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The Land of Adventure and Nature

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The Land of Adventure and Nature 4 Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Welcome To Pakistan: The land of adventure and nature A mosque in Hunza Valley Khyber Steam Safari rom the mighty stretches of the Karakorams The Karakorams mountainous. During winter, heavy snow separate the (Francis Youghusband (1896) - First view of K-2). “The in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Karakoram means black mountain in Turkish. This valleys from the rest of the world for six months. In the sight was beyond my comprehension and I sat gazing Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a splendid magnificent collection of dark brown and summer, temperatures over 100 degrees are common. at it with a kind of timid fascination” (Eric Shipton). land of high adventure and nature. Trekking, black metamorphic rocks is the most unique mountain In Skardu, one is immediately struck by the juxtaposi- Kalash Tribes & Chitral Valley - Chitral, an area which mountaineering, white water rafting, wild range. It has the largest concentration of lofty pinnacles tion of sand dunes and show-capped peak. was focus of the “Great Games”, at the turn of the 19th Fboar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and mountains in the world, stretching for 400 kms Century, is a land of ancient forts, rivers, springs and and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a with 250 kms depth. It is bounded by Shhyok River in Trekking in Pakistan unique culture. The valleys of Brir, Rambur and few activities, which entice the adventure and nature the east and Karamber, Ishkuman and Gilgit Rivers in Pakistan is a paradise for trekkers. Most of the Bamburet are the home of the only pagan tribe - lovers to Pakistan. the west in the north-east it is bounded by Shaksgam trekking routes lies in the northern mountains of the Kalash, ‘the wearers of black robes’. Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora and river and in the south-west by Shyok and the Indus Hindukush, the Karakorams and the Himalayas. For most Best time to visit: March to November fauna. High Himalayas, Karakoram and the Hindukush rivers, Karakoram is specially characterized by its fis- of the treks, trekking season is between May to ranges with their alpine meadows and permanent snow sured rocks, gendarme like vertical features and steep October. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of PIA AIR Safari line, coniferous forests down the sub-mountain scrub, slopes presenting great challenge to climbers and Pakistan, has defined trekking as walking below 6000 The World’s highest mountain ranges - the mighty the vast Indus plain merging into the great desert, the adventure seekers. m. It has designated three zones for trekking; open, Himalayas, the rugged Karakorams, the magnificent coast line and wetlands, all offer a remarkably rich vari- Four peaks above eight thousand meters ie, K-2, restricted and closed. Foreigners may trek anywhere in ety of vegetation and associated wildlife including avi- Hindu Kush and the mysterious Pamirs congregate Gasherbrum 1 & 2 and Broad Peak are situated in open zone without a permit or services of a licensed along the far Northern frontiers of Pakistan to form an fauna, both endemic and migratory. Ten of 18 mam- Karakoram in a radius of just twenty kms around a mountain guide. awesome natural bastion along its borders with India, malian orders are represented in Pakistan with species famous glacial junction called Concordia. The sub For trekking in restricted zone, foreigners must pay China, Afghanistan, the Central Asian Republics and ranging from the world’s smallest surviving mammals, regions of the Karakoram are Baltoro, Soltoro, Hispar, a fee of US$ 20 per person per trek to obtain a Russia. In fact, Pakistan’s towering Northern frontiers the Mediterranean Pigmy Shrew, to the largest mammal Lupghar, Khunjerab, Panmah, Aghilm, Masherbrum, trekking permit from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of bestow upon this country the most endowed mountain ever known; the blue whale. Pakistan offers tourism in Saser, Siachen, Rimo, Batura, Rakaposhi/Bogrot and Pakistan Islamabad. It also requires to hire a licensed region on Earth, making it the only country to boast of various areas including Eco and Environment; Spiritual; Haramosh. mountain guide; buy a personal accident insurance pol- Heritage; Sports and Medical. The snow line in this range varies between 4200 to icy for the guide and the porters and to attend manda- literally ALL of the highest mountain ranges of the 4500 meters during the summers. The temperatures in tory briefing and de-briefing at the Ministry of Tourism, World. Unique Mountains, Valleys and Glaciers the area are extreme and there is large difference on the beginning and end of the trekking trip. No It is because of this, that Pakistan International Northern areas of Pakistan, spread