Journey to the hills of Pakistan
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September 2005 I travelled to Pakistan for the first time. After spending almost a week in Lahore the next leg of my journey was to Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Murree. We took the Daewoo bus first to Rawalpindi. There was a group of Japanese students who were travelling through Pakistan. They felt perfectly safe and I think as long as people are sensible Pakistan is as safe as most countries. (Except the border areas of course).The day after arriving we went to the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. Unfortunately, I cannot find many pictures. It had rained in the night and the day was very humid. I also had begun to feel a little unwell.
The mosque is a very spectacular building, with several levels and very shiny marble floors. As the floor was wet from the rain I found it very difficult to walk with bare feet. I expected to go sliding across the ground at any second. The main prayer room is large and with a light in the middle like an orb. I went in and sat for a while absorbing the peace and tranquility of the place. After I left and was outside, a mosque guard came up and told me I should have a shawl at all times in the mosque. In Lahore no one had said anything and I didn't think it was so important but after that I always cover my head in a mosque. (There is a sign before you arrive at the mosque saying people should have their heads covered, but I didn't have anything with me).
In the main shopping centre I bought a very nice blue water pashmina shawl. It is my favourite and I wish I had bought more. On my second trip to Pakistan in 2008 I bought a large number of very beautiful pashminas but did not find any water pashminas like that one.
Arriving back in Rawalpindi we went to Subway because we did not know the best places to eat and it is food that is safe. But in the evening we had an excellent filet steak at the Pearl Continental Hotel.
Next day we took a taxi for the two hour journey to Murree. It took us along some very hilly roads with sharp drops down. The walls that had been built a long time ago are crumbling in places and it is possible to see places where maybe drivers had gone over the edge. I was glad to get up to the top. Murree is a very clean place with fresh air and a climate similar to England. It is a popular place for tourists in summer away from the heat of the lower areas. When we left Islamabad it was very hot but in Murree we needed jackets part of the day.
Murree has lots of shops and attractions, like the man who writes names on grains of rice and puts them in a small magnifiying container on a thread to wear around the neck. I bought one for my niece and her two first names are quite long but he got them on the rice. I bought a couple of things in a gift shop, pistachios from a man who had every kind of dried fruit you could want. I also bought some material from a man who had huge sacks of it. The quality of cloth in Pakistan is excellent, especially the lawn.
Over the next few days I developed a stomach problem and besides eating Pringles, plain yogurt and bananas I was afraid to eat much. As a result, I did not get to see any of the attractions of Murree because I had to stay in my room for at least 2 days. One day rained the whole time but the next day was warm and sunny so we went for a walk. Outside the bus station there was a man selling flutes so I bought one to take back home.
My journey to Abbotobad came after I had visited Faisalabad and Khewra. This was just a one night stay but I saw the mountains and met some very friendly children who were happy to have their photographs taken. I visited a small mosque here too.
I only have happy memories of Pakistan and would like to visit again very soon. There is so much more to see. Mostly, I would like to visit Murree again, I missed all the good places there and I like to be near mountains. I am not a climber but I like to see them.
- Visit to Khewra Salt mines Pakistan
In September 2005 I visited Pakistan. On Friday 2 September I landed in Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. Although it was only 6 am it was already very hot. The sun seems to be nearer to the...
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Fascinating hub about country I know very little about. Thank you.
It looks beautiful. You make it sound so beautiful too. It looks like great cycling country! Thank you Hummingbird!
Thank you DjBryle for reading my hub. I am glad you liked it.
Also, breakfastpop, it is a fascinating country.
Micky Dee. It is beautiful and I think Abbotobad would be very good for cycling. Murree is all hills. So you would need a lot of energy for that but it is a very beautiful place.
Beautiful hub....and I almost traveled with you with each picture! wow, I never realized you've been as far as Muree and Abottabad! Aren't those mountains such breathtaking? And I loved the vendors too. Did you get a chance to visit Swat, Kallam and Kaghan Valley? Those are some of favorite places on this earth! Such a pity so much natural beauty has been destroyed though...by the earthquake and War both.
