If you have a small budget and want to visit a country with diverse culture, unspoiled natural beauty, ancient history, centuries-old traditions and delicious food, then there is no better place in the world than Pakistan. The people of Pakistan are so friendly, helpful and hospitable to foreign tourists that you will not only enjoy your stay in this country but also take home the sweet memories of your visit.
Most foreign tourists are afraid of the security situation in Pakistan and therefore avoid visiting this country. In fact, the situation is not as bad as it is projected by the media. Pakistan is generally a safe country for foreign tourists, although some parts of the country are not safe and should be avoided. I am giving below some safe and worthy places to visit. This will be helpful in planning your visit to Pakistan so that you have the safest, most beneficial and enjoyable vacation.
islamabad
Start your visit from Islamabad, the green and beautiful capital city of Pakistan. Some of the most interesting and must-see places in Islamabad are: Lok Versa Heritage and Museum, Pakistan Monument and Museum, Lake View Park, Saidpur Village (an ancient and beautiful village from the Mughal era), Faisal Mosque (the largest mosque from South Asia). ). If you are interested in hiking, there are many hiking trails in the picturesque hills of Margalla. Pir Sohawa, at the top of the Margalla Hills, is another place worth visiting. You can have lunch or dinner at the restaurant there and enjoy the delicious food as well as the fascinating view of the city.
taxila
If you are interested in archaeological sites, dating back to the Buddhist era (600 BC to 500 AD), head to Taxila, a historic city 35 km from Islamabad. There are 50 archaeological sites scattered in an area of 30 km around Taxila. Some important sites are: Bhir Mound, Sirkap, Jandial Temple, Jaulian Monastery and Stupa and Dhamarajika Monastery. The great civilization of Gandhara ruled this part of the world for more than 1,000 years. If you are in Taxila, you must visit the Taxila Museum, which has a large collection of around 4,000 items of Gandhara Art, including stone sculptures of the Buddha.
Murree, Patriot, Ayubia
Just 35 kilometers from Islamabad is the beautiful hill station Murree, called the Queen of Hills. There you can spend the whole day walking, hiking, riding the chair lifts or shopping. There are many shops on Mall Road and the adjacent streets that offer a lot of tourist attraction merchandise. Many hotels and restaurants are also located there.
Another beautiful place Patriata (also known as New Murree), is 15 km from the main Mall Road, Murree. Patriata attracts many tourists due to its height and the cable car/chair lift that provides an excellent view of the green hills and forests. Ayubia National Park is 25 km from Murree and is well known for its picnic spots, hiking spots, trails and a chair lift that takes tourists to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the surrounding hills.
Khewra Salt Mines
Khewra Salt Mines, the second largest salt mines in the world, is 190 km from Islamabad and the travel distance is about 2 hours and 30 minutes by road. These mines were discovered by the soldiers of Alexander the Great, who noticed their horses licking up the salty rocks while staying at Khewra. In the 13th century, commercial salt mining began in Khewra. During British colonial rule, the mines were modernized with the construction of tunnels, rail links, electricity, and a soda ash plant.
In 2002, the old parts of the mines became a popular tourist destination, attracting some 200,000 visitors each year. Tourists can walk through the tunnel or take a train to the main recreation area where everything is artistically created from white, pink and red salt. There is a mosque, a model of the Minar-e-Pakistan (Pakistan Tower), Shish Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), a post office, a restaurant and stalls selling decorative pieces created with rock salt. The reflection of the light, through the crystalline salt, makes this area look like a fairy tale place where fantasy comes true. There’s also an Assembly Hall, Brine Chambers, Pulsarat (25-foot-long bridge without pillars), salt ponds lit with fancy lights, and a tree root that doesn’t catch fire. Guides are available there to answer your questions and give you detailed information about the mines.
lahore
A 4-hour drive by car or luxury coach on the highway can take you to the heart of Pakistan, the historic city of Lahore. If you are in Pakistan and you haven’t seen Lahore, then you haven’t seen anything. Lahore is the center of educational institutions and universities, historical sites, tombs and shrines, mosques, gardens, arts and literature, music and folk culture, festivals and food. Some must-see places are: Shahi Qila (Lahore Fort), Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Lahore Museum, Tomb of Emperor Jahangir, Data Darbar (Shrine of a Sufi saint Data Gang Bakhsh who lived there more than 900 years ago) , the old walled city and the food streets. The people of Lahore welcome foreign tourists wholeheartedly and are very kind to them.
kagan valley
Kaghan, 270 km from Islamabad, is a popular summer resort. It is a 160-kilometer-long valley, starting from an elevation of 2,134 feet to 13,690 feet. Pine forests, alpine meadows, flowers, crystal clear lakes and fresh mountain streams in the valley welcome you to enjoy your vacation in this natural paradise.
Naran town in Kaghan Valley is a place where most tourists like to stay for short day trips to Saiful Muluk Lake, Lalazar, Lulusar Lake and Babusar Pass. The most visited place is the legendary Saiful Muluk Lake, which is surrounded by impressive snow-capped mountains and crowned by the summit of Malika Parbat (Queen of Mountains).
Shogran is undoubtedly the most beautiful plateau in the valley due to the beautiful natural scenery with wild flowers and lush green meadows. A wonderful jeep excursion trip from Shogran through a rugged eight kilometer road takes you at an altitude of 2,300 feet to the siri y paye, a lush green meadow, from where you can have a spectacular view of Malika Parbat.
malam jabba
Malam Jabba is 300 km from Islamabad and it takes 6 hours and 30 minutes to reach by road. It is an excellent ski resort situated at 8,700 feet above sea level, providing an excellent view of the Karakoram range and the Black Mountains. The complex has a ski slope of about 800m that is facilitated with a chair lift. The highest point of the slope is 9,200 feet. There is also a smaller slope with chair lift for amateur skiers. It has two trekking trails that pass through the Ghorband Valley (18 km) and the Sabonev Valley (17 km). Surrounding the Malam Jabba area are two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries dating back more than 2,000 years.
gilgit baltistan
Gilgit can be reached from Islamabad in one hour by air and 20 hours by road. Located in northern Pakistan, the Gilgit Baltistan region is a paradise for mountaineers and trekkers. The area is surrounded by some of the highest mountain peaks in the world with a height of more than 8,000 meters. In addition to majestic mountains, the second highest mountain in the world, K2, is located in the Shigar Valley. Some of the largest glaciers outside of the polar regions are also found in the Gilgit region along with 2,200 square feet. kilometers of snow-covered surface; 119 lakes; diverse flora and fauna and 6500 sq. km of forests. The region is well known for its splendor and mesmerizing scenic beauty. Here are the three most powerful mountain ranges in the world: the Karakoram, the Hindukuch and the Himalayas.
There are several tourist attractions relatively close to Gilgit City that are worth visiting. These are: Naltar Valley, Hunza Valley, Nagar Valley, Fairy Meadows, Shigar town, Skardu city, Haramosh Peak in Karakoram Range, Bagrot-Haramosh Valley, Deosai National Park, Astore Valley, Rama Lake, Juglot town, Phunder village, Yasin Valley and the Kargah valley.