Explore Pakistan
Pakistan is the land of the Indus River, which flows through the country for 1,600 miles from the Himalayan Mountains to the Arabian Sea. It is a land of snow covered peaks and burning deserts, of fertile mountain valleys and irrigated plains. Created in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent, it is inhabited by some 130 million people speaking over 20 different languages and wearing distinctive costumes, yet all united by the Islamic faith.
‘The Land of the Pure’ (English translation of Pakistan) is strategically placed at the crossroads of Asia, where the silk roads from China to the Mediterranean meet the trade routes from India and Central Asia. For thousands of years this junction has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, attracting traders, adventurers, pilgrims and holy men, creating a deep and ancient cultural base.
The country’s main cities reflect these diverse influences, both historical and modern. Lahore, close to the Indian border, is the cultural center of the country, with an elegant core of Mughal architecture embellished by the flower of the Raj. Peshawar, on the Northwest frontier with Afghanistan, is a city straight out of Arabian Nights, with tribesman in turbans nonchalantly carrying rifles through colorful bazaars. lslamabad, the federal capital, is a modern garden city planned by Greek architects.
Best of all are Pakistan’s natural wonders. The terrain includes five of the world’s seventeen highest mountains including the second highest in the world, K-2; the vast vast Thar desert, which is best explored on camel safari; five huge rivers, that flow south to the sea creating the largest irrigation network in the world; the shores of the Arabian Sea, which comprise of hundreds of miles of almost uninhabited beaches. To those hungry for exploration and adventure, Pakistan beckons.
