TOP 25 PLACES TO VISIT IN PAKISTAN

TOP 25 PLACES TO VISIT IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan is not only about politicians fighting, people protesting for the ever increasing inflation, shortage of resources, electricity short fall… Pakistan is about beauty, aesthetics and an unlimited number of beautiful places. From hottest deserts to the coolest mountain peaks, greenest jungles to rocky roads, this country has it all…

The motive to introduce these places through Listedium is to change the perspective of the people who think Pakistan is a dangerous place to live in. When I was coming back to Pakistan from Spain, I invited my professor to visit Pakistan someday. And what he replied was that he’s scared to come to Pakistan. Although, I tried my best to entice him by telling the Euro to Pakistani Rupee conversion rate and the fact that he’ll find things much cheaper here. But even then, he was scared and too reluctant to visit. So may be, this is also one such attempt to show people what Pakistan is all about. =)

25)      Khyber Pass

Khyber pass is a passage connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan. Its starting point is Peshawar, Pakistan and it ends up opening in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Cutting through the Hindukush mountains, this passage is of main importance because of trading purposes.

24)  Jinnah Mausoleum

Jinnah Mausoleum or Mazar e Quaid is a memorial and resting place for the founder of Pakistan,  Quaid e Azam (Father of the Nation) Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The mausoleum was fully consutrcted in 1960s and is situated in Karachi. After every 20 minutes there is a ceremonial position shift of the honor guard, and every 4 hours changing of the guard. This is a must see if you are into military formalities. The mausoleum houses a museum too, where different artifacts such as bedroom furniture, guns, swords, pens, etc are found.

23)  Minar e Pakistan (Minaret of Pakistan)

Minar e Pakistan is a historical landmark that was built as a memorial for the Pakistan Resolution in 1968 in Lahore. The tall minaret stands to represent a mix of Mughal and modern architecture. This minaret is housed with an elevator to take the visitors up the 62 meter heighted tower. Views of the city Lahore can also be seen from the top.

22)  Port Fountain

Karachi has the third tallest fountain in the world. Situated next to the Oyster Rocks, Karachi harbor, this fountain raises water upto 620 ft.

21) Shah jahan Mosque

Shah Jahan Mosque is situated in Thatta and is considered as a master piece of Mughal architecture. The mosque was built in 1647 AD on the orders of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor. The mosque has 93 domes and 33 arches and no minarets.

The mosque has been designed with Turkish art work with beautiful mosaic tiles and floor work. The mosque is a worth visiting place in order to realize the design aesthetics of the Mughal Emperors.

20) Wagha Border

Wagha Border is the border between India and Pakistan connecting Lahore, Pakistan with Amritsar, India. This place is known for the Wagha Border Ceremony and should be visited before sunset as the ceremony starts at that time.

19) Karachi beach

Karachi is not only about tall buildings, market places, buzzing traffic horns… The densely populated city Karachi is blessed with a range of beach spots where people can go and enjoy a calm holiday. These places are an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city.

Although these beaches have been well polluted by the industrial waste but still there are some virgin spots where people can enjoy and have a sense of calm. Some of the well known beach spots in Karachi are: Seaview, Cape Monze, Clifton Beach, French Beach, Gadani, Hawke’s Bay, Manora Island, Paradise Point and Sandspit Beach.

18) Makli Graveyard

Makli necropolis is one of the largest in the world. The graveyard is situated a few kilometers away from Thatta. It is believed to be the resting place of over 125,000 rulers and saints. This is one of the sites in the World Heritage list.

The major attractions of the site are the unique engraved inscriptions on the graves. It is one of the most stunning archaeological sites in Pakistan, covering an area of approximately 15 square kilometers.

17) Ziarat

Ziarat is the capital of Ziarat district in Balochistan. It is a very good family resort place and offers a number of tourist attractions such as the Juniper forest, Jinnah’s Ziarat residency and a small dam. Ziarat is famous for the variety of fruits mainly cherries and apples. A must visit place in summers as the weather becomes really pleasant.

16) Gwadar Bay

The newly constructed city Gwadar has the most speckles beaches in Pakistan. Attempts are underway to develop the city so that a large number of tourists are attracted. Gwadar bay is a haven for the beach lovers around.

15) Mohen jo daro

Mohen jo daro is a sindhi phrase that means Mound of the Dead. It is situated around 30 Kilometers from the city of Larkana. The site was discovered in 1922. It is an archeological site which has the honor of being one of the 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southern Asia. It is believed that Mohen Jo Daro was constructed back in 2600 BC and was one of the major urban sites in that period.

http://www.mohenjodaro.net is a website containing all the necessary information.

14) Badshahi Mosque

Situated in the city of Lahore, Badhshahi Mosque was built in 1673. Badshahi mosque has had the honor of being the world’s largest Mosque from 1673 to 1986. Badshahi mosque has not made it to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites but has been included in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This extravagant structure stands firm in the hustling and bustling city of Lahore. This site provides the visitors with a sense of calmness and tranquility. The view of the mosque can be enjoyed from the surrounding restaurants.

