Aa) QUETTA - Half Day Lytton Road in Quetta is lined on both sides by huge, 300 year old Chinar trees. Driving by the Governor’s residence, you arrive at lovely Liakat and Sandeman Park. The next stop is the old city bazaar where you can see Baluchis, Pathans, Iranis, Afghans and many other tribesmen in their traditional costumes, conducting their daily business over sips of strong tea. There are many souvenirs to be found in Quetta, including carpets, embroidery, sheepskin coats and beautiful Karakul caps. Bb) HANNA LAKE & URAK VALLEY - Half Day The calm blue waters of this natural lake and the riotous profusion of the tropical flowers all round contribute to make this a perfect locale for a picnic. In the middle of the lake is a tiny island. A few miles further is the Urak Valley with acres of vineyards and orchards where apples, grapes, peaches, apricots and cherries are grown in abundance. Although the area is mainly rocky and situated on a dry plateau, it is rich in natural scenic beauty. Cc) ZIARAT - Full Day Ziarat is a popular hill resort 125 Km from Quetta and lying at an elevation of over 2,100 m above sea level. Situated in the oldest and largest juniper forest in the world, Ziarat is noted for its sparkling natural springs and abundance of wildlife such as partridges, markhores and occasionally a panther. Prospect point offers a superb panorama of the juniper-covered valley 300 m below. Sandeman Tangi is the point where two hills converge to create towering pale cliffs, which create the timeless illusion of a lost world. For centuries, the cool, natural spring waters have cascaded down the Tangi, creating a silky smoothness on the rock surface across which they flow. Dd) SIBI VIA MACH & BOLAN PASS - Full Day After crossing Bolan Pass the tour continues to Sibi where recent excavations have firmly established the fact that the civilization of Baluchistan is one of the most ancient known to man, predating the Greco-Roman and Nile civilizations and tourists alike is Mir Chakar Khan Rind’s fort near Sibi. Many items have been unearthed here including pottery and musical instruments. Ee) PISHIN VALLEY & BUND KHUSHDIL KHAN - Full Day Surrounded by thousands of acres of vineyards and orchards irrigated by Kares, artificial springs made by boring holes into the rock to bring subterranean water to the surface, Pishin Valley is an excellent example of rural life in Baluchistan. About 13 km further along the road is Bund Khushdil Khan, which has a beautiful artificial lake for duck hunting and fishing. Ff) MASTUNG & LAKE PASS - Full Day This tour is a good opportunity for those who wish to discover the interior of Baluchistan and the rural life of the area. At Mastung you’ll see beautifully laid out gardens and visit the Pakistan Industrial Corporation’s carpets and woolen mills to see how oriental carpets are manufactured. At the Mastung bazaar typical Baluchi handicrafts are available. Further ahead, Lake Pass provides a striking view of the other hill ranges and the rocky valley below. top RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD Rawalpindi, or ‘Pindi’ as it is known, has grown in recent years from a small garrison town to a vital commercial and industrial center. The name Rawalpindi was derived from the Rawals, a tribe who had settled in this area. Situated on the Potohar Plateau, the area forms a natural strategic location and so, as early as the 19th century, Rawalpindi was converted into a garrison town, a tradition still upheld today. Just 16 km northeast of Rawalpindi lies the new capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, which belongs to a small group of capital cities that have been entirely to plan. Other cities of this type include Washington, Brazilia and Canberra. World famous names in the field of town planning were behind the construction of Islamabad in the 1960’s and 70’s. Among the places of interest in and around Rawalpindi-Islamabad, first and foremost is the excavated archaeological site of Taxila (32 km from Rawalpindi) that dates from the 06th century B.C. to the 05th century A.D. Situated at the foot of Murree Hills, Rawalpindi and Islamabad are linked by modern roads to Muree, Nathiagali, and Abottabad; hills stations which are popular tourist resorts. On the outskirts of Rawalpindi-Islamabad are Mangla and Tarbela Dams, both among the world’s largest and well worth a visit. In Rawalpindi the Army Museum located near the Mall is place of considerable interest. In Islamabad, the Shakarparian Hills offer a birds-eye view of the new capital city, whole nearby Rawal Lake, created by the construction of Rawal Dam, is favourite recreation spot. The Folk Heritage Museum in Islamabad has collected a wealth of traditional costumes, musical instruments and artifacts and is the largest of its kind in Pakistan. Aa) RAWALPINDI & ISLAMABAD - Half Day Driving past the classical older buildings of Rawalpindi you suddenly arrive at the modern, well planned streets of Islamabad. Your tour commences with a visit to the Institute of Folk Heritage, a small ethnological museum displaying numerous costumes and artifacts from all over Pakistan. Next stop is the Shakerparian Gardens, which give a magnificent view of Islamabad before driving past various modern government buildings, graceful with a touch of Islamic design and architecture. Turning off the main road, you drive into old Islamabad where Saidpur Village still survives amid the modern planning. In Islamabad is the world’s largest mosque, named after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The mosque also houses an Islamic University specializing in Islamic Philosophy and Law.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:27:23 +0000
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