Langit Terakhir

The ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery are situated on the top of a 152-meter (500 feet) high hill. It is located about 80 kms from Peshawar and 16 kms northwest of the city of Mardan. The monastry of Takht-i-Bahi was first mentioned by General Court, the French officer of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1836. Takht-i-Bahi is the most impressive and complete Buddhist monastery in Pakistan. From the top of the hill behind monastery one can look down across the plains as far as Peshawar on one side and up to the Malakand Pass and the hills of Swat on the other. This site has produced fragmentary sculptures in stone and stucco that indicate the highly developed sculptural sense of their creators. But the most remarkable feature is the design and arrangement of the range of small shrines, which surrounds the main stupa-court. This site, dating back to 2nd-3rd century A.D., consists of a large rectangular court, on the north of which is the main monastery and to the south is a well-pla...

The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab Limited (TDCP) is a Public Limited Company owned by Government of Punjab. Its main objective is to promote and develop Tourism Industry in Pakistan. Transport Wing of Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab provides comfortable transport system to the different tourist destinations on regular and seasonal basis. The transport system is equipped with a fleet of luxury A/C buses and operated from Tourist Information Centers located in the heart of major cities of Punjab. Advance booking is available round the clock at the terminals, booking is also be made on telephone. Address 140-A, Shadman-II, Lahore Telephone (92-42) 7576830 Fax (92-42) 7576829 E-Mail tdcp@lhr.paknet.com.pk Web Site www.tourism-punjab.com

" The Adventure Club - Pakistan " was the banner selected for the club with the basic objective to introduce and promote adventure activities in Pakistan, especially among youth. Now, the Club announces several programs for the interest of people of all age groups and with diversified range of activities on annual basis. The multi dimensional activities of the Club do not offer only trekking & camping programs but also carries the credits to train youth for camping, trekking and rock / ice climbing etc. Though the activities of the Club are adventuresome and recreational but are based on education oriented objectives. The most important thing to be emphasized in the programs of the Club is social & ecological conservation of the area visited. For adventure and fun the Club organized trekking programs for K-2 Ghonodoghoro La, Biafo & Hispar glaciers and Mazino Pass while with serious objectives, the Club established free medical camps, organized cleaning p...

Established in 1970, WWF - Pakistan (WWF-P) is the largest conservation Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in the country. WWF - P aims to conserve nature and ecological processes by preserving genetic species & ecosystem diversity. Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable in the longer term. Promoting actions to reduce pollution and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy. Address PO Box: 5180, Ferozepur Road, Lahore-5400 Telephone (92-42) 5862360/5869429 Fax (92-42) 5862358 E-Mail wwf@lhr.comsats.net.pk Web Site www.wwfpak.org

Address Sea Breeze Plaza, 1st Floor, Shahrah-e-Faizal, Karachi Telephone (92-21) 7782706-7788530 Fax (92-21) 7782731

Address Lower Court Building, Khyber Road, Peshawar Telephone (92-91) 9211091 Fax (92-91) 9210871 E-Mail pedd@psh.brain.net.pk Web Site www.brain.net.pk/~pedd/stc.htm

Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) was founded in 1951, which now runs a chain of 6 Youth Hostels all over Pakistan. Accommodation in these Youth Hostels is available to the members of International Youth Hostels Federation (IYHF) and its affiliated organizations. Address Shaheed-e-Millat Road, G-6/4, near Aabpara, Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 2826899

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation is a public limited company set up in 1970 with 99.75% government shares. Its main objective is to work as an arm of the Federal Government to develop tourism infrastructure and to act as a catalyst by encouraging the private sector to play more active role in tourism promotion and development. Its other duties are; to act as an agent of the Federal Government for production and distribution of tourist literature/material for publicity and promotion of tourism at home and abroad. It also undertakes tour operation and provide ground handling facilities for group tours. Address Information Service P.O. Box 1465, Agha Khan Road, Markaz F-6 (Super Market), Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 9212760, 9202766 Fax (92-51) 9204027, 2274507 E-Mail tourism@isb.comsats.net.pk Web Site www.tourism.gov.pk PTDC Tourist Information Centre in Pakistan PTDC is providing tourist information and related publications to the incoming visitors through its 21 Tourist Informa...

