Broad Peak 8047 m, from Concordia, Karakoram
The abode of Mountain gods or the land of Alexander the great or the cradle of ancient civilizations,
a land with many names and definitions.
Cities with culture, vivacity, colorful city life, unique architecture, rich history and archaeological sites.
Its northern mountains regions with,
Snow capped peaks, mighty and angry rivers, calm lakes reflecting the azure of the sky, immense glaciers, stunning valleys, Cedar and Quercus forests, unique fauna and flora, with 5 of the world's 8000 meter summits and more than 100 which mark 7000 m , Pakistan can justifiably claim to have the greatest concentration of big peaks on the globe .Pristine landscapes , lush green valleys , turquoise lakes , trout filled streams enchanting the and inviting the tourists, travelers and adventurers from all over the world to come and explore this land which is still an enigma to the rest of the world due to its very limited approach to the western media.
Trango towers,from Baltoro glacier Besides that, having the most famous and highest mountain ranges of the world ( Himalaya, Karakorum, Hindukush and Hinduraj), Pakistan can truly claim the name " The land of mountain gods" and I assure you that trekking over its mountains or the rafting in its white waters or climbing the lofty peaks, would be an unforgettable experience.
Let me take you to the marvels of nature and I hope that you will never forget this trip.
Decorated Trucks
Peshawar, The ancient city of caravans
Peshawar, it has many names but most famous ones are , Pushpapura a Sanskrit word means the city of flowers and Pu Lo Shah in Chinese, city was known as Kanishka Pura around 1st century AD.
As it is found in when the famous Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang came here, in the 7th century A.D. and he described it as the 2nd capital of Gandhara, but it was named Peshawar by one of the Mughal emperors,Jehangir. Peshawar's flowers were also mentioned in one of the memoirs of the founder of Mughal empire, Babur, who came to Peshawar through Khyber pass in 1526 A.D, during his series of conquests after Kabul.It was invaded by Aryans, Scythians, Persians, Greeks, Bactrians, Kushans, Huns, Turks, Mongols and Mughals.
Khyber pass, Toward Torkham border
Peshawar is now, as always, very much a frontier town. The formalities of dress and manner give way here to a free and easy style, as men encounter men with a firm hand-clasp and a straight but friendly look.
Peshawar is the great Pathan city. And what a city! Hoary with age and the passage of twenty-five centuries, redolent with the smell of luscious fruit and roasted meat and tobacco smoke, placid and relaxed but pulsating with the rhythmic sound of craftsmen's hammers and horses' hooves, unhurried in its pedestrian pace and horse-carriage traffic, darkened with tall houses, narrow lanes and overhanging balconies, intimate, with its freely intermingling crowd of townsmen, tribal, traders and tourists - this is old Peshawar, the journey's end or at least a long halt, for those traveling up north or coming down from the Middle East or Central Asia, now as centuries before when caravans unloaded in the many caravan series now lying deserted outside the dismantled city walls or used as garages by the modern caravans of far-ranging buses.
Peshawar, city of Chaikhanas ( traditional tea shops), colorful night life, ancient cultures, passage of karavans, story tellers and inns in the olden days, a gateway to invaders, warm welcoming natives, artisans, multiple languages , ancient & amazing races etc.A couple of decades back, the city was enclosed within a city wall with its 16 gates but now due to an immense increase in the local population and the migration from the other parts of the province, the walls have got vanished and somewhere only the remains are visible of that historical past, telling the anecdotes of the olden days.
North and south of Peshawar spread the vast tribal area where the biggest tribal society in the world lives, inshape of warm welcoming and hospitable tribal Pathans, in the poems of Rehman Baba and Khushal Khan Khattak (Famous Pathan Poets), one can find the unique qualities of Pathans.
Snake charmers
Accessibilty:
Peshawar is well connected to the rest of Pakistan by road and by air, in addition, to Afghanistan through Torkham, China through Besham and Swat valley, and rest of the world by Air.
Aerial view of Peshawar
Dress Code:
Peshawar, the city of Pathan settlements, locals will be visible in the streets wearing Shalwar (Trouser) Kameez (Long shirt) and Duppata for females (Shawl).
Local dress will provide you with an opportunity to mix with the locals and you will be pretty convenient with the local culture.
