Pakistan Travel Guide

Located in Gilgit-Baltistan, the high-altitude city of Skardu serves as the gateway to some of the highest and best-known mountains in the world. Over millennia, the mighty Indus River has carved it’s way through the city which has long attracted human settlers. Much of the culture and traditions in the Skardu valley originate from those of the Buddhist Tibetan Empire and Buddhism and, while Buddhism is still practiced in small rural areas, today Islam is the most widely practiced religion in the region. The Balti people of Skardu have a deep-rooted connection with the extreme mountain environment they call home and are renowned for their exceptional hospitality and warmth.

Sitting at over 4000m above sea level, the high-altitude Deosai Plains lie between the western Himalaya and central Korakoram and are surrounded by the Deosai Mountains. The area is one of the highest plateaus in the world, second only to the Changtang Tibetan Plateau located in the Ladakh region of neighbouring India. Deosai means ‘shadow of giant’ or ‘land of giant’ and it is known by the local Balti people as ‘Ghbiarsa’ or ‘summer’s place’ as it can only be visited in the warmer summer months.

A relatively modern landmark, the Faisal Mosque was designed in 1969 and completed in 1986. Named after the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, it’s unusual shape is based on a traditional Bedouin desert tent and is sixth largest mosque in the world, with a maximum capacity of 10,000 worshipers. This impressive building is in the far north of Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad and sits below the foothills of the western Himalaya and the Margalla Hills.

Once a well-trodden part of the ancient Silk Road, travellers, monks and traders made their way along the valley that cuts through the Karakoram and Hindu Kish mountain ranges. The valley’s rich history, outstanding natural beauty and welcoming hospitality of the families who have called this their home for generations continue to draw people there today.

Officially opening for visitors in 2007, the Pakistan Monument the unity, strength and culture of the Pakistani people. The flower-like design represents the major cultures of Pakistan and their ability to work in unison despite their differences. The site is also home to the Pakistan Monument Museum which details an in-depth history of the nation, with life-size wax scenes to help visitors visualise each stage in the journey.

Located in the mountain city of Skardu and with an altitude of 2600m above sea level, Satpara Lake is filled by snow-melt from the Deosai Plains. Whilst the lake is naturally formed, it is said that the size of the lake was increased with human intervention in the late 16th and early 17th Century by the Balti royal family who built a dam to control the water levels and moved streams to irrigate the royal gardens.