The most picturesque places of South Asia are located on the territory of Pakistan; this country keeps traces of history, which is more than 5 thousand years old. The oldest kingdom of Harappa, which existed in the XXIII-XVII centuries. BC, the early Buddhists of Gandhara, the heirs of Alexander the Great, the Seleucids and the Great Mughals left their mark here. In the foothills of the Himalayas, the remains of the most grandiose Buddhist monasteries are still hiding, medieval Muslim mystics - Sufis live in old cities, and the magnificent temples of Lahore keep the secrets of Akbar the Great.
Pakistan is still waiting for the stormy dawn of tourism in the future, but so far the infrastructure is very poorly developed. Quite good and comfortable hotels are concentrated in the capital city of Islamabad, as well as Lahore and Karachi. Due to the tension and frequent military conflicts in the region, many areas are dangerous for foreigners to visit. But the authorities are trying to offer guests a varied and interesting vacation. Excursion and ethnographic tours are in the first place in Pakistan, followed by sports and extreme tourism.
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What to see in Pakistan?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
Lahore fortress
The building of the XII century, which served as the residence of Muhammad Guri. It was located at the intersection of the routes between Tibet, India and Persia, therefore it was repeatedly conquered, destroyed and rebuilt anew. The structure that has come down to us is a fortress made of red sandstone, which was erected at the initiative of Akbar the Great.
Jinnah's Mausoleum
The tomb of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in the city of Karachi. It is a modern 1960s building made of white marble. The mausoleum is considered a landmark landmark, one of the symbols of the country. Thousands of Pakistanis come every day to salute the founding father of their nation.
Badshahi Mosque
Located in Lahore. The temple was erected by the last of the Great Mughals, Emperor Aurangzeb, who also took part in the creation of the Taj Mahal. The mosque was erected in the 17th century, when the Mughal style of architecture was flourishing. It is an austere and monumental red sandstone building with sky-high minarets and white domes.
Faisal Mosque in Islamabad
This temple was built at the expense of the King of Saudi Arabia Faisal ibn Abdel Iziz al-Saud. More than $ 120 million was spent on the construction. The building does not repeat the traditional canons of Muslim mosques; it is designed in a modern style by the Turkish architect Balokay.
Wazir Khan Mosque
A picturesque mosque in Lahore, built under the ruler of Shah Jahan. The building is an architectural masterpiece with richly decorated and brightly painted walls. The interior decoration has not changed since the 17th century. Many tourists come to admire the temple every day.For local residents, this is an important and revered shrine.
Rohtas fortress
Punjabi fortress in Islamabad, built by the commander Sher Shah. It served as a defense against the formidable Hamayun, the second emperor from the Mughal dynasty. The Mughal army was defeated here. The height of the fortress walls is 18 meters, the width is almost 12.5 meters. Hamayunu did not succeed in taking the fortress; the traitorous commandant himself opened the gates to his soldiers.
Baltit fortress
Three-storey building with a rectangular base in the city of Karimbad. It was conceived for the purpose of ensuring control and order during seasonal trade between Central and South Asia. On the top floor of the fort there are rooms for receiving foreign delegations, the rest of the floors are given over to the museum.
Derawar
A majestic medieval fortress in the Holistan desert. One of the most striking sights of Pakistan. The fortress walls are almost 30 meters long and seem to disappear into the sky. The fort is well preserved, but it is quite difficult to reach and inspect it, since it is remote from cities and beaten routes.
Mohatta Palace
One of the popular attractions of the city of Karachi. The building appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, it served as a residence for businessman Shivratan Mohatta and his family. Now, excursions are conducted around the luxurious apartments, accompanied by fascinating stories from the lives of the former owners.
Ancient city of Taxila
The capital of the historical region of Gandhara, located in the valley of the Indus River. Back in the 5th century BC. Taxila was a spa town in the 4th century BC. the troops of Alexander the Great entered here. The great commander made an alliance with the king of Gandhara against the ruler of East Punjab. In the 1st century, Taxila was destroyed by a powerful earthquake.
Ruins of Mohenjo-Daro
Remains of the city of the ancient and mysterious Harrap civilization. According to some sources, Mohenjo-Daro died about 3.5 thousand years ago as a result of an inexplicable catastrophe. Some researchers even suggest that buildings and residents were destroyed by a "nuclear explosion", since the destruction is similar to that in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Shalimar Gardens
A public park that was founded by Emperor Jahangir at the beginning of the 17th century. The ruler built these gardens for his wife Nur Jahan. They are a remarkable monument of Mughal garden art - waterfalls flow here, decorative ponds are broken, mosques and marble palaces richly decorated with mosaics delight the eye.
