Taxila

If you are in Islamabad, a tour to Taxila is a must. Once the great centre of art and philosophy, Taxila is located some 35 kilometres north of Islamabad. One of the wonderful tourist destinations, Taxila is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Pakistan. Famous for its Buddhist heritage, Taxila is also popular for its Gandhara sculpture.

There are a number of spots in and around Taxila that you can visit. The statue of the Lord Buddha is what takes many by surprise. Like most statues of the Buddha world over, this one at Taxila is different. While you may have seen a Buddha with a face that exudes peace and extreme calm, this one with eyes wide open gazes you that you may like to close your eyes in awe.

You may come across other historical figures in Taxila, prominent among them are Alexander and Ashoka. In 327 BC, Alexander from Macedonia conquered Taxila, later it came under the Maurayan Empire and reached at its zenith during the reign of Ashoka.

It is an exciting experience to tour Taxila. The Gandhara sculptures are the prime attractions in Taxila. Taxila is like a book on the Buddha. There are a number of images and sculptures that depict Buddha in his different stage of life. There are three cities in Taxila that are great source of interest among tourists. These cities are well preserved in Taxila.

Apart from these cities, you can visit a number of monasteries that dot Taxila. Just two kilometres from Taxila Museum is Dharmarajika stupa, which is a must visit site in Taxila. The stupa consists of buildings and a monastery.

Jaulian and Mohra Moradu are two other important sites that you can visit on your tour to Taxila. You can also visit Jandial and Sirsukh.

A tour to Taxila is one's in a lifetime experience. There are a number of sites around Taxila you can visit.

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Historical Places of Pakistan

Snow Falling on Murree Hills

Top Ten Places to Tour in Pakistan

Murree Hills

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Pakistan's National Heros

National Hero Mr. Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan (A. Q. Khan) Founder of Pakistani Nuclear Bomb mostly known as Islamic Bomb. Due to him Pakistan become the 1st Islami & World 7th Nuclear State. 

Imran Khan with 1992 World Cup Trophey

Jahangir Khan

Jansher Khan

Pakistani Cricket Team (T-20 Champion)

Great Leaders and Founders of Pakistan

Great Leader and Founder of Pakistan Quid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah (R.A) 

National Poet, Philosopher & the Thinker of Pakistan Doctor. Allama Muhammed Iqbal (R.A)

First Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Nawab Liaqat Ali Khan

Mother of the Nation (Mader-e-Millat) Miss Fatima Jinnah

Flags of Pakistan

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

State Logo

Motto:- Ittehad, Tanzim, Yaqeen - e- Muhkam (Unity, Faith Dicipline)

Pakistani National Anthem

Music Sheet of Pakistani National Anthem

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Pakistan National Song in Urdu

Pakistan national song in English 
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Blessed be the sacred Land
Happy be the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve
Land of Pakistan
Blessed be thou citadel of faith

The order of this sacred land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the People
May the nation, the country, and the state
Shine in glory everlasting
Blessed be the goal of our ambition

This Flag of the Crescent and Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection
Interpreter of our past, glory of our present
Inspiration of our future
Symbol of Almighty's protection

Mianwali

 (Urdu: میانوالی) 

is a District in the north-west of Punjab province, Pakistan. bordering Bannu, Lakki Marwat districts in west, Kohat and Karak districts in the North west and Dera Ismail Khan District in the southwest. Mianwali is located along the bank of river Indus.

Mianwali is an important city for its people politics and the rich minerals, Mianwali has an airport, a Nuclear Power Plant, famous Chasma Barrage, Chashma Hydel Power Plant and also an airforce base. Historically in November 1901 during the English times, North West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab. The towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District presently in NWFP and hence a new district was created with its headquarter in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. Mianwali is famous for its brave and strong willed people that constitute a greater part in Pakistan's Army. The Niazis, a Pakhtun Punjabi mixed tribe currently control the politics and other issues of governance of the area. 80% of the population is Pakhtun of Afghan origin. Mostly the people are bilingual i.e. speaking Seraiki and Pashto, The population of Mianwali district as whole is 1,056,620 of which 20.39% are urban aread as per estimates in 1998

History

Early History
The old name of the area is Thal meaning Desert, however, without wells would be a desert, and the probability is that in early historic times nearly the whole of it was a barren waste. 