over 72,496 sq between lowest and highest temperatures during a day. trekking is allowed in closed zones which are the areas Airlines offers, perhaps the most unique Air Safari on km are as fascinating as its southern region. Amidst Monsoons do not penetrate this area. Most suitable near Pak-Afghan border and near the Line of Control Earth: a grandiose flight into the ultimate realm of the towering snow-clad peaks with heights varying from climbing season in Karakoram being from the month of with Indian-held Kashmir mountains! It is a flight through a virtual forest of liter- 1000 m to over 8000 meter, the valleys of Gilgit, Hunza May till end of September each year. Climbing during For centuries travelers have been lured by the grander ally hundreds of over 7000 meter peaks, inclusive of and Skardu recall Shangri-La. The cultural patterns in winters is, however, possible. Besides high mountains, and massiveness of the Karakoram and Hindukush. The five that fall into the 14 highest mountains of the world this region are as interesting as its topography. Karakoram is inhabited by the largest glaciers outside Chinese were the earliest known travelers on the famous that are over 8,000 meters. The people with typical costumes, folk dances, the polar region. Silk Route which passed through these magnificent The second highest mountain, the majestic K-2, the music and sports like polo and buzkashi provide the ranges and recorded their impressions of dark moun- ninth highest Nanga Parbat, universally dubbed “the traveler an unforgettable experience. Nowhere in the Where mountains meet tains, rope bridges and mighty glaciers. killer mountain”, on account of its forbidding reputation world there is such a great concentration of high moun- Stretching north from the Arabian Sea, the plains of in the mountaineering community, the 11th highest tains, peaks, glaciers and passes except Pakistan. Of the Pakistan culminate into the lush valleys of Dir, Swat and Helicopter Safaris Hidden Peak, the 12th highest Broad Peak and the 13th 14 over 8000 peaks on earth, 4 occupy an amphithe- Kaghan. Beyond them, lie the great northern valleys of Heli Safaris to the roof of the World - A great oppor- highest Gasherbrum-II, are all part of this amazing ater at the head of Baltoro glacier in the Karakoram Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza and Baltistan. Separating the two tunity for those who have limited time but still like to region. Four of these awesome peaks come together in range. These are: K-2 (8611 m, world second highest), river systems which drain from these valleys is the have a bird’s eye view of Pakistan’s Northern paradise. the most spectacular theatre on Earth - the Concordia, Broad Peak (8047m), Gasherbrum I (8068m) and Hindu Raj range, a chain of mountains which forms one All these safaris begin from Islamabad. We use Mi-17 called the Darbar of the Emperor of the Jinns from the Gasherbrum II (8035m). There is yet another which is of the sharpest cultural boundaries in the world: the (24 passengers) and ALT-III (5 passengers) helicopters Arabian Nights! The locals believe that the “Badshah” equally great, that is, Nanga Parbat (8126m) at the cultural line between Central and Northern Asia. Still for these heli-safaris. Fairy Meadows - The last moun- of this land of Jinns chose this spot for his court as it western most end of the Himalayas. further north, the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges tain wilderness of the Himalayas, lying under the shad- was the loftiest and most remote on Earth. It offers all In addition to that, there are 68 peaks over 7000m shape the western extension of the Himalayas. ow of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), waiting for you to this and much more. and hundreds which are over 6000 m. The Northern Tough and sparsely populated, Pakistan’s northern explore by helicopter. Pakistan has some of the longest glaciers outside Polar valleys exhibit the diversity one would expect of a region; Siachen (72 km), Hispar (61 km.), Biafo (60 km.), boundary area. In the east, Baltistan shows an affinity Khyber Steam Safari Baltoro (60 km.), Batura (64 km.), Yenguta (35 km.), with Tibet; in fact, its language is a dialect of archaic Trango Towers Richard Travithick produced the first locomotive by It is a freestanding shaft culminating in the Trango Chiantar (34 km.), Trich (29 km.) and Atrak (28 km.). Tibetan and many remnants of Tibetan culture can still bringing the locomotive and railway invention together Group, located on the left of Baltoro Glacier. It is the The lower Himalayan valleys of Swat, Kaghan and be observed, In the Gilgit region, Shina is the dominant in 1804. Britishers brought this technology to the highest granite tower and considered to be the finest Chitral in the Hindukush range equally share the beauty language. Gilgit’s most prominent contribution to the Subcontinent and in order to augment their defence to rock pinnacle in the world.
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