An environmental friendly organization dedicated to preserve the moutains of Pakistan specially and at the banner of moutain Wilderness International of whole of the world. Organizes courses for the Moutain Liaison Officers, and Certified mountaineering instructors. Facilities incdludes: Climbing, Treking, Canyoning. Telephone (92-42) 6859194 Fax (92-42) 682544 E-Mail mountainwildernesspakistan@hotmail.com

The primary purpose of the Fund is to promote the conservation and preservation of national heritage of Pakistan through various means, including financial and technical assistance, and to create awareness amongst the people for appreciating the preservation of archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural heritage of Pakistan. Address Ministry of Culture, Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 9206127 Fax (92-51) 9206127 E-Mail nfch@isb.comsats.net.pk Web Site www.heritage.gov.pk

Pakistan Game Fish Association (PGFA)

N.G.O Free of Cost Consultancy / Based on No Profit No Loss. Facilities include: Balloon adventures, Climbing/Trekking, Horsebackriding, Low Alltitiude Climbing Expeditions, Trekking/Camping in Northern Areas of Pakistan. Telephone (92-42) 7581618 Fax (92-42) 7590120 E-Mail lac@yahoo.com

The Sports & Tourism Wing of the Ministry is the main body responsible for making policies and plans for the development and promotion of sports and tourism in the country. The wing is also responsible for implementation of the plans and projects in these areas. Address Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 9210108 Fax (92-51) 9224697 Department of Tourist Services (DTS) Address Block B-6, Markaz F-7, Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 9204575-9203772-9204376 Fax (92-51) 9207427 Mountaineering & Expeditions Department Address Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 9203509 Fax (92-51) 9202347

Address Civil Secretariat, Zargoon Road, Quetta Telephone (92-81) 9202905-9202582 Fax (92-81) 822151

IUCN - The World Conservation Union was founded in 1948 and brings together 79 states, 112 government agencies, 760 NGOs, 37 affiliates, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. Within the framework of global conventions IUCN has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. IUCN has approximately 1000 staff, most of whom are located in its 42 regional and country offices while 100 work at its Headquarters in Gland, Switzerland. Web Site www.iucn.org/places/pakistan/noframe.html

The Asian Study Group is a voluntary, non-profit, apolitical and non-hieraric organization. It was formed in Islamabad in 1973 to allow members of the community, both foregn and Pakistani, to learn more about the culture, geography, history, religion, environment, crafts and customs of the Asia region in general, and of Pakistan in particular. Lectures, discussion meetings, and other events are organized regularly. Trips to various parts of Pakistan are arranged throughout the year. Hikes are taken in the neraby hills, and walks in various regions provide an opportunity to observe plant and wild-life. Address Room 8, Mezzanine Fllor, Malik Complex, 80 West, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area, Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 2815891

Alpine Club of Pakistan was founded in 1974, by mountain lovers, as a Non Governmental Sports Organisation and national mountaineering association, dedicated to the promotion of mountaineering and mountain related activities in Pakistan. The Club aims at providing facilities, including training, to the mountain and nature lovers to enjoy the boundless beauty of Pakistan's mountains and participate in the healthy adventure activities of climbing and mountaineering. Since its raising it has launched several mountaineering expeditions to the high mountains of the Northern Areas and trained a large number of its members in rock climbing, mountaineering and other mountain related activities. It is registered under the Companies Act and enjoys close support of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO). It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs and is affiliated with Pakistan Sports Board since 1982. It is Pakistan's sole representative on the ...