There is no record of any plundering expedition on the Thal side by Alexander the Great's in 325BC. when he passed down the Jhelum to its junction with the Indus River, though he lightly undertook such an expedition across the waterless Bar to the Ravi. This shows that the then Thal was a poorer country than it is now.

Of the early history of the district nothing can be stated with any certainty, beyond the fact that its inhabitants were Hindus, and that before the Christian era the country formed an integral portion of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom of Kabul and the Punjab.

When we view this district in the history it seems a bit uneventful. Traditionally all major rulers of South Asia governed this area on their turn. Mughal emperor Babur mentions Essa Khail while he was on his mission of conquering Pakhtuns and the rest of the Punjab somewhere in 1520s (ref. Baburnama). Then came the Sikhs, that era was famous for lawlessness, and barbarism, they ruled until the annexation of Punjab in 1849 by the British. The British made administrative divisions, and the present towns of Mianwali and Isa Khel were made tehsil headquarters in the district Bannu of the Dera Ismail Khan Division of Punjab. In November 1901, North West Frontier Province was carved out of Punjab and towns of Mianwali, Isa Khel, Kalabagh, and Kundian were separated from Bannu District (NWFP)and hence a new district was made with the headquarters in Mianwali city and placed in Punjab. The district became a part of Rawalpindi Division. There were four tehsils namely Mianwali, Isa Khel, Bhakkar, and Layyah. Layyah was transferred to Muzaffargarh District in 1909. The district became a part of Sargodha Division in 1961. Bhakkar tehsil was carved out of Mianwali district and was made a separate district inside Sargodha division in 1982.

Getting to Mianwali

There are flights available from lahore to Mianwali by PIA Pakistan International airline. There are also Busses available from lahore, Multan and even from Karachi there is a direct Bus to Mianwali.

On a tour by Travel & Culture Services we will stop at Miawali on our tour of Punjab

Sehwan Sharief

Sehwan

The town of Sehwan is 300 Kilometers about five hours drive from Karachi on Indus Highway, which forks right of Super Highway just before Hyderabad at Jamshoro past University of Sindh. space. The old tomb structure was too small for such an immense crThe city is known for its patron saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA) who lived here in 13th century AD. Now, his Mazar (tomb) stands there. It is beautiful and amazing, but it is new. Government of Pakistan pulled down the ancient tomb to build this new one. The prime reason was owd.

Recommended for:

This town is recommended for those people who want to learn and observe and feel Sufism. You must have heard about Mulana Rumi (Turkey). Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA) also belongs to this Sufi order.Apart from the splendid Mazar, there is a Pathan charity center which provides around 13,000 rotis (Pakistani bread) to all those who are hungry. And being a small town, this center virtually feeds the entire population who is generally poor. The soup is also provided with the rotis. There is no limit to the number of rotis that a poor man can have!Apart from serving poor people, there are guest rooms for travelers who have no resources and wish to stay in one of the rooms. Mostly, the families are entertained. I visited Sehwan Sharif in March, 2004 and wanted to stay, but wasn't given any place.

Temple:

There is a temple nearby which belonged to a Hindu Raja and was discovered recently. It provides a good view of the town from the top.Religious sites:All Mazars are religious sites for Muslims. And all the things used by saints are also religious for most of the Muslims. Therefore, the places where Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA) stayed, prayed, performed miracles are all preserved to this day. Don't think that government of Pakistan has done anything for them. It is the love of all people who cherish the memories of great saint that endures and that has led to all this preservations.

Festivals:

Ashura 9 and 10 Moharram 1st Month of Islamic calendar (it varies according to moon sightings in Pakistan). The shia community mourn in the memory of the family of the Prophet Mohammad PBUH. The devotes torture their bodies to get a feel of the immense pain the family of the holy prophet had due to the opression of the Yazid (A Muslim wanting to be the Muslim political leader then).

