itinerary
DAY 1
ISLAMABAD
On arrival at the Islamabad International Airport, you will be received in traditional way by presenting bouquet of fresh seasonal flowers to each member and then transferred to the Hotel Shalimar. You can relax for few hours or have a dip in hotel's swimming pool before we go out for lunch in an Afghan Restaurant. Rawalpindi was a small settlement until the Moghuls built the Imperial Road from Delhi to Kabul in the 16th century. In 19th century it was captured by Sikhs and who in turn were ousted by the British after a decisive defeat near Gujrat in 1848. We will visit one of the world biggest mosque The Shah Faisal Mosque superbly sited at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The mosque was designed by the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay and largely financed by donations from Saudi Arabia. From here we will move to Daman -e-Koh a viewpoint perched up the Margalla Hills, gives the best bird's - eye view over Islamabad. We will drive now by Parliament Building, Shakarparian Park, Lotus Lake, Rose and Jasmine Garden and then stop for shopping at Super and Jinnah Markets. Thread lines Gallery, Behbud Boutique and Afghan Handicrafts have carpets and rugs shops which are some excellent pieces at most reasonable prices. Pakistan is an excellent place to shop for oriental carpets which is now ranked among the top four producers of hand- knotted carpets in the world. For the bar - b Que dinner we will move to a famous Usmania restaurant in Blue Area.
DAY 2
PESHAWAR
After breakfast at hotel, we commence our journey North through the Margalla Pass located at 23 kms from here on Great Trunk Road. This prehistoric pass was first indicated in 516 B.C and lies on the real boundary between the Subcontinent and Central Asia as stated by the great historian Sir Olaf Caroe. It was used by all the Great Moghuls from 16th century on ward. The first Moghul emperor Babur mentioned about this pass in his memoirs as Sangjaki Pass and also being mentioned by Emperor Jahangir in his memories. A tall granite obelisk erected in 1868 to commemorate General John Nicholson is few yards away. He was an Irishman and came to subcontinent as a cadet with the Bengal Infantry. After a short stay here, we will move to Taxila " The World Oldest Existing City" and its history span from 516 B.C to A.D 600 is some four kilometers from here. In the 6th century B.C the Achaemenians of Persia made it the Gandharan capital. Alexander the Great paused here en route from Swat. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka, a patron of Buddhism, built a university here in 2nd century B.C biggest of its time in the world, to which pilgrims and scholars came from all over Asia. It requires two days to explore this richest archaeological site of Asia but we will spend one hour to view its excellent museum houses one of the best collections of Gandharan Buddhist in the world. Another 10 kms on grand trunk road we will pass by at Wah Moghul Garden which is a pale reflection of the Moghul Garden in Srinagar and being laid out by the Moghul emperor Akber in the late 16th century. It was a favorite resort of Akber and Jahangir on their journeys to Kashmir. Our next stop is Hasan Abdal a sacred place to Sikhs and Hindus some eight kms from here on the Motorway. The seventh century Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuan Zang who stayed here recorded in his journal that a water tank dedicated to the Hindu serpent King Elapatra. The guide will indicate you the Gurduwara of Panja Sahib and Shrine of Baba Wali from road side and explain the history of it. Next, we stop at 16th century hotel with four rows of small rooms set around a huge court yard on the junction of River Indus and River Kabul where ladies of Mughals families use to stay. Attock massive fort is on the left built by Moghal Emperor Akber in 1581 AD. Its excellent view you can get from the new bridge on River Indus. Next, we pass by a town Jahangira laid out by Emperor Jahangir in 16th century. Peshawar is another 43 kilometers from here passing through Nowshera a beautiful and well-maintained cantonment by British in 18th century. Transfer to Hotel Pearl Continental. Our stay in this hotel will be for two nights. Evening at leisure to explore the saddar bazaar famous the world over for its oriental carpets. Bar b q dinner in real Afghan style from a local restaurant.