This Foundation is a non-profit private organization dedicated to promote outward bound educational system in Pakistan. AFP offers a number of adventure and skill training courses on mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, skiing, hot-air ballooning, paragliding and white water rafting. It also has exchange programmes and eco-tourism projects. AFP is very actively involved in promotion of environment friendly adventure tourism in the northern Pakistan. Mountain clean-up expeditions, tree plantation programmes and training of adventure guides as a regular part of its activities. Address Garden Avenue, National Park Area, P.O. Box 1807, Islamabad Telephone (92-51) 2825805, 2272538 Fax (92-51) 2272538 E-Mail Afopak@yahoo.com Web Site www.adventurefoundation.org.pk

Immigration Check posts at Pakistani Airports are authorised to issue 30 days landing permit to the tourists entering Pakistan without visa except nationals of the countries borne on negative list. All the Regional Passport Offices in Pakistan are authorised to allow initial three months entry visa to the tourists and to allow one extension upto three months. They are further authorised to grant entry visa to the tourists (except the nationals of the countries borne on negative list) entering Pakistan on landing permit for a period of three months from the date of entry into Pakistan, charging visa fee fixed on reciprocal basis. The Regional Passport Offices are further authorised to allow, on application, not more than two re-entries to the tourists, charging prescribed visa fee subject to a minimum of US$ 10 only. The Pakistan Missions abroad are authorised to issue tourist visa for a maximum period of three months librally to all foreign nationals except to the Indian nationals and ...

By Air More than 25 airlines fly to Pakistan from over 40 countries. Most of the flights arrive at Karachi, but Islamabad, Lahore, & Peshawar also have direct flights from the main Mediterranean, Middle East and European cities, as well as New York, Toronto and Nairobi. By Land From China: The Khunjerab Pass is open from 1st May to 31st October for groups and to 15 November for individual tourists. (Road) From India: Wagha is the only land border open between Pakistan and India (Lahore-Amritsar route). The Wagha border post is open daily for foreigners; Summer (16 April to 15 October) 08:30 to 14:30 hrs and Winter (16 October to 15 April). (Road | Railway Line) From Iran: Pak-Iran border crossing is only possible through Taftan-Zahidan, from 09:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs with break from 13:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs. (Road | Railway Line) By Sea No passenger boats or ships for the general public sail to or from Pakistan at present.

Pakistanis truly take pride in their 5,000 year old history which goes back even further into the hoary past yet untraced. In the words of Sir Mortimer Wheeler, famed British Archaeologist, Pakistan enjoys a high international position in the history of past achievements by virtue of possessing the greatest vestiges of one of the first three mature civilizations of the world. Pakistan is the known heir to one of the most ancient civilizations of the east - the Indus Valley Civilization, traces of which are found in the ruins of Moen-jo-Daro, Amri (on the right bank of the Indus in Sind), Kot Diji (on the left) and way up in the plains of the Punjab (near the city of Sahiwal), the remains of Harappa. The transition from rural past to urban life in the Indus valley was so sudden that the outside influence looks very probable. It appears that merchants of Mesopotamia who traded with settlements on the coast of the Persian Gulf made deeper voyages and penetrated into the Indus to find new ...

The first permanent Muslim foothold in the South Asian Sub-continent was achieved with Muhammad Bin Qasim's conquest of Sind in 711 C.E. An autonomous Muslim state was established and Arabic was introduced as official language. At the time of Mahmud of Ghazna's invasion, Muslim rule still existed, though in a weakened form, in Multan and some other regions. The Ghaznavids (976-1148) and their successors, the Ghurids (1148-1206), were central Asian by origin and outlook and they ruled their territories, which covered mostly the regions of present Pakistan, from capitals outside India. It was in early 13th century that the foundations of Muslim rule in India were laid with extended boundaries and Dehli as the capital. From 1206 to 1526 C.E., five different dynasties held sway. Then followed the period of Mughal ascendancy (1526-1707), and their rule continued, though nominally, till 1857. From the time of Ghaznavids, Persian replaced Arabic as the official language. The economic,...

