Pakistan is a country having snow-capped mountains, lush trees, humid air, vast deserts, tall buildings, food areas, and historical monuments, etc. Pakistan is a mixture of all these things, making it the best place for a traveling destination. Pakistan is still an unknown place to most of the people who have not visited it yet. With time, Pakistan has become a safe place for tourism and to explore heavenly places.
You can do a lot of fun things while visiting Pakistan. If you have heard from your friends and colleagues about their Pakistan tour, then you must be thinking of a lot of things to do in Pakistan. We will mention some of them to make your tour interesting.
10 Fun Things to Do in Pakistan
Pakistan is becoming a must-visit destination for a lot of people in the world. It is a treasure of architectural gems, little-used trekking trails, breathtaking natural wonders and so much more. Here is the must to do things while visiting Pakistan.
Spend A Capital Time in Islamabad
Islamabad is a purpose-built capital that is a planned and modern city. The neat and clean capital of Pakistan surrounded by Margalla Hills makes it more beautiful than it is. Islamabad is considered a calm oasis among the chaotic major cities of Pakistan. It is close to nature and keeps its citizens busy with cultural activities.
Faisal Mosque sitting at the foot of Margalla Hills is a beautiful and striking sight to the tourists. It looks like a spaceship launch pad when viewed from Margalla Hills. There are a lot of hiking opportunities in Islamabad because of Margalla Hills. The hike up to the Daman-e-Koh and Monal gives you uninterrupted views of the city.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, try to visit Pakistan Monument. It is structured like a blooming flower. On each petal, it represents the provinces of the country. It also has a historical museum that talks about the country’s history in a series of waxworks.
Cheer at Wagah-Attari Border, Lahore
The relationship between Pakistan and India is not a secret, everyone knows about their tense and dynamic relationship. There is a daily closing ceremony at the Wagah-Attari Border that is 24kms from Lahore. At 5 pm every evening, the border forces both countries to dance-off the relation. Lately, it was just a simple flag-lowering ceremony. Later on, it transformed into choreographed one-upmanship. Soldiers in uniform representing their country elaborate the headgear from both sides. They compete to see who can kick the highest. It is quite an event.
There are stands on both sides of the border where people can spectate the event and enjoy the enthusiastic environment at the border.
Check out the Royalty of Mughal’s at Badshahi Mosque
There is no shortage of incredible, beautiful, and historical mosques. From modern mosque Faisal Mosque in Islamabad to mosaic marvel Wazir Khan Mosque Lahore, there are plenty of worth checking out mosques. Badshahi Mosque in Lahore is a breathtaking mosque and should be on top of your list.
Diana, Princess of Wales visited it in 1991. Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited it recently in 2019. British Royals love it!
Badshahi Mosque is considered one of the impressive and historical constructions in the Islamic World.
It was built in 1673, which is 300 years ago. The 26,000 sq m courtyard hosts up to 95,000 worshippers. The real beauty of the mosque lays in the details such as minarets and domes with white marble and red color of the building.
Visit Medieval Fort Deep in The Desert
130km south of the city of Bahawalpur, the 40 squat bastions of Derawar Fort stand guard in the empty plains of Cholistan Desert since Medieval times. It was built by Rai Jajja Bhatti, a Hindu Rajput from Jaisalmer. It was later conquered by the Nawab of Bahawalpur.
It takes a day to reach the fort and special permission will be needed to go inside the fort. If you get the chance to go inside, it will be an extraordinary sight for you. There is an intricate network of tunnels that locals will guide you and show you around. Also, you can witness Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally that happens between January and February.
Chill out in Hunza Valley
Hunza Valley is known as the Shangri-La of Pakistan. It is a peaceful and beautiful valley with verdant green among dry towering mountains. A land with burbling streams, hospitable locals, and abundant orchards. It is a popular stop-off point at Karakoram Highway. Hunza Valley provides you with peaceful and comfortable accommodations. You can get plenty of tasty and fresh food there.
The mountain hikes take you to medieval forts with breathtaking sights. You can enjoy the jaw-dropping sightseeing and heavenly sceneries with fresh fruit or a hot cup of tea.
Check out Khyber Pass
The main route between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the Khyber Pass. It is one of the ill-famed roads in the world. From Alexander the Great to British Raj, everyone had tried to control it but no one could. There are wild mountain passes with lawless and wildlands.
It is an adventure to visit the Khyber Pass but people do not always advise it. You need a specific permit to enjoy the Khyber Pass trip.
Pay Respect to the tomb of the Founder of Pakistan
Mazar-e-Quaid, also known as, Jinnah Mausoleum is the final resting place of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The design of the tomb is much inspired by the Samanid Mausoleum in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
The white tomb is the symbol of Karachi. Karachi is also known as the city of lights, shares a border with the Arabian Sea. There are plenty of beaches with fresh and clean water that you will enjoy. The coastline makes a good road trip.
Wander in the Ancient City of Mohenjo-Daro
The ruins are a reminder of the times when Indus Valley was the center of all Civilizations. Mohenjo-Daro was the world’s earlier major city built in 2,500BC. It was a trading hub on the Indus River. It was abandoned in 1900BC and was rediscovered in the 1920s.
The well-planned grid and features of the remains represent a sophisticated drainage system with bathing pools and water towers. It is the same as Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Minoan Civilizations.
Trek the Fairy Meadows of Nanga Parbat
Hike through the Fairy Meadows is one of Pakistan’s popular trek because it takes you to the Nanga Parbat Base Camp in Himalayan Pakistan. The views at Nanga Parbat are one of the highest mountains in the country with an altitude of 8,125m. There are a variety of trails for different levels of endeavor and fitness. Once you reach there, you will get heavenly scenery to capture.
For this, you will have to catch a bus that will take you to Raikot Bridge. It is 80kms south of Gilgit. Then you will catch a jeep to reach the trailhead at Fairy Meadows. There will be a resort named Greenland Resort that makes an affordable pass to explore the trails. The two-hour easy trek will take you to Beyal Camp. If you are daring and willing, then you can choose a longer trek to Nanga Parbat Base Camp.
Hit the Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway is an 805-mile journey from Abbottabad to the Chinese Border. Along this route, there are some breathtaking and heart-stopping sceneries and passes. It is known as a KKH, that takes you to the epic Himalayan mountains with lush green valleys, raging rivers, and lakes fed by the glaciers. The hospitality and solitude of the people of this area make your stay for the rest of your life.
Each bend and each pass on this highway reveal a different and new adventure for you. In Gilgit, you can enjoy the old-school style polo. You can test your nerve by crossing the rope bridge near Passu. You can explore the trails of Baltistan. Going on to Karakorum highway, you can hire a private jeep, or any latest 4WD on your own or you can travel on the local buses but the adventure will be the same.
Verdict
All of the mentioned places with nature and history make it more fun while visiting Pakistan. Some of them are restricted areas where you need a special permit before visiting them.