Pakistan is an excellent place to visit. It becomes even more enjoyable if you know where to go and what to visit. Thankfully, you don’t have to browse hundreds of blogs to find out any of this. If you are planning on visiting Pakistan in the near future, Roaming Pakistan is your guide.
Pakistan has gorgeous beaches in Sindh and Balochistan. The country’s northern areas are full of adventure-filled mountains and peaks. The fertile plains of Punjab have some of the most mesmerising agricultural scenery. If you are more into urban life, Pakistan has that too. Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi are huge megacities with plenty of activities to do. There is so much to do while visiting Pakistan that we could not fit it in one article. But we promise we will certainly be writing many more!
Visiting Pakistan For Tourism
Pakistan is a vast country with almost all imaginable landscapes and rich history. There are some of the tallest mountains in the north with picturesque views. There are hundreds of miles of fertile river basins with green fields as far as the eye can see. The history of the land goes back thousands of years. Let’s look at a few of the best places to visit in Pakistan as a tourist.
Visiting Pakistan For Its Historic Sites
All provinces and territories of Pakistan have many historical sites. However, we can only mention a few of them in this article. We will make separate posts covering historical sites in Pakistan with plenty more detail. For the moment, we have chosen the 4 most famous ones in our opinion. Let’s take a look.
The Ancient City Of Mohenjo-Daro
The ancient site of Mohenjo Daro is believed to have been built around 4,500 years ago around 2,500 BC. This makes it one of the oldest discovered dead civilisations ever. It is widely believed that the site is the ruins of the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The archaeological site is a treat for tourists interested in ancient history. It lies in the north-west of Pakistan’s Sindh province. You can get to Mohenjo Daro from Karachi by road using the Karachi Hyderabad Motorway.
The Oxford Handbook of Cities in World History estimates that as many as 40,000 people once inhabited the ancient city. No one really knows what the actual name of the city was when it lived and thrived. But the local Sindhi population named it Mohenjo Daro. This term roughly translates to ‘Mount of the Dead’. The city is believed to have survived for around 600 years. The cause of Its sudden death is unknown. But historians believe that the city’s abandonment coincides with the fall of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
It is a great site to tour when you are visiting Pakistan as it takes on an ancient history tour of the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is worth mentioning that the site experiences very hot weather for most of the year. Therefore, the best time to visit Mohenjo Daro is during the winter months.
Taxila – City of Cut Stone
Taxila is another world-famous archaeological site in Pakistan. Unlike Mohenjo Daro, Taxila is also a modern city. However, whether people have lived here without interruption remains unclear. Taxila is so ancient that it has been mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. Taxila is located in the northernmost region of Pakistan’s Punjab province. Because of this, it is easily accessible from Islamabad. This can be especially useful if your base is in Islamabad while visiting Pakistan.
Taxila is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Pakistan. This is also because it is a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is widely believed that the city had a great connection with Chanakya. Chanakya was an immensely popular figure in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. Getting to Taxila is quite easy as the site is well connected to various road networks. It is roughly an hour’s drive away from both Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This means that you can go to the site and return on the same day.
Katas Raj Temples
The Katas Raj temples is a famous complex of ancient religious sites of Hinduism. The complex is located in northern Punjab, Pakistan. The complex is built around a water body that is considered sacred to followers of the Hindu faith.
Getting to Katas Raj temples can be another one of your day trips from Islamabad. The site is easily accessible by the M2 motorway. Just like Taxila, Katas Raj temples have been mentioned in ancient Indian texts as well. The complex has been mentioned in Mahabharata. The complex is located in a lush green area at an approximate height of 2,000 feet. If you are looking for another ancient site to visit in Pakistan, Katas Raj temples is a must!
Visiting Pakistan’s Largest Cities
Pakistan is home to many mega cities with millions of residents and plenty of things to do. Some cities like Karachi and Lahore have been inhabited for hundreds of years. While others, like Pakistan’s capital Islamabad have been around for less than a century. Each city has a rich history, exceptional food, and various tourist activities for you to include in your trip.
Visiting Pakistan’s Largest City – Karachi
The modern city of Karachi is built around an ancient fishing village. Not surprisingly, Karachi today is one of the busiest ports in Asia. It is the commercial and trading hub of Pakistan. It is also one of the most populous cities in the world. You can easily start your trip when visiting Pakistan here.
Because of being a commercial powerhouse, Karachi has tourist activities unlike any other city in Pakistan. There are gorgeous beaches for you to explore. You can visit the various water parks in and around the city. And if you are feeling hungry, you will never run out of options to choose from. Karachi houses regional and domestic headquarters of various international mega-corporations.
You can even come to Karachi by boat. But if you like flying, Karachi’s international airport is well connected. It has vibrant nightlife if you know where to look. You can make Karachi a starting point for discovering interior Sindh and Balochistan. It is an excellent base to go explore Kund Malir and Hingol National Park.
Visiting The Heart Of Pakistan – Lahore
Lahore is arguably one of the most famous cities of the Indian subcontinent. It has continuously been inhabited for many centuries. More importantly. it has been used as a base of operations and regional headquarters by the Mughals as well as the British. The old town of Lahore speaks volumes about its rich history and heritage.
Modern-day Lahore is a mega-metropolis and the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province. It houses the seat of the Provincial legislature, Chief Minister, as well as the Provincial Cabinet. It has experienced massive development over the last 2 decades. This has greatly improved the city’s urban infrastructure. The Mall of Lahore, Emporium Mall, and Packages Mall are only three of the many shopping centres in the city. Lahore is best known for its amazing food. The local cuisine is an immersive combination of Punjab’s most loved dishes.
