Pakistan is a land blessed with enormously rich historical heritage, diverse culture, high adventure, and unmatched natural beauty. From the relics of famous Civilizations of Gandhara and Indus to gigantic icy peaks, lush green valleys, meadows and lakes of crystal clear waters, Pakistan offer a unique and contrasted destination to behold the caravan of mankind across ages and precious beauties of nature, to the tourists of the world.
Mountains located in the northern part of Pakistan remain snow-capped throughout the year. Due to extreme cold weather in the months from November to February the bustle of life gives way to a frigid inactivity. In extremely cold areas people leave their homes and migrate to lowlands along with their cattle and essential household belongings. As the spring sets in the bustle of ife starts showing up again, people return to their homes and tourists from all over the country, as well as from abroad make way to these areas in great numbers. Most of the hill resorts in the provinces of Punjab and the NWFP (North West Frontier Province) are six to eight thousand feet high; they have scenic beauty and extremely pleasant weather conditions.
Murree and Patriata are the most attractive hill stations in the province of Punjab, moving higher within the radius of sixty to seventy km Ayubia, Khanaspur and Nathiagali are the panoramic hill stations located in the NWFP.
Beautiful valleys of Kaghan and Swat also lie in the NWFP. Located near Naran is the Lake Saif-ul-Malook, one of the most ravishing high altitude lakes in the world, Shugran and Siri Paya are the other tourist attractions located in the same vicinity.
In the valley of Sawat, Saidu Sharif, Marghzar, Behrein and Kalam are the well known tourist attractions. Malam Jabba and Mian Dam are emerging as comparatively new hill retreats in the same area.
The traveller with some knowledge of history, while pulling through those historical routs of Pakistan would experience that has become a part of the remote ages, now warped in the haze of history and myth. The serpentine road that enters Pakistan at Torkham border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, passing through the dry hillocks around the Khayber Pass has been the most ancient route of the conquerors and trade caravans. The Aryans the Scythians, the Parathions, the Greeks, the Bactrians, the Kushans, the huns, the turks, the Mongols and the Mughals entered South Asia through these routes.
Peshawar , the headquarters of NWFP is an ancient city famous for the Balahisar Fort, engraved copper utensils waistcoats, sandals decorated with embroidery and glasswork and its bazaars filled with the mouth watering redolence of Chapali Kababs (One of the famous dish in Pakistan), the most remarkable of these bazaars, the Kissa Khani bazaar, is now a living legend.
The Greek conqueror, Alexander the Great, crossed the Indus at the place slightly downstream the point where Attock Bridge now stands. Pulling through from Peshawar, Taxila is located sixteen km short of Islamabad. The city of Taxila and its suburbs preserve the remains of the magnificent Buddhist ruler Ashoka and the later period.
Ancient city of Peshawar, the NWFP headquarters, has always remained an object of special interest for historians and researchers. In the province of Punjab, the cities like Lahore, Multan, Bhawalpur, Kasur and many small townships like Behra (District Sargodha) enjoy the same historic position.
Valley of Sakesar is a beautiful health resort in the district of Khushab. Kallar Kahar, "the Valley of Peacocks" is attracting more and more people after the opening of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway.
Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province has a moderate coastal climate; it is neither very cold in winters nor very hot in summers. Clifton and Hawkes Bay are the ravishing coastal tourist attractions, so is Manora an offshore beautiful island near Karachi. Manchar and haliji lakes are the important tourist attractions in the interior Sindh.
Ziarat is the important health resort in the province of Balochistan. Quaid-e-Azam (The Founder Of Pakistan) spent the last days of his life at this place. There are many other tourist resorts near Quetta; hanna lake is one of them.
K-2, world's second highest mountain peak is a part of the Karakorum Range in the north of Pakistan. K-2 offers a challenge to mountain climbers because it is technically the world's most difficult climbing, even more difficult than the highest mountain Mount Everest.
In Chitral, there are three valleys Bamboret, Rambur and Birir inhabited by the Kafirs of Kalash. The Fascinating valley of Hunza is as full of life as the people who inhabit it. The Hunzakuts are noted for their longevity. The old trade route between Pakistan and China known as the "Silk Route" has now been revived as the Karakorum Highway, also dubbed the "Eight wonder of the world" This is one of the highest metalled roads in the world.
Lahore, the heart of East is an illustrious cultural and spiritual center. The great mystic Hazrat Majadid Alf-e-Sani gave it the name of "the Qutub of cities" (Qutub is a very high rank among mystic orders). Most remarkable among the monuments of Lahore are the Badshahi Mosque, Shahi Qila, and the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
Traveling through the lush green Punjab to ancient Harappa, the passing through the deserts areas of the province we reach Multan (the city of saints), pulling through the date palms oasis clustering around the historic city of Bhawalpur.
On the other side there is headquarters of Pakistan federal government located in the midst of lush green Margalla Hills. Islamabad, one of the most modern capital cities in the world, is known for its elegant government offices, The Faisal Mosque, educational institutions and breathtaking beauty of its parks and excursions sites.
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