13) Lahore Fort

Lahore Fort, also called “Shahi Qila” is a fort in the historical city of Lahore. The Fort is connected with the Badshahi mosque through Alamgiri Gate. The fort was built during the reign of Akbar in 1605. The design of the fort is a pristine depiction of the Muslim architecture. It also contains Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Naulakha Pavillion, Diwan e Khaas, Diwan e Aam and many other places to visit inside the fort.

12) Mall Road

Mall road, Murree is a haven for all the shopping maniacs. From jewellery to bags, clothes to shoes, everything is available in a very low price. You’ll find the cheapest stuff here. Good bargainers can bargain upto half of the original price. A must visit place if you have to buy gifts for family and friends.

11) Hanna Lake

Hanna Lake is an alluring picnic place, situated near the city of Quetta. The lake has a vast variety of eye catching sights. The lake’s water is turquoise in color which gives a good contrast with the mountainous range around. You can take a boat ride or sit in the lake side restaurant and sip chai and enjoy the scenery.

A must visit place if you go to Quetta. This is the one of the biggest and most accessible tourist place in Balochistan.

10) Rani Kot Fort

Although neglected, Rani Kot holds the title for being the largest fort of the world, with a circumference of about 26 Kilometers. It is situated 90 kilometers from Hyderabad. It is a nomination for the World Heritage site list. The history for the site is unknown.

9) Khewra Salt Mine

World’s second largest salt mine, located in Khewra. It is a major tourist attraction with around 250,000 tourists visiting the place every year. There’s a train that takes the visitors inside the mine. Inside the salt mine, there are a number of replicas made with salt bricks of major tourist attractions in Pakistan such as the Badhshahi Mosque, Minar e Pakistan, Mall road of Murree etc.

8) Port Grand

Port grand is a newly constructed complex that has integrated together food, fun, sightseeing and shopping. This complex is situated in the biggest port city of Pakistan, Karachi. The complex depicts an overall atmosphere of modernism along with serenity. Port grand has been a blessing for the people of city of lights; Karachi. Port grand has been dedicated to building an open eco-friendly environment, with special focus on regeneration.

7) Hingol National Park

The largest national park in Pakistan, located in the Makran coast in Balochistan. This national park covers part of the three districts of Balochistan namely: Gwadar, Lasbela and Awaran. Balochistan has a number of mud volcanoes and this park has a few of them.  This park also covers a large area where the Hingol river can be seen and thus this park supports a significant diversity of bird and fish. Hingol National Park is known to support at least 35 species of mammals, 65 species of amphibians and reptiles and 185 species of birds. Some 250 plant species were recorded in the initial surveys including 7 yet undescribed species. [source: Wikipedia]

6) Pir Sohawa

Pir Sohawa is the most visited place in Islamabad. It is located at an elevation of 5000 ft. It is located in a picturesque valley giving an excellent sight of the capital city. The place has a number of restaurants, where visitors can enjoy the food and the view along. This place will provide the visitors a view of the urban city on one side and as they turn their head on the other side, they’ll have a scenic view of the jungles and trees on Margalla hills.

5) Attabad Lake

Also known as the Hunza Lake, situated in the Hunza Valley was created as a result of the landslides in January 2010.  It is one of the biggest artificially created lakes of Pakistan.

4) Gorakh Hill Station

Gorakh is a hill station situation in the Dadu district in the province of Sindh. Situated at a height of 1,734 meters, is the only hill station in the province of Sindh. This is a hill station which is being developed at the moment. Though visits are possible but there is a need of proper hotels / motels in the area. This is the only place where it snows in winters.

3) Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad is the capital of Azad Kashmir. The city lies in the North of Pakistan. Apart from the promising sceneries and beautiful valleys, the city is home to two historical forts: the Red Fort (also known as the Chak Fort) and the Black Fort.

People from the South visit Muzaffarabad in summers to escape away from the heat and enjoy the pleasant weather.

2) Lake Saif ul Malook

Lake Saif Ul Malook is quoted as “Heaven on Earth” by the people who visit this magical place. It is located in the Kaghan Valley near the city of Naran. It is known to be one of the highest situated lakes in Pakistan.

Visitors can reach the place by jeeps in summer season, however due to intense snow falls in winters; this place can only be reached through 3-4 hours of trekking.

1) Concordia

The most beautiful place on Earth, Concordia, heart of the Karakoram range in Pakistan. Concordia is home to four of the world’s fourteen ‘Eight-Thousanders’. It is the best place for mountain hikers. The place is considered to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The sight provides breathtaking views of a number of notable peaks of Pakistan, such as the Godwin Austin, Gasherburn I, Broad Peak and others.