Lahore has many ancient and modern tourist spots for you to visit. These include the Lahore Fort, Minar-e-Pakistan, and Shalimar Gardens. It is also very close to the Wagah gate which is one of the border openings with neighbouring India. Lahore’s international airport connects to some of the busiest airports in the world.
Visiting Pakistan’s Capital – Islamabad
Islamabad is Pakistan’s capital and the most developed city in the country. The main reason for this is that it was built from the ground up only 50 years ago. The city has a well developed road network and has large public parks. It is bordered by miles and miles of lush green mountains. Islamabad is home to many embassies and consulates. It houses the official residences of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Office of the Prime Minister, the Federal Cabinet as well the country’s Parliament are also situated here. You can view all of the structures very closely by driving through Constitutional Avenue.
Islamabad gets its water supply from two very large lakes. Besides supplying water, Rawal Lake and Khanpur Lake also offer various fun activities. There is boating, fishing, and cliff jumping in the lakes. Moreover, there is also a theme park right besides Rawal Lake if you don’t fancy the water. If you are an avid trekker, there are many trails in different parts of the Margalla Hills.
Why Islamabad?
Islamabad has hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and eateries. These serve almost all types of cuisines from around the world, many of which have been improvised for the desi taste. The Islamabad international airport is a newly constructed facility that connects to the world’s busiest airports via direct flights. You can also make Islamabad the base of your travel trip to Pakistan. This is because it is very conveniently connected to the northern areas of the country. The city houses two five star hotels that are operated by internationally acclaimed brands, Marriott and Serena Hotels.
Islamabad Guides
We have plenty of guides when it comes to Pakistan’s capital, here are just a handful.
- Outdoor Dining Islamabad – The Top 6 Restaurants with Outdoor Seating (2021)
- The Islamabad Restaurants You Will Die For!
Visiting Pakistan For Its Tourist Spots In The Northern Areas
The gorgeous northern areas also contribute to the popularity of Pakistan. From mile high peaks to lush green valleys, the northern region of Pakistan is full of adventure. We will probably end up writing a lot about this region in the future. However, for now, we will have to do with these two spots.
Visiting Pakistan’s Naran Kaghan Valleys
The Naran Kaghan valleys are what almost every Pakistani has grown up listening about. These are two extremely pleasant and scenic tourist spots in Pakistan. They lie on the main road that stretches all the way to Chilas. The valleys are almost an hour apart and the only way to get there is by road.
Pakistan has experienced rapid infrastructure development over the years. The roads to Naran Kaghan valleys have improved greatly. However, it can still take almost 6 to 8 hours from Islamabad. But we can assure you that the drive is absolutely worth every minute!
There are hotels in both valleys that suit every budget. In terms of activities, there isn’t a lot to do in Naran Kaghan except revel in the picturesque mountains all around. But that’s not all as you can use these valleys as a base for trips further north. Day trip options include visiting Babusar top as well as visiting Saif ul Malook Lake.
Naran Kaghan Guides
Roaming Pakistan has plenty of guides to help you plan a trip in and around Naran Kaghan. Here are a few of those.
- Travelling To Naran? Roaming Pakistan Explores The Best Places To Visit
- Attractions of Naran Kaghan – All you need to know!
- Top 4 Budget-friendly Naran Hotels (2021)
- The Top 5 Luxury Hotels in Naran (2021)
Visiting Pakistan’s Hunza Valley
Hunza valley is almost another 6 to 8 hour drive from Naran. the inhabitants of Hunza spent centuries here and you will absolutely fall in love with the roads leading to Hunza. Driving on the famous Karakoram highway is an unparalleled experience. No wonder they call it the roof of the world!
Hunza valley has many small villages you can visit. Kareemabad is the most famous village where you will find the famous Eagle’s Nest viewing spot. You can take a live view of some of the world’s tallest peaks from here. Like Naran Kaghan, Hunza also has lodging facilities for every budget.
The most famous tourist spots in Hunza are the Altit and Baltit Forts. The experienced local tour guides conduct daily tours. If you do end up visiting Hunza, remember to try out the delicious walnut cake from Cafe de Hunza!
Is Pakistan safe for tourists?
Pakistan is very safe for tourists from every corner of the world. There are hundreds of tourist spots and activities that travellers can partake in safely. All major cities and towns are easily accessible for all tourists by road, train, bus, and air. Pakistan is very safe from a tourism standpoint. It is steadily growing as a popular tourist destination globally.
Is Pakistan a dangerous country to visit?
Pakistan is not a dangerous country to visit. The security situation has improved immensely over the past decade. Pakistan has bustling cities with millions of residents that are very welcoming. They host millions of tourists every year from around the world. Tourist can visit the major cities, popular tourist spots. They can also enjoy fishing, skiing, boating, and other activities safely. These reasons make Pakistan a very safe country to visit.
Is Pakistan expensive to visit?
Pakistan is not at all expensive to visit. You can find very decent hotels, and tours at affordable prices throughout Pakistan. The country’s economy is gradually improving which makes foreign currencies valuable in Pakistan. Thus, foreign travellers are able to buy various things at affordable prices. They can enjoy this benefit throughout the country. Furthermore, Pakistan is an agricultural country which results in economical food prices. You can expect some of the best dishes you have ever tasted in Pakistan. All of them at incredibly low prices!
