Pakistan, a land not so far away from ours; in fact, it is a neighbouring nation to India. Metaphorically considered as a brat little brother to India, Pakistan and India have been on to each other’s throat from the time of its separation. Well, we would like to call it a sibling rivalry. Be it a cricket match or music, both the nations are always trying to prove each other who is the best. Well, not so much when it comes to cricket. Having been separated by a line, there is not much difference in the culture, language, history or heritage between these two nations. Yet there is always a bittersweet rivalry amongst the people of both the nation instigated by filthy the political motives, keeps both the nations away from each other. So near yet so far is what we think each time we wonder about travelling to Pakistan. Ever wondered how is the grass on the other side of the line? Ever wondered if the landscapes are different from ours in India? You must be wondering about the cultural disparity since Pakistan is a Muslim dominated nation. But what if we tell you Pakistan is not so different than India? There is so much to see in the nation, there are some tasty delicacies you would want to try and there are definitely some wonderful monuments remind you of India.
Let’s see some interesting things one can see and do in Pakistan.
Visa for Indians
Indian passport holders are not granted tourist visa instead, one can apply for a Business visa, visiting friends and family visa, transit visa and a visa for religious pilgrimage. Upon arrival, Indian travellers are subjected to mandatory police registration. They are also restricted in entry and exit ports for eg: They must enter and leave the country at designated points including Wagah, Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. One must note that Indian passport holders typically must enter and exit from the same point unless you have permission taken in advance.
Top places to visit in Pakistan
Lahore
Fondly believed to be a cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore is a beautiful city in the Punjab province. This second-largest city has a plethora of opportunity for tourists to explore the cultural and historical aspect of a city in Pakistan. You will come across friendly locals not very different from India, who speaks beautiful Punjabi and eat chole naan exactly like one of us. Badshahi mosque is one of the must-visit monuments in Lahore. Built by the Mughals, the architecture is doesn’t feel like you are in a different country altogether. You will be surprised at each step in Lahore as to how similar everything is to India.
Nearest airport: Lahore international airport is the closest
Karachi
Karachi is one of the largest cities of Pakistan also happens to be the financial capital of the country. Naturally, it is the most populous city in the country. This vibrant city is often believed to be quite different from the rest of the places in the country; be it the hurried lifestyle or liberal attitude, Karachi is a beautiful blend of a modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle. Being a coastal city, Karachi has some wonderful beaches and islands, museums and a great entertainment scene.
Nearest airport: Karachi international airport is the closest
Gilgit-Baltistan
Located in the northernmost part of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan is by far the most beautiful region in Pakistan. With a backdrop of major mountains ranges of the world such as Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Western Himalayas, Gilgit-Baltistan is a stunning destination for mountain lovers and adventure seekers. Gilgit is the capital of the region, also the largest city. Located along the Karakoram highway to China, Gilgit is a beautiful town. Skardu is another beautiful town in the region that is known to be home for the world’s highest mountain peaks. With a unique landscape, Gilgit - Baltistan is a must-visit destination in Pakistan.
Nearest airport: Gilgit domestic airport is the closest
Azad Kashmir
Very similar to Kashmir in India, Azad Kashmir is a mesmerising destination in the southern part of Pakistan. Azad Kashmir Pakistan controlled portion of Kashmir that is no less than Kashmir on the Indian side – when it comes to the stunning locations and landscapes. There are some fabulous valleys, lush green forests and green plateaus, beautiful streams and lakes that will leave you stunned. It is definitely a perfect place for landscape photography.
Nearest airport: Muzaffarabad airport is the closest
Mohenjodaro
Mohenjodaro an ancient city belonging to one of the oldest human civilization i.e. Indus valley civilization. Travelling to Mohenjodaro to history buffs is a striking a place of their bucket list. Going back to 2500 BCE, Mohenjodaro is one of the biggest cities of the civilization that is known for advanced lifestyle. This ancient site is a fascinating spot to discover the ancient ways of living and their technology. One can reach from Karachi by road; it is located at a distance of 400 km. One can also take an overnight train from Karachi to Larkana, which is located at a distance of 30 km from Mohenjodaro, suitable for budget travellers.