DAY 3
PESHAWAR
Peshawar has been the gateway between Central Asia and the subcontinent. It was the center of remarkable civilization, such as the Gandhara Culture of Kushan Empire and had diplomatic, cultural and commercial link with Rome, Persia and China through the ancient Silk Route. Pathans who live here considered to be the world's most handsome men are descendants of Israel and belonged to the lost tribes of Judea who migrated eastward after Moses. They embraced to Islam during the process. History of Peshawar goes back to 5000 years but the recorded history is of 2000 years when Kanishka, the greatest of the Kushan Kings, moved his winter capital from North of Kabul. After the breakfast in the hotel, we move out to Peshawar Museum formerly Victoria Memorial Hall built in 1905. It has one of the best collections of Gandhara art and sculptures illustrating the life of the Buddha are laid out in chronological order. The ethnological section has a Moghul Gallery to be explained by the guide. Our next stop will be the massive Bala Hisar Fort built by Emperor Babur in 1530 Moguls really turned Peshawar into a city of flowers by planting trees and laying out gardens. We will move out to Khyber Pass from here located at a distance of 56 kilometers. It is the same place from where Emperor Babur crossed it to lay the foundation of Great Moghul Empire in 1505. We will first pass by Jamrud Fort after 18 kilometers built by the Sikhs in 1823. The next is Shagai Fort built by the British in the 1920s at the start of the pass. Then comes the Ali Masjid Fort perched on a commanding spur. The cemetery of British soldiers killed in Second Afghan War of 1879 is here. We can also observe numerous carved and painted regimental insignia on to the rock faces, the prominent among them are the Gordon Highlanders, the South Wales Borderers, the Royal Sussex, Cheshire and Dorset regiments. Then come the Sphola Stupa erected in 2nd century A.D. Finally, we reach Torkham to take a view of barren brown land of Afghan plain. A ruined Kafir Fort is also here belong to Hindu relic of the ninth century AD. We will move for a hot lunch to Bara Bazaar prepared on charcoal in real Afghan style. The Khyber Train runs on schedule between Peshawar and Landi Kotal is world most adventurous steam train safari built by British in 1920s. It passes through 34 tunnels and over 92 bridges pushed and pulled by two SG060 oil fired steam engines. We will be back to the hotel in the afternoon. In the evening we will go out for bazaar tour which is the most exciting part of the tour as its elements date from Sikh, Mughal and even Buddhist time. The Qissa Khawani Bazaar was described by the British Commissioner in Peshawar, Sir Herbert Edwardes as the Piccadilly of Central Asia. Other places we visit are Khyber Bazaar, Chowk Yadgar, Banjara Bazaar and then stop at Mohabat Khan Mosque built in the 1670s. This beautifully proportioned Mughal structure by than the governor of Emperor Shah Jahan. For dinner tonight we move to a famous Peshawari Restaurant.
DAY 4
SWAT
We leave today after breakfast for Swat, a picturesque Northern Pakistan valley toward North east. En route we visit the Bala Hisar mound at a distance of 28 kilometers dating back to 2500 years old and the capital of Gandhara from sixth century B.C to second century A. D. According to Herodotus, the Greek historian writing in about 460 B.C Darius sent the explorer Scylax of Caryanda to sail down from here and find the sea. Gandhara remained with Achaemenid Empire for next 200 years until its overthrow by Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C. Next, we will stop at Takht e Bahi 14 kilometers from here the most impressive and complete Buddhist monastery of first century A.D. It has 38 votive stupas and the largest statues must have been 33 feet high donated by rich pilgrims. The guide will explain you with help of sketch. The next part of our journey is through Malakand Pass to Chakdara an ancient crossroad between Asia and Europe. The fort here was built by Emperor Akber in 16th century and now in use with Army. It also has 3500 years old graveyard still in use, Buddhist monasteries of first century A. D and Hindu Shahi forts on the hill top.Damkot hill has a Churchill's Picket on a 15 minutes climb. Winston Churchill served here in 1896 and very interesting details are given in his book " My Early Life ". Six boulders with Buddhist carving mostly of Padmapani date to sixth and seven century. The Aryaans forerunners of the Hindus arrived from Central Asia and settled here in 1700 BC and also composed world oldest religious text "The Rigveda". From here we will visit an excellent museum of Chakdara. The museum has collection from first century to seventh century Buddhist Gandharan sculpture and of Hindu Shahi period. After hot spicy lunch of chappal kabab and nan we will move to Saidu Sharif. The important historic towns we come across are Barikot and Udergram. Birkot is the ancient town of Bazira which was sacked by Alexander the Great in 327 BC and Udergram is the ancient town of Ora which gave a tough battle to Alexander's Army. Massive ruins of the castle of Raja Giri , the last Hindu ruler of eight century , scattered up the hill side. Karakar Pass is nearby where Emperor Akber lost most of his 8,000 man army in abortive attempt to invade Swat in 1586. We will have a photo stop at Shingerdar Stupa built by King Uttarasena to house the relics of the Lord Buddha in 2nd century AD and also a large Buddha carved on a rock in sixth century AD. Tonight we will stay in hotel Serena White Palace the residence of Mir of Swat now converted into hotel. The winter are interesting to stay here as bar b Que. dinner are served around camp fire.