Qissa Khwani bazaar (Old Story Tellers Bazaar):
Let me take you to the old city and from Kabuli square starts Qissa Khwani Bazar,one of the most ancient bazaars of Peshawar and it would not be wrong if it is called the heart of the city, because of its unique location.As it is mentioned in the above lines that it was one of the most famous relaxing places, having the caravan sarais (Inns), after a long and fatiguing journey for the caravans from middle east and central Asia. I can imagine those evenings, when the city Chaikhanas (Teashops) were full of traders, listening to the stories of the professional story tellers, it was like an oasis in the middle of a desert.
Nowadays it has assumed the shape of a food street because of the presence of numerous restaurants vegetarian and non vegetarian food is available with traditional tea shops.
Mohabat Khan Mosque:
A very famous mosque in the old city, located in the centre of the gold smith market, was built by Mohabbat Khan, governor of Peshawar, during the period of famous Mughal emperors Shah Jehan and Auregzeb, in 1670 AD.which reflects the Mughal architecture and the most famous artisans of the Sub-continent took part in its construction. The interior part of the mosque was decorated with floral work and calligraphy.
Chowk Yadgar:
Nowadays, a money changers market, a place for public and political gatherings as well, but almost a decade back there was standing a memorial of Col. E.C. Hastings who died in 1884, which was replaced by new memorial to commemorate the heroes of 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Ghanta Ghar or (Cunningham Clock Tower):
At the end of Chowk Yadgar, a road turns to right and after a few moments, one will be standing infront of a Clock tower (Ghanta Ghar), was constructed by Sir George Cunnhingham in 1900, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Sethi Houses:
From Clock tower there is a diversion, we take the right to get to Sethi mohallah and after a couple of moments on the left, inside a narrow street, Sethi Houses are located.The highly decorated carved wooden bulidings, housed by the famous business community of Peshawar.The centuries old Muslim architecture is worth seeing.
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Gor Ghatri:
Let's get back to the point wherefrom we had taken a left turn to Sethi houses, if we continue the road upwards, there is located Gor Ghatri, name derived from a Hindu Tailor (Gorbachan) who had his shop in front of the building. Gor Ghatri is the site of the monastery of King Kanishka, where the unique Alms Bowl of Buddha was once exhibited. The remains of Kanishka's monastery are yet to be uncovered through horizontal excavations. The present monument of the Mughal period is a Serai built by Jehan Ara Begum, the daughter of Mughal empror Shah Jehan in 1641 AD, who also built two wells and a mosque here. The site remained a famous center of Hindu pilgrimage and this activity was at peak, when King Babur visited the site in early 16th century. In past, the building occupied a Buddhist stupa and a temple but now some remains are visible.
BALA HISAAR FORT:
Located at General Trunk Road and it is visible on the both entrances of the city either from Rawalpindi or Khybar pass. Originally built by Babar (Founder of Mughal dynasty) in 1526-30, it was rebuilt in its present form by the Sikh Governor of Peshawar, Hari Singh Nalva, in the 1830's under the guidance of French engineers. It houses government offices at present.
But now there is a hope that soon it will be handed over to Archeological department as a historical monument.
Gordwara (Sikh Temple)
Located in Mohllah Jogan shah, Dabgari bazar, built during the Sikh period (1762-1849), exhibits the olden days of Sikh rule over Peshawar.
Buddhisatva at Peshawar Museum
Peshawar Museum
It was built in 1925 and it houses the finest pieces of Gandhara sculptures, found during the excavations in the area, a glimpse of tribal life and Muslim period.
Where to Stay
As it is mentioned in the above lines that Peshawar has been welcoming the guests from the outer world for centuries therefore sometimes it is also known as the city of Inns.
Hotel Pearl Continental
Khyber Road, Ph:276361,276369
Khan Klub
New rampura Gate, Old City. Ph:214802
Hotel North West Heritage
Near Firdaous Cinema, Old City. Ph: 215881
Park Inn
Khyber Bazaar, Peshawar City. Ph: 2560048
Hotel Spogmay
Namak Mandi, Old City Peshawar. Tel: 091-213255
Hotel New Mehran
Sunehri Masijid Road, Saddar. Tel: 091-272439
Kalash girl, from Romboor, Chitral
Trekking in the mountains of Pakistan
Pakistan, most of its northern part comprises of highest ranges of the mountains in the world like Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush.
