Explore The Beauty Of Pakistan

Astore Valley is 120 km long and is spread over 5,092 sq.km of land. It is situated in southeast of Gilgit and occupies the eastern side of Nanga Parbat. Also known as “The Land of Pastures”, this beautiful mountain and the picturesque valley is at an altitude of 2,600 m.

Deemed as a historical paradise, untouched by the outside world, it takes ages to fully explore the beauty of this majestic land. However, the trading and communication route connecting Gilgit-Balistan with the Indian subcontinent is the most interesting direction to follow as it was the commercial route between Gilgit and Kashmir. The locals used to travel to Srinagar (Kashmir) to study and import Kashmiri products. Having a population of about 70,000 inhabitants spread across 100 villages, the valley has a huge cultural diversity. Astore Valley is also home to medicinal herbs.

The iconic valley of Chitral is one of the most beautiful valleys located at an elevation of 1,494 m, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Also known as “Palace of Fairies”, the valley is spread over an area of 1,4800 km but 90% of its area is under mountains. It has 35 small valleys and the most famous ones are Kalash, Mastuj, Shishi Koh, Broghail, Tor Khow, and Or Khow. It is also home to one of the highest peaks of Hindukush Range “Tirich Mir” which lies at 24,263 ft. Nearly all the peaks here are above 4000 ft.

Hunza Valley is situated on the north/west of River Hunza in the region of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. In 2019, the valley was also selected as one of the 10 coolest places to visit by Forbes magazine. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Pakistan. 

Hunza Valley is an ethnically diverse region with Shins in the lower, Brushos in the Central and Xiks (Wakhanis) in the Upper part. The valley is surrounded by hovering mountains including Ultar Peak, Rakaposhi, Shishper, Bojahagur Duanasir II, Ladyfinger Peak, Ghenta Sar, and Darmiyani Peak.

Bahawalpur was an independent state before Pakistan came into existence in 1947. In 1780, the city was built on an old site. Nawab Bahawal Khan I (1746 - 1749) laid the foundation of Baghdad-ul-Jadidin in 1748, made the state the capital and ruled for 3 years. Apart from Dera Ghazi Khan, some parts of Sukkur, Multan, Sahiwal, and Muzaffargarh were also included in the state.

Over the years, Bahawalpur has become a developed city in Pakistan and can be categorized as a megacity in terms of real estate, parks, markets and institutions. Local shopping areas or bazaars look distinctive and sell embroidered clothes, slippers and locally made filigree pottery. Overall, the developed roads and green belts give a modern look to the city.

There are many breath-taking places to see on the way from Islamabad to Gilgit. On reaching Chilas, Fairy Meadows is just a turn away.  After stopping at Shangrila Hotel in Raikot, there is a strenuous trek leading to the marvelous Fairy Meadows or “Jaugth” as the locals call it.

Fairy Meadows is a grassland located in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Named by the German climbers, Fairy Meadows is a lush green plateau with glacier water and astonishing view of the humongous Nanga Parbat which is the 9th highest peak in the world. Fujita Heroki, a Japanese photographer named the front of Fairy Meadows as “A Fairy Palace” or “Pari Mahal”. It is also the base point for mountaineers who want to climb the Nanga Parbat.

Phander Valley or “The Land of Beauty” "is one of the most stunning valleys located in Ghizer district of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It is approximately 187 km away from Gilgit and is one of the most scenic valleys of the area. The valley is surrounded by high snow-capped mountains and has a stunning blue “Phander Lake” mesmerizing the tourists who visit this beautiful place.

Gilgit or “Asia's Wonderland” is located at an elevation of 1,500 m in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. The city dates to 1st century AD and is the capital of the Gilgit Baltistan region. It is a small beautiful valley which lies in the lap of the mountains and is home to half a million people.

Gilgit mostly remains dry as Nanga Parbat and other high peaks block the monsoon clouds. It is one of the most significant regions of Pakistan as it links the country with China and a route way to Central Asia. Millions of tourists visit this mesmerizing place making it a popular tourist destination.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh, Narowal District of Punjab, Pakistan. It is the world’s largest Gurdwara and is built on the site where Guru Nanak settled and preached Sikhism as a religion. He lived there for 18 years until his death in 1539. It is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism along with Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal.

The Gurdwara is also quite notable due to its location near the border between Pakistan and India. It can also be seen from the Indian side of the border.  Kartarpur Corridor was opened by the Government of Pakistan a few days before the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak which was cut off after partition. The Kartarpur corridor connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab, India with Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province. The corridor is only to be used to visit the Gurdwara. Indian Sikhs now have visa-free access to the site from India via the Kartarpur Corridor extending 4.5 km into Pakistan but they are not permitted to go further into Pakistan.

Gwadar is a famous port city located on the shores of the Arabian Sea at approximately 700 km to, Karachi, Pakistan. It shares the border with Iran, situated to the east of the Persian Gulf and opposite to the Sultanate of Oman.

Gwadar is blessed with the mesmerizing natural beauty of exotic beaches, a widespread coastline and white mountains making it a tourist haven not only for Pakistan but also the South Asian region. It is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Pakistan offering everything from Islands to beaches, parks and deserts. Gwadar also has the best quality of seafood.

Hasan Abdal is a city in northern Punjab and is located at 40 km northwest of Islamabad. Hassan Abdal holds a significant place for Sikh pilgrims as the home of the Gurdwara Panja Sahib, one of the most sacred sites in Sikhism. The town is also known for its association with the 16th century Mughal Emperor Akbar. Several monuments located here date back to the Emperor Akbar’s period. These include the Wah Gardens, Hakimon ka Maqbara, and Tomb of Lala Rukh. Hasan Abdal also lies near Taxila which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Buddhist and ancient Greek ruins.

Nowadays, Hasan Abdal lies at the intersection of the Karakoram Highway, and the M1 Motorway. As part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Hasan Abdal will serve as the terminus for CPEC’s Western Alignment while the Hakla–Dera Ismail Khan Motorway will commence at Hasan Abdal.