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Pakistan tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Pakistan links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel. Order Pakistan Travel Brochures - for Free.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan The Islamic Republic of Pakistan became an independent state in 1947, and until December 1971 it included the province of East Pakistan; now Bangladesh. Countries neighbouring Pakistan are: Iran, Afghanistan, China and India.
Although freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, the amended constitution defines Pakistan as an Islamic nation; with Islamic Shana law the supreme law of Pakistan.
The official language of Pakistan is English. While the national language of Pakistan is Urdu, Punjabi is probably the most widely spoken. Weather in PakistanView a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Pakistan. Hyderbad Weather, Islamabad Weather, Karachi Weather, Lahore Weather, Peshawar Weather, Rawalpindi Weather. The Hindu Kush mountains extend through parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Over twenty peaks exceed 7,000 m. The highest point, Tirich Mir (7,690 m), is in Pakistan. You're entering another world when you come to the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan; it's almost Afghanistan. The religion of Islam is so strong here, that even the three-wheeler motorbike taxis have covers on the passenger sections to hide the women from view. Near the entrance to the Khyber Pass, this ancient trading settlement was known as Purushapure. Today there are many gun shops in Peshawar, and they do a roaring trade with their neighbours. The Peshawar Museum houses an important collection of sculpture from the ancient Gandhara civilisation. Accommodation in PeshawarPearl Continental Peshawar:
Khyber Road, Peshawar. This is the most important pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan; Peshawar to Kabul. For centuries the Khyber Pass was used by aggressors heading to India. During the Afghan Wars, in the 19th century, there were many skirmishes here between the armies of the British Raj and native Afghans. In January 1842, about 16,000 British and Indian troops were killed. In the 1980s, when Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviets, the Khyber Pass was a major supply route to the Afghan guerrillas. The capital of Pakistan, is in the north of the country; on the Potwar Plateau, near Rawalpindi. The site of Islamabad was chosen to replace Karachi as the capital of Pakistan in 1959. Urban planners set to work, and the new city became the official capital in 1967. A lot of the construction work wasn't completed until the mid-1970s though. Of the modern buildings in Islamabad, the most notable are the National Assembly Building, and the home of the President; known as Pakistan House. The Faisal Mosque, built in 1985, was designed to look like a desert tent. Its four surrounding minarets are all about 90 m high. Accommodation in Islamabad
Rawalpindi was used as the provisional capital of Pakistan from 1959 to 1967, while construction was being completed in Islamabad. The distinct culture that flourished on the Rawal Plateau some 3,000 years ago attracts the curious tourists today. Accommodation in Rawalpindi
Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan; offering a wide range of cultural activities. Lahore was probably at its greatest during the time of the Mughal Empire (1526- 1707) and there are many architecturally significant buildings and monuments from this time. Dankar: Getting to LahoreMini-coaches run to to Lahore from Karachi. Accommodation in Lahore
The Karakorum mountain range is in the Himalayas, between the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, and north-western Pakistan. The range includes K2 (8,611 m), the second highest peak in the world. The Kahmir border area between Pakistan and India has also been the scene of snowy gun- battles between the two disputing cousins. Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, located on the Arabian Sea. The port, centred on the island of Kiamari, also serves as an outlet for landlocked Afghanistan. Karachi was a small fishing and trading centre when the British captured it in 1839. Karachi grew in importance under the British; for the export of cotton and grain from the Indus Valley. There is a long beach in Karachi, but it is rather dirty and better suited to camels. It can get busy on a Sunday. After independence many Muslim refugees from India settled in Karachi, and in recent years the former capital has seen bombings and riots between rival political, religious, and ethnic groups. Of InterestThe tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, is in Karachi. Indus Valley CivilisationsThe National Museum of Pakistan displays important materials from the Indus Valley civilisations; one of the world's first great civilisations, similar to the Bronze Age cultures of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Crete. Mohenjo-daro RuinsThe Indus Valley ruins of the ancient city, Mohenjo-daro (in the southern province of Sind, south of Sukkur), date back to 2500 BC. Accommodation in Karachi
If you're looking for hotels near the airport, try the Grand Mercure Karachi Airport; with outdoor swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, massage and jacuzzi. Pakistan Travel Guides Books
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