PAKISTAN (LAND OF EXOTIC SIGHTS ADVENTURE FUN!): May 2012

The tourist trade in Pakistan is flourishing these days. It helps us to earn valuable foreign exchange. Pakistan abounds in natural beauty as reflected in the northern areas of our country. Our Swat valley reminds the European tourists of Switzerland.

There are high mountains with snow covered peaks here. Among these mountains is also the K-2 peak, the second highest in the world. The Nanga Parbat peak is the sixth in the order of the highest peaks in the world. There are glaciers in Gilgit which provide excellent opportunities for winter sports. There are many beautiful lakes in the midst of high mountains.
We have many historical places worth-seeing like the site of the ancient cities of Mohen jo daro, Harappa, Taxilla, etc. We have historical monuments in and around the city of Lahore.

Five Must-Visit Locations in Pakistan

1: Shogran Kaghan also called the ‘Himalayan Hide-out’, is a valley in the north-east of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Kaghan’s scenic marvels include a village which can be reached through Balakot: Shogran. At a height of nearly 7000 feet above sea level, the immediate reaction of those fortunate enough to visit Shogran is a gasp of wonder. You can ride horses and hike to the nearby peaks including the Sri Paya and Mount Makra. You can also visit the amazing Ansoo Jheel and gaze at its shimmering blue water.

2: Saif-ul-Muluk Naran without Kaghan is like butter without bread. Another village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Naran also holds the wondrous lake Saif-ul-Muluk in the shadows of the Malika Parbat. If you are lucky enough to spend a starry night at this spot, you might also start believing the famous myth about this lake! Written by a classical poet, the story is that of a handsome Prince of Persia falling in love with a fairy at this lake.But whether or not you believe in fairies, you have to admit that the beauty of the place is as close to fantasy as any place on earth.

You may also visit several woodland villages from this lake such as the Burawai and Lalazar. And if you’re in the really adventurous mood, you can hike up northwards to even more breath-taking locations like Muree, Nathiagali, Ayubia, Gilgit, Chitral and Kashmir!

3: The Deosai Plains A lush purple carpet of flowers woven with red and yellow fauna welcomes visitors to this wondrous plain. They add to the radiating beauty of the highest plateau of the world called theDeosai Plains, located between the Karakoram and the Himalayas. The Deosai Plains are officially designated as a National Park and are a protected habitat for wild life. Hence, apart from seeing the rare species of flowers, you may also come across a Himalayan Brown Bear!

After you’ve survived the wilderness, you could relax a bit by soaking your feet in the Sheosar Lake or take a breezy evening drive through the Chokar Pass.

4: Hanna Lake If you’re not in the mood to travel up north, you’ll be glad to know that even the central and southern parts of Pakistan hold beautiful tourist spots. Just 21 km away from Quetta is the homely Urak valley. Here, you can bite into a large variety of fresh fruits and take in the sweet fragrances of several different types of roses at the same time!

Besides sight-seeing here, there are many other activities such as canoeing, rowing and kayaking and just a few kilometers down from this fruity landscape is the lovely Hanna Lake, where you can rest and gaze at the beautiful golden fish. The blue green sparkles of Hanna Lake are in sharp contrast to the sandy brown background. Besides sight-seeing here, there are many other activities such as canoeing, rowing and kayaking!

5: Taxila Taxila is a location not only rich in beauty, but also history. This ancient city dates back to the time when Prince Alexander began his journey of conquest. Various ruins throughout the city are related to different times in history, and each has a story to tell. This city within Punjab is counted amongst UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.While in Taxila, don’t forget to visit the famous museum which exhibits the relics of the Gandharan civilization. It’s something you won’t soon forget.

Karachi Weather Forecast, Pakistan

Pakistan is among those few countries where tourists can have an opportunity to see nature’s beauty at its best. There are high mountains, valleys, lush green plains, deserts, rivers and ocean. In between some high mountains of Pakistan, there are some spectacular and stunning lakes which add to the beauty of hilly areas. I have made a list of most famous and beautiful lakes in Pakistan.

Saif ul Muluk Lake You will find this lake in the northern end of Kaghan valley which is located at an altitude of 10578 feet. This fact makes this lake the highest lake in Pakistan. Lake Saif ul Muluk is located under the mighty Malika Parbat. The lake gives one of the best scenes in the world when reflection of mountains shines in its waters. You can reach this lake by a jeep but the best and most interesting way to reach this beautiful lake is through trekking. If you are also planning to reach this lake by training then let me inform you that it takes almost 1-2 hours to reach this lake from Naran. Waters of Saif ul Muluk are clear because water comes from the glaciers located all around this lake. An interesting story is also associated with this lake due to which people believe that fairies come down to the lake in full moon.

Manchar Lake Manchar Lake is one of the largest lakes of Asia. It is a fresh water lake and is located west of Indus River in Dadu district. It is an important lake in this district because it provides livelihood to a number of fishermen and irrigates the crops as well. This lake is also a home to several aquatic plants like lotus. This lake was created in 1930 as a result of construction of Sukkur Barrage and since then it has been supporting thousands of people who depend on fresh water fish.

Keenjhar Lake Keenjhar Lake is also known as Kalri Lake. Located in Thatta, this lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes of Pakistan. This lake is known at international level for breeding water birds as it supports about 140000 birds which include Black Coot, Common Pochard etc. Besides providing beautiful scenes of nature, this lake also acts as a source of drinking water.

Shangrila Lake Being a part of Shangrila resort, this lake is located at a drive of 20 minutes from Skardu. The name of this lake comes from the Chinese word Shangri La which means “Heaven on Earth”. This can truly be called Heaven on Earth because of its spectacular and breathtaking beauty and quiet ambiance.

Haleji Lake Haleji Lake is located in Thatta district of Pakistan where thousands of migratory birds come from different parts of world. These birds include European Wigeon, Black Coot and Dalmatian Pelican. The presence of these birds makes it a bird watcher’s paradise as you can see more than 223 species of birds here. Haleji is a saltwater lake which was formed by seasonal water and today this lake has become a major source of water supply to Karachi.

Lulusar Lake Lulusar Lake is located near Naran Valley. The “sar” from the name of lake comes from the Pushto language which means “top” or “peak”. Actually Lulusar is the name of the mountains which are located around this lake that’s why it is the lake of Lulusar. This lake is bigger as compared to all other lakes in the valley. A thousand of visitors, both local and international come here especially in summer to see the reflection of mountains in sparkling water of lake. To reach this beautiful lake, you can hire a jeep from Naran to reach this beautiful lake in five hours. I will suggest you to leave Naran in morning so that you can come back before sunset.

Mohodand Lake Mohodand Lake boasts of being the most beautiful lake around Swat and Kalam. Located close to Lake Saifullah and Naseerullah, this lake is accessible through a jeep. This is also a good place for fishing and watching beautiful scenes.