Pakistan offers startlingly striking scenery. Add to this the warm welcome of the people, the glacial blue of Atta-abad lake, the centuries of history, the juxtaposition of granite to greenery, the chance to walk through an age old-apricot orchard along water channels cut by hand, and the blazing snow-covered glory of Rakaposhi, and you must acknowledge there is a grand adventure to be had. - Forbes And the claim is nothing but fully justified. Those who haven't seen Pakistan or staying away from it just because of some negative propaganda, mist listen to those who come here and do not want to go back - and even they go back, they come back again fro there is so much to bee seen of the untapped beauty that resides in the valleys guarded by towering snow capped mountains and welcomed by warm hospitable people.
Come visit the land of five of the Eight Thousanders,, the K2 (second highest peak after Mt Everest), Hunza, the beautiful place where people do not age, the mountain ranges of the Karakoram, the Himalaya and the Hindukush - all await you this year and tears after. Watch the spectacular video about Pakistan's loveliest travel destinations:
Have you packed up your luggage to visit Pakistan already? Photo | More Information and Destinations in Pakistan | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Pakistan has been blessed with every weather, resources, wild life, birds, mountains and plains that interest all categories of tourists, adventurers, mountaineers, trekkers, bird watchers and wild life lovers. Today's post is for those who can dare and climb up the snow clad mountains of Pakistan's northern areas and watch some of the near extinct species of wild life, like the Deosai plains bears, Marco Polo sheep, the mighty twisted horned Markhor and the agile snow leopards. Before we talk of the adventure that awaits the wild life lovers, let me introduce to you the Markhor and the snow leopards. Markhor, with its long twisted horns, is the national animal of Pakistan. The excessive hunting of this beautiful animal has reduced its population to few thousands and is at the risk of extinction. Markhor which is a member of the goat family and has its habitats in sparsely wooded mountainous regions at altitudes ranging from 700 m (2300′) from November to May up to 4000 m (13,000′) in the summer. The Markhor forages tussocks of grass about 8 – 12 hours daily, and it is usually active all day except for several hours in the middle of the day, when it rests and chews its cud. Besides Pakistan, Markhor is also found in area that extends from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India (Kashmir).
The snow leopard, another endangered species is found in the mountain wilderness of the Himalayan and Central Asian region at heights of 3,000-4,000 meters above sea level. In Pakistan, the snow leopard is found only in the Hindu Kush and Karakoram region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir with an estimated population of around 200-420 according to the Snow Leopard Trust. In remote wilderness of the mountains, wildlife adventurers can find bot these majestic animals dueling at razor sharp mountain edges and slopes. Out there where hardly any human can reach, Markhors are striving to survive the claws of rather sluggish looking snow leopards. But when it comes to chasing the Markhors in search for meat on hoof, the predator assumes immense agility and tactical skills. Now watch a beautiful video shot in the rugged mountains of Gilgit Baltistan of Pakistan in which a snow leopard is seen hunting a Markhor - but would he succeed:
Do you dare to be there watching this live in the wilderness of HinduKush and Karakoram mountain ranges of Pakistan? Try it - it is a lifetime experience !! Photos: | Markhor (Wildlife Warriors) | Snow Leopard (Pixabay) | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Tourists abound Switzerland each year to be closer to Nature in its purest form. But those who dare and venture into the scenic Northern Areas of Pakistan are spellbound to see another Heaven of Earth. While most of Pakistan's Northern Areas remain virgin, the much visited places leave the tourists spellbound for they may have never expected such natural beauty to have been there in Pakistan. Pakistan is among those fortunate countries who have five peaks towering more than 8,000 metres, called the Eight Thousanders, including the mighty K-2, the second highest mountain of the world after the Mount Everest. But it is the most deadliest for the climbers as it is said that out of four climbers, one never returns. Scary, well yes, but the mountaineers from around the world still dare and come every year to scale this huge pyramid shaped mountain peak. Even K-2's famous base camp Concordia is a haven for the trekkers, though an adventure in itself. We have lot to share as far northern areas of Pakistan. Some we have already shared and more leaves to be shared. There are places that takes days to reach on foot, but once there, one forgets about the hardships one has faced reaching there. Recently, there is a hike in youth of Pakistan venturing into the desolate mountains, crossing roaring rivers and walking on hair-raising mountain tracks where even a slip can cost one's life. But this does not deter the adventurers and each day a new area is explored, an unbeaten track walked on and rising and setting of sun watched in awesome lonesome landscape amid whistling sound of the winds, that sometime even rip through one's body leaving one chilled and numb.
The social media is abound in videos by tourists and foreigners coming to Pakistan and admiring the natural beauty of every part of the country, specially the northern areas of Pakistan. The rugged mountain tracks and inviting mountain peaks are a haven for trekkers and mountaineers. This also reminds me of a series of posts I shared of Mary Loosemore, who along with a group of adventurers came to Pakistan some years ago and explored the Hindu Kush mountain range of Pakistan. Do read my blog by searching posts related to her adventure stories. Herein under is just one such video which leaves tourists spellbound of the awe inspiring landscapes, the very indigenous people and their warm hospitality.
This is just the second post of the series and we will add many more ind days to come to introduce to you the realities that are hidden from the outer world. Do give us your feedback if you have been to Pakistan or intend doing so in days to come. Photo: Shangrila - Skardu, Pakistan | References: | Eight Thousanders of Pakistan | 1 | 2 |