DAY 5
SWAT
Historically Swat is the most interesting valley in Asia. The excavated archaeological sites here range from prehistoric caves through Aryan graveyards to Buddhist monasteries of which were once 1,400 in the valley. Swat also offer some of the best walking as well as fishing, skiing and climbing in Asia. Today we will spend most of the time in sightseeing and visiting some historical places. After breakfast we will move to Saidu Sharif Museum which has collection of Gandharan sculpture and ethnographic section features local embroidery, carved wood and tribal embroidery. Our next stop will be Batkara Stupa built in second century BC by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. There were 215 votive stupas built around the main stupa by rich pilgrims hoping to gain merit. Next, we will visit a ski resort at Malam Jabba and enjoy black tea with milk. Our beautiful journey is of 120 kms along the river Swat to Kalam and in way stop for shopping at Madyan and Bahrain where cottage industry thriving for 2500 years. After lunch at picnic spot lying on the junction of Ushu and Utrot rivers. Evening is free at leisure to explore the bazaars of Mingora famous for last 2000 years for semi-precious stones, locally woven and embroidered cloth and tribal jewellery. You can also take a walk along the Hindu pilgrim trek to prehistoric sacred Mount Ilam starting behind the hotel along the Saidu stream.
DAY 6
ISLAMABAD
After breakfast move to Abbottabad via Khwazakhela 30 kms and the largest trade center in this part of the valley.Here the cottage industry has been thriving for last 2500 years. Till the beginning of this century natural vegetable dyes were used for coloring the embroidery woolen shawls. From here Besham is 69 kms a drive through the scenic road through steeply terraced hills and pine forest across the Shangla pass. Here we stop for tea and consume it in a wooden cabin tied to pine tree. Besham is located on the wonder of the modern world the Karakoram Highway made on the alignment of Silk Route to China. After Lunch we move to Mansehra 24 kms short of Abbottabad to see the Ashokan inscription date from the third century BC (272 - 231 BC). The Ashoka was Buddhist and his capital was at Pataliputra now Patna on the Ganges in India. This is the oldest inscription of any historical significance in Asia. Reach Abbottabad named after James Abbot who became adviser to Sikhs after first Sikh War of 1846. Move to Hotel Sarban for hot cup of tea and to enjoy local pizza. Islamabad is 120 kms from here and at two hours journey. Tonight, our stay will be in Hotel Serena located near a beautiful Rawal Lake.
DAY 7
LAHORE
After breakfast we will drive toward South on the Great Trunk Road built by Mughals from Kabul to Delhi. Our first photo stop will be 15 kilometers from here on River Soan. Early Stone Age man lived along this stretch more than 100,000 years ago and hundreds of ancient stone tools can be found near the river. British archaeologists have recently found a 30,000 years old house near the river bank. Also exposed on the surface, are fossil bearing rocks between four and 14 million years old. Giraffe, gazelle, rhinoceros, crocodile and rodent fossils have also been found here, presumably they were hunted by man's early ancestors. From Mandra on the same road we turn westward to Chakwal which is the gateway to the eastern Salt Range. This range came into being 600 million years ago when Thysis Ocean was trapped and subsequently evaporated by the collision of Indian plate with Asiatic plate leaving behind world's largest salt deposits. We will turn south from Chakwal and bypass Choa Saiden Shah and world largest salt mine of Khewra to Pind Dadan Khan and finely to the bank of River Jehlum the battle field were Alexander The Great defeated Raja Poras. Nandana pass is up North the only place to cross the Salt Range since ancient time. Al- Biruni the famous scientist of 11th century measured the circumference of the earth from here. We will now return to Kallar Kahar located on a fascinating lake which impressed the first Moghul Emperor Babur in 1519 that he ordered a garden to be laid out overlooking the lake. We will passby famous Hindu Temple of Ketas on a pool side sacred to the Hindu god Shiva and then to Malot Hindu Temples built in Kashmiri Hindu style during eight century are best preserved and most impressive are six kilometers from here. They stand on a remarkable outcrop on the edge of the cliff and can be seen from the road side. After lunch we will move to Lahore on most modern six lane motorway in three hours. Transfer to Hotel Ambassador for two-night stay.
