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Diary Entry: 8th Oct 2005 - CARE responds to the earthquake disaster
Diary Entry: 22nd-27th Nov 2005 - Broken Jeeps but no broken spirits
Diary Entry: 28th Nov-7th Dec 2005 - It�s a hard job being hostages to hospitality, but we managed it!
Diary Entry: 7th-10th Dec 2005 - Escaped, temporarily!
Diary Entry: 11th-17th Dec 2005 - Thoughts from Northern Pakistan
Diary Entry: 11th-18th Dec 2005 - The Karakoram Highway
Diary Entry: 18th-24th Dec 2005 - More Pakistani stamps at the border

Photo Album for Pakistan

Country Highlights En Route

Lahore

Badshahi mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan, capable of seating 5,000. It was built in 1674 during the reign of Emperor Aurenzeb, the last of great Mughal ruler. The mosque is attached to the Royal Fort.

Royal Fort

The massive walls of Lahore Fort, built by Akbar in the 1560s, tower over the old city of Lahore, and the huge rectangle they define, 380 by 330 meters, is filled with buildings from a variety of periods. The fort contains marble palaces and mosques decorated with mosaics and gilt.

Northern Pakistan

The northern frontier of Pakistan is often referred to as the roof of the world. This is because the four highest mountain ranges in the world the Karakorams, the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas and the Pamirs come together here, to form the most awe-inspiring collection of mountain peaks in the world along Pakistani�s northern frontier.

Hunza

Visitors to Hunza are overwhelmed by the rugged charm. Karimabad, the capital of Hunza, offers an awe-inspiring view of Rakaposhi 7,788 metres. The snow of Rakaposhi glitters in the moonlight, producing an atmosphere at once ethereal and sublime. The fairy-tale like castle of Baltit, above Karimabad, is a Hunza landmark built abut 600 years ago. Stilted on massive legs, its wooden bay windows look out over the valley.

Rohtas Fort

Following his defeat of the Mughal emperor Humayun in 1541, Sher Shah Suri built a strong fortified complex at Rohtas. It was never taken by storm and has survived intact to the present day. The main fortifications consist of the massive walls, which extend for more than 4 km; they are lined with bastions and pierced by monumental gateways.

Taxila

From the ancient Neolithic tumulus of Saraikala to the ramparts of Sirkap (2nd century B.C.) and the city of Sirsukh (1st century A.D.), Taxila illustrates the different stages in the development of a city on the Indus that was alternately influenced by Persia, Greece and Central Asia and which, from the 5th century B.C. to the 2nd century A.D., was an important Buddhist centre of learning.

The Cholistan Desert

East of Bahawalpur is the Cholistan Desert, which covers an area of about 15,000, square km and extends into the Thar Desert of India. The region was once watered by the Hakra River, known as the Saravati in Vedic times. At one time there were 400 forts in the area, some dating back to 1000 BC and archaeological finds around the Darawar Fort, the only place with a perennial waterhole, indicate that it was contemporaneous with the Indus Valley Civilisation. Malam Jabba

8,700 feet above sea level, Malam Jabba Ski Resort stands on top of a mountain of the Hindukush range, north east of Saidu Sharif. Surrounded by the mighty Karakorams and stunning black mountains. Malam Jabba is a part of Swat valley, which sprawls over 10,360 sq.km. This area has been inhabited for over 2000 years and is known to be as the cradle of Buddhism. The area has also been the battleground for many battles of Alexander The Great.

Thanks to Yaseen Ali for his corrections to our errors on this page.