The major festival however is quite colourful and devoid of blood splitting. It is the Urs Sharif of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA), and like Moharram, the dates vary due to moon. Check out with PTDC information center when you are in Pakistan. And they will guide you.

Hotels:

There is a STDC (Sindh Tourism Development Department) hotel. You can get the details and reservation by contacting us

Note: All hotels are full during the Urs Sharif. And the food can get expensive. Atleast for the backpackers.

Nearby Attractions:

Manchar lake : Asia's largest lake

World famous Mohen-ja-Daro is some two hour drive from Sehwan Sharif. You can get a bus easily from Sehwan bus stop. Seat for one cost around Rs. 100 to Larkana. From Larkana you can hire a taxi for the full day for Rs. 1000. If you want to go for two hours then it will cost you Rs. 250 (two way fare).

Bahawalpur is the starting point to explore the Cholistan Desert. Interesting Safaris can be organised from Bahawalpur to Cholistan.

Sialkot Traveling Information

Sialkot, Pakistan's export capital has the highest per capita exports in Pakistan. Three industries dominate Sialkot - Surgical goods, Sports goods, and Leather goods. Sialkot produces over 2000 different surgical instruments for worldwide export. Sialkot was selected to supply footballs for the 1998 World Cup. Sialkot industry holds many lessons for the rest of Pakistan's economy.
The sights and smells of Sialkot are of a different order than lahore's. Horse drawn tongas are in plentiful supply as they ease down thin alleyways purportedly referred to as streets. Sialkot prides itself as the birthplace of Allama Iqbal. The city's pragmatism becomes evident when viewing its industrial area: workshop upon workshop of boys and men, labouring together, making balls, gloves, bats, all sorts of sporting goods. This is a city at work, which moves about briskly in the morning, and closes up early in the evening.
Located 130 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital Lahore, and with a population of about 600,000, Sialkot is in many ways a unique city in Pakistan. A strong export and entrepreneurial culture combined with widespread availability of subcontracting arrangements has resulted in low barriers to entry and a proliferation of small and medium scale enterprises.


Sialkot Photo Gallery

Beautiful City of Pakistan Swat

( Written By Edward Lear 1862 . Akhund of Swat was the king of Swat before English He was a sufi who led his nation. Later after the English conquest English made His Son Jehanzeb the Wali (Owner) of Swat and in 1969 Swat came in full control of Government of Pakistan.
Swat is known as the Switzerland of Pakistan. The river Swat is a clear water river starting from the Ushu rage of mountains to the spread of the valley of Swat. It is on of the most green valleys of the Northern Pakistan and is well connected to the rest of Pakistan. There are regular flights from Islamabad to Swat and back. One can also get here either from Peshawar (160 KMs) or Islamabad.(250 KMs) The valley of Swat is located in the middle of foothills of Hindukush mountain range. The main town of the valley is Mingora and Saidu Sharief.
Swat is a place for leisure Lover , Hikers , and archeologist. There are many comfortable hotels where one can stay a while to relax. In Kalam upper Swat there are some very pleasant walks since weather is pretty pleasant one can easily walk over the hills for hours and enjoy the unspoiled nature. The Swat is garden of Ashoka and was a prosperous land in the Buddhist times (2nd BC to 5 AD) There are at least over 100 archeological sites in the valley less then 10% of the are excavated. One can explore some of those sites in a half day tour of Swat.

