‘Pakistan’ - the name arouses mixed feelings, and maybe a sense of wonderment at the resilience of the people, who have had a rough ride down the road in past. We, at some level, always feel connected to this country. Pakistan is beautiful and boasts of many unique places that are a treat to the eyes and feast for the senses of wanderlust. Why not explore a few:

1. Concordia

A breathtaking mountain area in the heart of Karakoram Range and a wonderful place for hikers - is famed to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. The place offers some magnificent views of the peaks like the Godwin Austin, Broad Peak, Gasherburn I. The area has the highest concentration of peaks in the world and is dangerous for mountain climbers. Concordia has a very large glacier that is so prominent that it is even visible from space.

Image Credit: Flickr @junaidrao

2. Jhelum Valley

The Jhelum River runs from east to west of the valley and green mountains of Azad Kashmir, and cradles one of the prettiest locations of Pakistan. The parent stream of the river Jhelum rises from the bottom of a peak of PirPanjal Mountain. River Jhelum is the source of water for the valley that turns into a lush green field of rice crop in summer. This valley is dotted with typical wooden houses and lined with walnut, cherry and apple trees. The honey produced in this region is in great demand.

3. Kalash Valley

Image Credit: Flickr @manalkhan 

This valley is located in the Chitral district of Pakistan and is surrounded by Hindu Kush Mountains, streams and rivers. The beautiful Kalash valley has people with a unique culture living in it. Kalash people are believed to be the descendants of the soldiers who came with Alexander the Great, around the 4th century B.C. Some theories, though, trace the origin of these people to South Asia. They live as a close-knit community in rough log houses and sport a vibrant, cheerful culture. The Kalash valley and Kalash people are unique to Pakistan, and treasured.

4. Hingol National Park

Image Credit: Flickr @wenchmagnet

This park is located in the South-western province of Baluchistan in Pakistan. It is famous for its strange natural rock formations. One of these resembles the Sphinx of Giza and another looks like a human standing, and is popularly known as the ‘Princess of Hope’. This park has a few mud volcanoes, which are unique to the region. Hingol national park houses a large variety of bird species and animals including the ibex, gazelles and urials.

5. Khewra Salt Mines

Image Credit: Flickr @farhan

The second largest salt mines in the world, the Khewra Mines owe their discovery to Alexander’s horse. As the story goes, when Alexander halted to rest in that region, his horse started licking the surrounding rocks and the other horses followed suit. Out of curiosity, one soldier licked a rock and found it to be salty. Today this place, churns out tons of salt every year. Rock carving is also a common feature in the mines and there are some interesting structures that have been created like the miniature Great Wall of China, Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, and many more.

6. Shalimar Gardens

These are spectacular gardens illustrating Mughal garden architecture and design. The Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, originally belonged to a noble family. They are laid out over three successive terraces in a descending manner. These terraces have been named ‘Bestower of Pleasure’, ‘Bestower of Goodness’ and ‘Bestower of life’. The gardens showcase beautiful flowers and manicured lawns, with attractive pavilions and stone basins. There are large pools, which receive water from hundreds of fountains. The gardens make a peaceful and refreshing corner in Lahore.

7. Lahore Fort

Image Credit: Flickr @ali_pk

This one is an ancient fort in Pakistan, which is yet to be precisely dated. But, it is known that in the 16th century the fort’s mud-brick structure was torn down to be rebuilt with burnt bricks. Successive rebuilding and restructuring of the fort has taken place under subsequent rulers, so much so that the fort has now become a living study of the history of Pakistan, under various regimes. One can see the amalgamation of cultures in the artwork of the fort and the evidence of varied art forms as they were introduced by presiding rulers. The fort has palaces, mosques, mausoleums, audience halls, bath and towers, almost an entire city inside.

8. Mohenjo Daro

Image Credit: Flickr @benny_lin

‘Mound of the Dead’ is the relic of a city of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. Dating back to about 2,600 BCE, this site is of great interest to tourists and has been marked as a world heritage site. Mohenjo Daro is located in the Sindh province of Pakistan. From the archaeological finds, it is evident that Mohenjo Daro was a bustling city at one point of time. The remnants tell a story of the people living in a well-planned city consisting of good roads and elaborate drainage systems, in the ancient era. There are also evidences of thriving trade and a wealthy state. Ancient finds like Mohenjo Daro are rare and Pakistan is fortunate to have one.

9. Pakistan Monument

A spectacular architectural genius that symbolizes the essence of the state of Pakistan. The monument embodies the country’s history and culture. The design is of a flower with petals representing the provinces and territories of Pakistan. Below the petals is a metallic structure on which is inscribed the words of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The work is in granite, decorated with murals. The architect, Arif Masood, was inspired by a blossoming flower to represent his country. The monument is indeed splendid and one of its kind in the world.

10. Minar e Pakistan

This is a splendid monument that commemorates the birth of Pakistan. It is a minaret that is 62 meters sky high, and has been built at the site where the resolution was passed towards the formation of Pakistan. The tower stands on an elevated base that is in the shape of a star. The base has four platforms, which are built of stone ranging from rough and uncut, to smooth and polished. The tower symbolizes the country’s birth and growth.

11. Deosai plains

Located in northern Pakistan in the Gilgit-Baltistan Province, these plains on the highest plateau of the world are virtually untouched by man because of the inhospitable climate and difficult approach routes. Known as the ‘land of the giants’, the immaculate Deosai plains are a must visit for adventure seekers. The plains house rare and diminishing species of birds and animals like the brown bear, golden marmot, ibex, snow leopard, and more. On your journey back to the plains you get to exclaim at the 7th century Buddhist carvings, natural lakes and other wonders.

Pakistan is dotted with these spectacular places that are unique in their own right.

Anjali Nayyar

Anjali loves to read, philosophize, travel and spend time with her family. With a Masters in Sociology, Anjali ended up as a writer instead of a sociologist. She believes that writing is a channel through which one can express one's innermost self and express one's uniqueness, the gift of life, for all to savor.

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