Nearest airport: Mohenjodaro airport is the closest
Deosai Plains
Located in the region Gilgit-Baltistan, Deosai Plains is one of the stunning places in the world with a heavenly backdrop of the western Himalayas and the Karakoram. Situated at an elevation of 4000 metres above sea level, Deosai plains will definitely take your breath away! The picturesque landscapes and fabulous weather are truly exhilarating. Deosai Plains remains covered in snow for most of the months, say up to 8 months a year and the rest of the year the plains are covered with colourful flowers.
Nearest airport: Gilgit domestic airport is the closest
Ranikot Fort
Ranikot Fort is truly an impressive structure located not very far from Karachi. Also known as The great wall of Sindh, Ranikot fort bears resemblance to the great wall of china. With a huge circumference of about 30 km, Ranikot fort is believed to be the world’s largest fort. However, not much attention is given in order to develop this potential tourist attraction. Connecting several mountains of Kithara hills, the original purpose of building this fort is still unknown. Thus stunning fort is a must-visit tourist attraction when in Pakistan.
Nearest airport: Muzaffarabad airport is the closest
Bahawalpur
Located in the south-eastern part of Pakistan, Bahawalpur is considered to be one of the largest cities in the country; also happens to be safe to travel in Pakistan. This beautiful city having been a princely state of Nawab of Bahawalpur for a long time boasts of stunning monuments and historical buildings and palaces, lush green gardens and a mesmerising river Sutlej. It is one of the splendid places to experience the richness of nawab that will be added as a jewel on your itinerary to Pakistan.
Nearest airport: Bahawalpur airport is the closest
Itinerary
Day 1: Lahore arrival; evening leisurely explore the city
Day 2: Lahore city tour
Day 3: Lahore to Islamabad by bus (390km); overnight in Islamabad
Day 4: Visit Faisal Mosque
Day 5: Islamabad to Fairy Meadows
Day 6: Explore fairy Meadows
Day 7: Fairy Meadows Gilgit
Day 8: Gilgit
Day 9: Gilgit to Lahore (Fly); Lahore departure.
Best time to visit
Travelling to Pakistan in the months between September to November and March to May. Ideally travelling in spring and summer is a pleasant time to explore the region as the climate is pleasant in spring and hot in summer in certain places. However, travelling in winters can be extremely harsh. The weather is biting cold is the months between December to February. The whole of the northern part of Pakistan is covered in snow making it impossible to travel. Thus one can plan to visit Pakistan in spring and summer.
What to eat?
Nihari – Nihari is considered to be the best tasting meat in the whole world. You ask why? Well, it contains meat that is slow-cooked with local spices overnight; this process of cooking allows the dish to absorb the flavours of bone marrow, making it one of the best dishes in the world. Nihari is served hot with Naan.
Karahi – It is one of the most commonly available dishes, from roadside shops to decent restaurants, Karahi is one of the favourites with the locals in Pakistan. This tasty curry is usually cooked with goat, chicken and prawns. It is served hot with Naans
Sajji – This interesting dish happens to have originated from the region of Baluchistan. It is one of the popular traditional cuisines one must try in Pakistan. It is made up of a whole lamb or chicken stuffed with flavoured rice, cover it in green papaya paste; it is then placed in Skewer and roasted for hours together. This tasty dish is a must-try in Pakistan.
Aloo Kheema – This is one of the most common dishes you will find in every household in Pakistan. It is a fantastic combination of potatoes and minces mutton or beef cooked local spices. If you are staying with locals in Pakistan, make sure you try this dish.
How to reach from India
Being one of the bordering nations, Pakistan is definitely reachable by three modes of transportation. However, it is not very easy for the Indians to travel to Pakistan for tourism purpose.
Air – Travelling by air is perhaps the fastest way of reaching Pakistan. With three international airports in the country such as Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, there are a number of airlines connecting Pakistan with the rest of the world. From India, there are
Train – Travelling by train is definitely possible from India. However, it can be a long journey. Samjhauta express that runs on Tuesday and Friday is the only train that crosses the border via Wagah to Lahore in Pakistan. But due to a recent terror attack on the train, it is advisable to go by road from the border.
Road – Travelling by road is comparatively a faster way of reaching Pakistan from India. There is an international bus service running from Delhi to Lahore, which is a comparatively faster and cheaper way to travel. One cannot buy tickets on the spot, as one must need to show visa and other required documents to buy the ticket in advance. This bus to Lahore leaves from Delhi Gate at 6 in the morning every day.