TOURISM

CULTURAL HERITAGE

PICTURE TOUR OF PAKISTAN

EXPLORING PAKISTAN

Situated on the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia, Pakistan is a beautiful country with a unique history and cultural heritage.Pakistan was the site for one of the world's earliest human settlements: the great prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization.

The land of Pakistan ranges from lofty mountains in the north, the Karakorams and the Himalayas, through dissected plateaus to the rich alluvial plains of the Punjab. Then follows the desolate barrenness of Baluchistan and the hot, dry deserts of Sindh blending into miles and miles of golden beaches of Makran coast.

Pakistan: A Tourist's Paradise

Pakistan's 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 at Multan, Lahore, Thatta, Peshawar and Swat.

PROVINCES OF PAKISTAN

Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan is a Federal Capital Area and the country has four Provinces as under :

1) Punjab
2) Sindh
3) NWFP
4) Balochistan

MOUNTAINEERING IN PAKISTAN

Northern Pakistan has the greatest concentration of the highest peaks in the world. It has 5 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 have yet to be climbed. This,is a great challenge for mountaineers and mountain climbers the world over.

All peaks/routes for mountaineering have been designated as open zones or restricted zones.

Trekking in Pakistan

Pakistan is a paradise for trekkers. Most of the trekking routes are in the northern mountains of 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.

What to buy

Pakistan is a treasure house of exquisite handicrafts, made by people who grew up weaving, creating pottery, working with metals wood and stone, decorating and building things small and great. Pottery in Pakistan is a living history, a traditional craft that became an art, with its origins going back to 3,000 years B.C. Today, each region of Pakistan claims its own special jars and jugs, from sturdy terracotta to paper-thin ceramics. For those keen on shopping, the prices are reasonable. You will find yourself returning home with hand-woven carpets, copper and brass items, woodwork, embroidered “Kurtas” (shirts) and “Khussas”(shoes) and countless objects d’art.

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