Pakistan - Chitral

Chitral located in the North west of Pakistan is a beautiful valley in the Hindukush range of Mountains. It has always been a very important route for many invaders to south east Asia, Including Alexander the great Scythians, Mangol Changez Khan and numerous others. Chitral is a small town with a one single street bazaar and a few tourist class hotels. At the end of Bazaar on the right (River side) there is the Chitral fort and Palace of Mehtar (Mir Or King) In front of the Fort is the Jami Mosque of Chitral an impressive architecture with beautiful inlays and decorations. You can get to Chitral from Swat via Dir drive to Dir on your Car where there are Jeeps available at Al Manzar Hotel which will take you via Lowari pass to the town of Chitral. There are also Hiaces (Vans) leaving from Swat but Jeeps are much safer. From Gilgit you can get a Jeep to take you to Phander (Below Shandur Pass ) You must overnight at a camp site and later continue to Chitral next day.

styl/ o t p)R R 0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Mahargarh 9000 years old village culture of Pakistan, though the food and goods on sale in the bazaars give it a certain Central Asian feel and a reason to see it. Afghan refugees have brought with them fresh crafts like the distinctive Hazara rugs, to add to such traditional items as Balouch mirror work, wooden crafts from Sind & Punjab and many other merchandise from Iran & Afghanistan.
In the cantonment north of the city is Staff College , there is a small military museum in a bungalow once occupied by Field- Marshal Montgomery when he was an instructor at the Quetta Staff College, it is the academy which trains Pakistan's military elite . The same route out of town leads after 11 kilometers to a Hanna Lake, which is a scenic lake with beautiful picnic spots around it. If you continue 22 kilometers on the same road there are the orchards of Urak Tangi. An other great spot to have a relaxed picnic under the apples & pomegranates orchids.

Abbottabad

Abbottabad or Abtabad  is a quaint city 110Kms north of Islamabad It is the popular for it cleanliness and the prestigious military School known as PMA (Pakistan Military Academy). It is located, at an altitude of 4120 feet (1250 meters) above sea level.

Historically Abbottabad was an important city of British India, the headquarters of Hazara Division (then a district), and named after its founder, Major James Abbott. Abbott settled this district in 1853 after the annexation of the Punjab, and became its first Deputy Commissioner. It was an important military cantonment and sanatorium, being the headquarters of a brigade in the second division of the northern army corps. In 1901 the population of the town and cantonment was 7764[1]. Before leaving Abbottabad, Major Abbott wrote a poem titled "Abbottabad".

Education

With its good weather and beautiful landscape, Abbottabad attracts people from all over Pakistan, some for tourism but many by its educational institutions. Abbottabad (sometimes called "The City of Schools") is home to a number of schools, colleges and training institutes. These educational institutions help to promote a high standard of education in the entire country.

Military Training Institutes like the PMA Kakul, (Pakistan Military Academy) the Regimental Training centers of the Pakistan Army are also located in Abbottabad.

Abbottabad has four Medical Colleges namely Ayub Medical College, Women Medical College, Frontier Medical College and Abbottabad International Medical College. An Institute for higher learning for Information Technology, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology is also located here

Other than that, many private and government school and colleges are located in Abbottabad city which are renowned for their high standard of education. Among these are Army Burn Hall College, Abbottabad Public School, PIPS, Al-Imtiaz Academy, IQRA Academy, Abbottabad Jamia Public School and two Government Colleges.

The Government Postgraduate College offers higher education of Bachelors and Masters level in Literature, Natural Sciences and Exact Sciences. The college attracts students from all over the NWFP.

A few Technical Institutions like Government Polytechnical Institute offer courses for skill-based technical & industrial education e.g Diploma in Associate Engineering. Quite a few Computer Institutes are also functioning in and around Abbottabad. These institutes are generally affiliated with Board of Technical Education, Peshawar.

Tourism

Like much of the mountainous Northern Areas of Pakistan, tourism is one of the important sources of economic activity in Abbottabad, in summer when temperatures in the plains of Pakistan rise to well above 45 degrees Celsius , large number of tourists travel north to Abbottabad to shelter from the blistering heat. The Karakoram Highway, which traces one of the paths of the ancient Silk Road, starts from Havelian 15 km south of the Abbottabad town, and passes through the city. The Karakorum Highway is an attraction for the adventure tourists. Abbottabad is the last big town, the first mild-weather tourist city in Northern Pakistan for the tourists coming from the plains in the south.