Anyway, loved this as well... and am planning to do one on northern pakistan myself so will link this to mine! Take care...and keep sharing! :)
I thought you would like this. There wasn't time to visit Swat in 2005 and then when I went again in 2008 there were the troubles and so it wasn't possible. But they are places I definitely want to see. It certainly is breathtaking and majestic.
I am looking forward to your next hub. Best wishes.
I love this hub. It has so much to tell. Poor people but rich at heart.
Thanks, that is so true. I am glad you like my hub.
This is a fascinating journey! I surely enjoyed this Hub. The photographs are excellent as is the writing. Thank you.
Thank you. It was a fascinating journey for me too. I think the best holiday I had ever had.
Awesome post Hummingbird! Can I ask, why did you choose to visit Pakistan? It seems you've traveled all over the world and seen many things. It isn't very often that you hear of a person who is traveling to Pakistan, and normally they have a certain reason (family, business, etc.). I was just wondering what made you choose beautiful Pakistan as your next destination.
I am glad you liked this hub. I went to Pakistan because I have friends there. I visited them and we travelled around together.
What a fascinating trip - thanks for sharing!
Thanks for coming along.
Vow! you have mentioned the names of the places so well, hope you have enjoyed the trip:) Its the cultural heritage of these places that is important but unfortunately so much is getting destroyed now. I hope you will come back to Pakistan again.
Thank you for reading. I really did enjoy the visit. I will be back.
You came to Pakistan and didn't go beyond Murree? I mean you didn't visit Kalam Kaghan Sawat etc???!!! Murree is nothing and there are much much more beautiful valleys than Murree.
Anyways liked the pics!
I wanted to travel more but there wasn't enough time. I hope to do that on another visit. I
I am glad you liked the photos. Thanks.
Yup do visit... If mountains impress you then NWFP(Khyber Pakhteen khwah) province is the place to go... Murree is in Punjab and is not much above sea level.... However I won't even recommend going all the way to K2(the second highest mountain peak in the world) and climbing it to reach the peak (LOL!). I say this because I am so glad you liked my country so I am eager to tell more. :P
Anyways, I won't be wasting precious internet space with my useless comments. :D
They are not useless comments.
Thank you for sharing your profound travelling account. Murree is known as the queen of hills. Firhill Villas is is a nicely tucked place - paces away from the Mall Road offering solitude with homely comfort, doesn't break the bank. Of course, one would be better off exploring the gulliat region. Places like Donga Gali with an exquisite place to stay at like Mukashpuri - a hotel preserved from the colonial. Not to mention a winding walking trek amidst thick pine forest with gorgeous views of ravines on the way to Ayubia chair-lift. Bourbon with it's Pearl Continental sprawl offers posh ambience with breath-taking views of Kashmir on a clear day. Patriata is where you spend the day hopping chair-lifts and cable cars to reach the summit.
Of course, as a native son, I would love to take you on a walking tour of Lahore Walled City and show you gems like "Masjid Wazir Khan" (The Vizier Khan Mosque) - an excellent example of Moghul architecture set in fresco painting should you visit us again!
Kooki Naeem
Thank you for reading my hub. I hope to visit Pakistan again and want to see more of the country. I am glad you enjoyed my hub.
Anytime Hummingbird! Just dig me on Facebook and let me know when you are in town. I go by kooki naeem on Facebook. I will be more than happy to show you around the good old Walled City.
Regards,
Are you the same person as Naeem Iqbal who wrote the other day.Thank you for the offer.
I sure am. I am sorry for the mix up but I thought it would be easier for you to dig kooki naeem on Facebook. Though you can reach me on my email too: naeemeqbal@gmail.com
Thanks for reading my hubs. I don't go on Facebook. But I am glad you enjoy my hubs enough to want to talk to me.
Hey there! I just came by to have another look and say hi. Hi! I do love your pictures. They soothe me, so I'll be back. Thank you Dear!
Thank you for coming back.