General Cautions Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary. Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood, rare meat or dairy products. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors. Swim only in well-maintained, chlorinated pools or ocean water known to be free from pollution. Wear clothing which reduces exposed skin and apply repellents containing DEET to remaining areas. Sleep in well-screened accommodations. Carry anti-diarrheal medication for precautions. Reduce problems related to sun exp...

Pakistan is divided into five distinct geographic regions: The Thar Desert and Lower Indus Valley in the south with arid valleys and rocky hills; The Baluchistan Plateau toward the west with elevation between 1,000 and 3,000 feet (300-900 meters) and covering nearly half the nation's territory; The Indus Basin, an irrigated agricultural area in the northeast; The Northwest Frontier, an area of barren mountains and irrigated valleys bordering Afghanistan; and The Far North with snowcapped mountains reaching high elevations. Seasonal temperatures vary widely in these five regions. With the exception of the Far North, summers are hot throughout the country with temperatures ranging to 90-120°F (32-49°C) and little nighttime relief. Trade winds provide some relief during the hot and humid summers in Karachi and a brief cool season comes between December and February. In Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar a distinct winter season brings daytime temperatures of 60°F (16°C) or less, cold nig...

Pakistan is rich in variety of different kinds of foods. The specialties include Kababs, Dhals, Quormah, Tikkas and Nihari. Kababs are mince dishes and have quite a few variations.  Ranging from Seekh Kabas to Koftas. With various other types in between. Seekh Kabas are elongated rolls of mince which are cooked on Skewers on a charcoal fire. Shami Kabab is mixture of mince meat and daal (pulses), both of which are ground together with spices and made into round flat patties, and then fried in oil. Chapli Kababs: A peshawari speciality, is only mince with spices made into patties and fried in oil too. Koftas are mince balls with various fillings. These are then cooked and served in a rich spicy gravy. Besides this, Beef dishes are also quite popular. The most famous being the Qormah and the Nihari. Chicken Tikka (whole parts of chicken barbecued), Chicken Karahi, Chicken Musallam and Chicken Shashlik, are all renowned Chicken specialties.  Kattakat is a famous delicacy, made from sheep...

General Information for Tourists "As often as possible, do what others are not doing: Go off-season instead of on, go in bad weather instead of good, walk when others ride, laugh when others cry...." Ed Buryn, 1971 Car Hires / Taxi Service There are car hire facilities at all International Airports. Agencies also function in major hotels. In the streets you can get yellow cabs or taxis. Metered taxis of different capacities are available everywhere in big cities. In case of difficulty, get the assistance of Police officials on duty. On some occasions you may also need to exercise some bargaining as well. Try asking a few taxi drivers located at different places to get a clear idea of the charges. Car Rental Apart from a valid driving licence for self-driven rented cars, firms insist on a minimum age of 21 and may refuse to rent a car to any one over 60. Pakistan observes, "Right Hand Drive". Distances on the roads are indicated in Roman numerical and also mentioned ...

Distance Chart Airport Distance From Karachi Airport Athens 4320 Kilometers Bahrain 1661 Kilometers Bangkok 3701 Kilometers Bombay 876 Kilometers Buenos Aires 14716 Kilometers Cairo 3556 Kilometers Copenhagen 5537 Kilometers Frankfurt 5690 Kilometers Hong Kong 4775 Kilometers Johannesburg 7041 Kilometers London 6334 Kilometers Madrid 6658 Kilometers Manila 5716 Kilometers Montreal 11241 Kilometers Moscow 4202 Kilometers Nairobi 4367 Kilometers New York 11675 Kilometers Paris 6128 Kilometers Peking (Beijing) 4862 Kilometers Rio de Janerio 13004 Kilometers Rome 5303 Kilometers San Francisco 12983 Kilometers Singapore 4736 Kilometers Sydney 11003 Kilometers Tehran 1930 Kilometers Tokyo 6969 Kilometers Vancouver 11706 Kilometers