As a matter of fact it is the destination which is blessed with snow clad mountains, lakes, high passes, lush green valleys,
mighty rivers, pine forests, immense glaciers and high meadows.It invites those who dare
trekking,rock climbing,mountaineering, river rafting.
So join me to explore this great land and let me take you to high passes and valleys, let’s speak to the mountain gods.
Trek to Owir high camp 4450 m, Hindukush Chitral
Day 1 : Arrival at Peshawar, city tour, over night at hotel,
Day 2 : Excursion to Chitral, by plane 45 minutes or drive over Lowari pass 3200 m, 12 hrs, overnight at hotel,
Day 3 : Getting the permit then Chitral city tour, Royal fort, gem stones,Local handicraft shops, night at hotel.
Day 5 : Drive to Kiyar, overnight camping at Kiyar pasture 3400 m,
Day 6 : Trek to Golghari, over Owir pass 4400 m in Hindukush,8 to 10 hrs, overnight camping,Day 7: Drive back to Chitral, 3 hrs.
Terichmir, the castle of fairies, Hindukush
Trek to Terichmir 7708 m, base camp 3600 ,
Day 1: Drive to Baroom village, 3 hrs from Chitral, overnight camping.
Day 2 : Trek to setoor camp, overnight camping,
Day 3 : Trek to the base camp 3600 m of Terichmir (7778 m), overnight camping besides North Baroom glacier,
Day 4: Back to Begh village,2,3 , overnight camping or drive back to Chitral.
Achulgah valley, trek across Kalash valleys
Trekking across Kalash valleys, Hindukush Chitral,
It is another beautiful trekking plan in Hindukush, in the fully pine forested area while visiting the 3 Kalash valleys (Romboor, Bamoborate, Birir and hidden valley Achulgah).
Day 1: Arrival at Peshawar, city tour, over night at hotel,
Day 2 : Excursion to Chitral, by plane 45 minutes or drive over Lowari pass 3200 m, 12 hrs, overnight at hotel,
Day 3 : Getting the permit then Chitral city tour,Royal fort, gem stones, Local Chitrali handicraft shops, night at hotel.
Day 4 : Drive to Birir, 1.5 hrs in a Jeep, one of the Kalash valleys ,over night hotel,
Day 5 : Trek over Gumbak pass 3020 m to Bamborate valley, 6 to 8 hrs, overnight hotel,
Day 6 : Trek over Donson pass 2910 m to Achulgah valley, 5 to 7 hrs,overnight camping,
Day 7 : Trek over Kundayak pass 2850 m across lush green Cedar trees, overnight Romboor valley hotel.
Day 8 : Exploring the valley, and then back to Chitral 2 hrs drive.
The view of Chitral Town
Trek to summer palace, Chitral gol national park
Day 1: Trek to the palace of ex rulers of Chitral, 4,5 hrs, overnight camping.
Day 2:Views of Chitral town from the top and Terichmir 7708 m, in the morning, then descend back to Chitral town, 2 hrs.
Fairy Meadows, Nanga Pabrat
Trek to Nanga Parbat 8126 m, Fairy meadows, base camp 3900 m,
Day 1: Drive to raikot bridge from Gilgit 1.5hrs, then changing the jeep, 45 minutes drive to Jhel, 3 hrs trek to Fairy meadows 3300 m, a very scenic place, and breathtaking views of the killer mountains, overnight camping.
Day 2: Trek to the base camp 3900 m, 5,6 hrs, back to fairy meadows, overnight camping.
Day 3:Back to Jhel, take the jeep to raikot bridge and Gilgit.
Trek to Rakapshi 7788 m, Base camp 3300 m, from Minapin
Day 1: Trek to Taghphari 3300 m base camp, from Minapin, 4,5 hrs, overnight camping.
Day 2: Relaxing at the base camp, taking the snaps of the beautiful mountain and walk over Minapin glacier.
Day 3: Descend back to Minapin, drive to Gilgit or Karimabad, Hunza.
Please send your queries to
imranthetrekker@yahoo.com
imranthesamana@hotmail.com
Cell: 092 346 98 95 7 20
Photos of Pakistan on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker
07/05/07 @ 20:00