What a journey and an education. I wish I felt safe enough to travel the world. But, I can read about it from your hubs!
Thank you for reading it. I am glad you enjoyed it.
Cool post,I really enjoyed it! :) Have a question,though? How did you arrange for travelling to Pakistan? I used this site for calls from the UK:
briing.com/cheap-calls/pakistan.php
It was cheap, and much,much better than skype! haha Sorry,a bit off topic,I guess! :)
great journet for sure....
Hi, Gabriel. I got a visa and bought a plane ticket then stayed in hotels. Simple. Thanks for reading my hub.
Pakistani music, glad you liked it.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. The pictures you have used in this hub are beautiful. I enjoyed reading your hub.
Thank you for reading it. I am glad you liked it. I certainly enjoyed the experience.
Hummingbird, good to hear you liked the trip Pakistan. I see that you went to Muree but you missed far more beaty just few miles from Muree.
It's called Nathia Gali. Just one hour trip from Muree, it's breathtaking. Pakistan's oldest Church is there which is made of wood. If you like trekking (not sure I spelled that right) then you got to do it on Mukeshpuri and Miran Jani, you'll love it.
And if you are bit more hardcore hiker then I'll tell you untouched beauty up in the mountains. It's called Haramosh, it's in NWFP, very near to Gilgit. Also, words largest meadows can be found in the same area.
Just look at the pics of Nathia Gali
http://www.google.com.pk/images?q=nathia%20gali&hl
Nathia Gali is between Abbtobad and Muree. You can go there either cities.
Thank you for reading my hub and sharing the beautiful photos. I hope I visit this place someday.I like to walk but am not a hiker, I am afraid.
But that does not stop me enjoying the beauty of Pakistan.
HI Hummingbird, You have written a superb article on hill areas of Pakistan. I have visited in Murree in Pakistan and it is really beautiful and worth living place. People from all over country come in huge number over there to enjoy their vacations. But I also let you inform that several housing projects are under construction in those areas and investing in those housing projects can help to reap great profits in future. More details of such real estate investments can be checked from this place http://www.zameen.com/Homes/Murree-36-1.html
Ye, Murree is the place to go to get away from the heat of other cities. I remember how hot and humid it was in Islamabad and then when we reached Murree it was like English weather. Murree is also so clean.
I am glad you enjoyed my hub. Thanks for reading.
That's incredible about the man writing on the rice grain! I found your hub interesting, and I'm sure Pakistan is amazing to visit.
It definitely is! I am glad you found this interesting. Thank you for reading.
Awesome pics! Love your descriptions of the various places too :)
Thank you very much. It was a wonderful journey.
Fascinating journey and fantastic way to share. Awesome Pictures
Thank you, it was a fascinating journey and I look forward to my next visit, maybe next year.
Beautiful pictures you are welcomed to share your adventure with us on our fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pakistan-Adventures/
and also visit us at www.pakistanadventures.com to see more amazing places in Pakistan.
Thanks for reading. I do not use Facebook but I will have a look at your site.
The sad thing is that International Media never shown positive sides of Pakistan.
That is true. Only people who actually go to Pakistan see how it really is. Many believe the scare stories in the media and don't go. I am glad I did. Thank you for reading my hub.
Thanks for a nice hub about my country. There are problems but just let me know which country is safe? I went to Italy last year and there were two attempts to relieve me of my possessions. I recently crossed into Kenya from Tanzania and was fleeced of $50. Why blame Pakistan for all ills.
I had bad feelings for Uganda but found it most safe and peaceful in East Africa.
Thanks once again, seeing is believing.
Thank you for reading. We cannot stay home for fear that something might happen. We could be attacked in our own street.
Pakistan cannot be blamed for all the ills of the world. There are far more dangerous places.
I always felt safe in Pakistan and hope to visit again soon.
WOW! This is the first time i am reading any travel article on Pakistan. I am so glad that i found you. I like people who travel. Great experiences here.
Thank you. I am very happy that you liked it.
DjBryle 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing such wonderful experience! =)