-climbed. This, is a great
challenge for the mountaineers and mountain climbers the world
over. All peaks/routes for mountaineering have been designated
as open zone or restricted zone. Permits for climbing peaks in
open zone, are issued by the Ministry of Tourism, within 24
hours of the receipt of application. However, for peaks/routes
in restricted zone, permit is issued within 14 days form the
date of receipt of the application in Ministry of Tourism,
Government of Pakistan (Operation Section) Pakistan Sports
Complex, Shahrah-e-Kashmir, near Aabpara, Islamabad.
Tel:+92-51-9203509 Fax:+92-51-9202347). Pakistani Liaison
Officer would accompany all mountaineering expeditions. The
Government of Pakistan has fixed following rate or royalty for
climbing peaks in Pakistan.
Royalty rate for climbing peaks in Pakistan.
SR#. Heights Royalty in US$ Additional fee up to 05 Climbers
for each Climber
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------1-
K-2 (8,611m) 12,000 3,0002- 8,001 - 8,500m 9,500 3,0003- 7,501
- 8,000m 4,000 1,000
4- 7,001 - 7,500m 2,500 500
5- 6,000 - 7,000m 1,500
300--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S# Peak
Height(m) Int.Ranking
Range
1- K-2
8611
2
Karakoram
2- Nanga Parbat 8125
9
Karakoram
3- GasherbrumI 8068
11
Karakoram
4- Broad Peak
8047
12
Karakoram
5- GasherbrumII 8035
14
Karakoram
6- GasherbrumIII 7952
15
Karakoram
7- GasherbrumIV 7925
17
Karakoram
8- DistaghilSar
7885
20
Karakoram
9- Kunyang Chhish 7852
22
Karakoram
10- MasherbrumNE 7821
24
Karakoram
11- Rakaposhi
7788
27
Karakoram
12- Batura
7785
28
Karakoram
13- Kanjut Sar
7760
29
Karakoram
14- Saltro Kagri
7742
33
Karakoram
15- Trivor
7720
36
Karakoram
16- Tirichmir
7708
41
Karakoram
17- Chogolisa
7654
46
Karakoram
18- Shispare
7619
49
Karakoram
19- Skyang Kangri 7544
58
Karakoram
20- Pamuri Chhish 7492
67
Karakoram
21- Noshaq
7492
68
Karakoram
22- TirichmirNW 7487
69
Karakoram
23- K-12
7468
73
Karakoram
24- Teram Kangri 7463
74
Karakoram
25- MalubitingW 7452
76
Karakoram
26- Sia Kingri
7422
79
Karakoram
27- Skilbrum
7420
80
Karakoram
28- Teram KangriII 7406
82
Karakoram
29- Haramosh
7406
84
Karakoram
30- Istro-o-nal
7403
85
Karakoram
31- Mt Ghent
7400
86
Karakoram
32- Yukshin Gardan 7400
87
Karakoram
33- Ultar SarI & II 7388
88
Karakoram
|
|