Traveling to Pakistan will not only take you to know the historical cities such as Lahore or Karachi, which bring together a large part of the monumentality, but also the modern architecture, especially in the capital Islamabad has its place.
In the foothills of the Himalayas, the remains of the greatest Buddhist monasteries still lurk. The medieval Muslim mystics - Sufis - live in ancient cities, and the magnificent temples of Lahore hold the secrets of Akbar the Great. Pakistan is a country with a prevalent historical presence of peoples, empires and civilizations that passed through its territory and left their mark on both customs and religion.
Likewise, in a rich architecture and monumentality very present throughout the current Pakistani territory, Persians, Mughals, Mauryas, and later the British colonial era itself, left their mark. The good and comfortable hotels are concentrated in the capital city of Islamabad, as well as in Lahore and Karachi. First in Pakistan are ethnographic excursions and tours, followed by sports and extreme tourism.
Are you planning to visit Pakistan and don't know the places you should visit?
1. Lahore
A famous quote about the Lahore states "They are not born until they have visited Lahore." It is the cultural center of Pakistan. Lahore has the advantage of having all the historical buildings of the Mughalera. The old city is a paraphernalia of great architecture. Whether you're looking for history, great food, and amazing shopping, Lahore is the place to visit.Lahore Fort is a 12th century building, which served as the residence of Muhammad Ghori. It was located at the crossroads between Tibet, India and Persia, therefore it was repeatedly conquered, destroyed and rebuilt. The structure at present is a red sandstone fortress, which was erected on the initiative of Akbar.
Badshahi Mosque was erected by the last of the Mughals, Emperor Aurangzeb, who was also involved in the creation of the Taj Mahal. The mosque was erected in the 17th century, when the Mughal style of architecture was flourishing. It is a monumental building of red sandstone with minarets and white domes directed to the sky.
Wazir Khan Mosque was built under the rule of Shah Jahan. The building is an architectural masterpiece with richly decorated and colorfully painted walls. The interior has not changed since the 17th century. Many tourists come to admire the temple every day, for local residents this is an important and revered shrine.
Shalimar Bagh was established by Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century. The ruler built these gardens for his wife Nur Jahan. They are a wonderful monument of Mughal gardening art: waterfalls flow here, decorative ponds, mosques richly decorated with mosaics, and marble palaces delight the eyes.
2. Karachi
The Mazar-e-Quaid or Jinnah Mausoleum is in the city of Karachi. It is a modern building from the 1960s, made of white marble. The mausoleum is considered a landmark, one of the symbols of the country.Mohatta Palace is one of the most popular attractions in Karachi. The building appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. It served as a residence for businessman Shivratan Mohatta and his family. Now, excursions are arranged to the luxury apartments, accompanied by fascinating stories from the lives of the former owners.
3. Islamabad
Faisal Mosque was erected at the expense of the King of Saudi Arabia Faisal ibn Abdel Iziz al-Saud. More than $ 120 million was spent on construction. The building does not repeat the traditional canons of Muslim mosques and is built in a modern style by the Turkish architect Balokay.Rokhtas fortress was built by military commander Sher Shah. It served for defense against the formidable Humayun, the second emperor of the Mughal dynasty. The Mughal army was defeated here. The walls are 18 meters high and almost 12.5 meters wide. Humayun was never able to take the fortress.
4. Bahawalpur
Derawar Fort is a majestic medieval fortress in the Cholistan desert and is ine of the most striking places in Pakistan. The fortress walls reach a length of almost 30 meters and seem to disappear into the sky. The fort is well preserved, but getting to and exploring it is quite difficult, as it is far from cities and busy routes.Located in the Punjab is a place that is famous for the bright dresses of the people and its rich culture. The people of Cholistan live a simple life. They sing and dance to compensate for the desert and loneliness that surrounds them. Snake charmers (jogis) are the true travelers of this beautiful desert.
On the outskirts of Bahawalpur near the Cholistan Desert lies the Derawar Fort. Walking on soft patches of sand in cool air while appreciating the Milky Way with no-one in sight for miles is surrealism in a league of its own.
5. Taxila
The capital of the historical region of Gandhara is located in the valley of the Indus River. Back in the 5th century BC, Alexander of Macedonia made an alliance with the Gandhara King against the ruler of eastern Punjab. In the 1st century, Taxila was destroyed by a powerful earthquake.6. Larkana
The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro bears the remains of the city of the ancient and mysterious Indus valley civilization. According to some sources, Mohenjo-Daro died about 3500 years ago as a result of an inexplicable disaster. Some researchers even suggest that the buildings and residents were destroyed by a "nuclear explosion", since the destruction is similar to that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.7. Kaghan Valley
Lake Saif-Ul-Malook is a mountainous lake situated at the end of Kaghan Valley, near the town of Naran. Hiring a boat, sitting in the heart of the lake, and appreciating the surroundings is one of the most serene moments to be experienced.