DAY 8
LAHORE
Lahore has been capital of the Punjab for nearly 1,000 years and reached its glory under Moghuls rule (1524 - 1752 ) .The reigns of Humayun, Akber, Jehangir, Shahjehan and Aurungzib , may be considered the golden period of the history of Lahore. The city became a place of Royal residence, gardens, tombs, mosques, baradaries sprung up in all direction. In the language of Abulfazil " the grand resort of people of all nations "and celebrated for its fine buildings and luxuriant gardens. Father Anthony Monserrat, a Portuguese Jesuit, from Goa India visited Lahore in A.D. 1591 when it was at its greatest splendor, on the invitation of Emperor Akber and he had a church here confirmed by the French traveler Thevenot in A.D. 1665. After breakfast at hotel, we will move out on The Mall Road in our coach which was a modern thoroughfare lined with exquisite buildings of great public and private utility during British time. We will stop over at Gymkhana Club or Little Britain opposite Lawrence Gardens to take a view of this symbol of prestige and a favorite haunt of men of diverse talents and fortune. The halls of club were built in memory of two Governors Sir John Lawrence and Sir Robert Montgomery. We will move to The Lahore Museum built by the British in Moghul Gothic style and opened in 1894. John Lockwood Kipling, Rudyard's father was the museum's first curator. It is the best museum in Pakistan with a superb collection of Moghal period including illustrated manuscripts, miniatures, rugs, and carvings. It also has excellent galleries of pre-historic Pakistan and a superb collection of Buddhist stone sculptures. The famous Zam - Zama gun cast in 1760 stands in front of the Museum. From here we move to the Royal Palace of Lahore Fort which ranks in size and beauty with the Moghul forts at Delhi and Agra. Akber began building it during the 1560s on the site of an older fort. Some two hours we will spend here to explain to you with the help of sketch includes Alamgari Gate, Maktab Khana, Diwan-e-Am, Jahangir's Quadrangle, Shah Jahan's Quadrangle, Diwan-e-Khas, Palace of Mirrors, Naulakha etc. From here we walk to Badshahi Mosque built by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1674 after the mosques of Delhi and Agra. It consists of a huge square with a minaret at each corner. You can climb up the 204 steps to the top of one of the minarets for a bird's eye view of the old city of Lahore. We will move for lunch to a local restaurant and enjoy the best local taste known the world over as Tanduri . From here we move to Jahangir's Tomb across the River Ravi's bridge. The Tomb was built by his son Shah Jahan, of Taj Mahal fame in 1627. A 180-room hotel Akbari Serai was also built here by Shah Jahan in 1637 around a spacious garden. The Tomb of Asif Khan father of Mumtaz Mahal is also here, the lady for whom the Taj Mahal was built in Agra. We will now move to the impressive Shalimar Garden built by Shah Jahan in 1642 for the royal household, it follows the Moghul concept of the perfect walled garden with geometrically arranged ponds, fountains, and marble pavilions, surrounded by flowers and fruit trees. The details of the garden will be explained by the guide with the help of a sketch. On returning to your hotel the evening is at leisure to enjoy your hotel facilities or further explore the famous bazaar of Gulberg. This evening dinner is to enjoy a mutton tikka, a typical Lahori bar b cue.
DAY 9
LAHORE
After breakfast, you transfer to the airport for the flight to Delhi. Bon voyage.
