Punjab (Pakistan)
Sprawled across the heart of Pakistan, the vibrant state of Punjab (Persian for ‘Five Waters’) is named after the five rivers of the region – the Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Jhelum and Chenab.
Sprawled across the heart of Pakistan, the vibrant state of Punjab (Persian for ‘Five Waters’) is named after the five rivers of the region – the Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Jhelum and Chenab.
A thin ribbon of asphalt strikes north from near Islamabad and leaves the modern capital and the dusty Punjab plains far behind.
Although Lahore may not be Pakistan’s capital city, it wins hands down as its cultural, intellectual and artistic hub.
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) seems a region named purely for the romance of travel.
The so-called twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi are commonly viewed as one unit, and indeed, one day the two will physically merge.
Sindh is named for the great Indus River that carves its way through the plains of the province, bringing it to life.
Although Karachi lost its crown as Pakistan’s capital to upstart Islamabad and the country’s cultural elite look towards Lahore, Karachi is the undisputed heart of the nation’s economy.
To the south of Lahore, the sublime shrines and tombs of Multan and Uch Sharif, ancient forts and the deserts of Cholistan are some of the experiences that await.
This section begins in the southernmost unit of the NA, Diamir district.
The southwestern province of Balochistan is a hard place to make a living in – or travel through.
Gilgit’s dusty bazaar is not particularly colourful but it’s lively and eclectic, filled with people drawn from Karachi to Kashgar.
Peshawar (pronounced pu-shah-wur) conjures images of romance, intrigue and danger – the archetypal frontier town.
The provincial capital of Balochistan, Quetta has a quite different air from almost anywhere else in Pakistan.
The Hunza Valley is the centrepiece of the KKH.
The largest town of lower Punjab and the centre of Pakistan’s main cotton-growing area, Multan is noted for its remarkable shrines and mosques.
Baltit is Hunza’s ancient capital.
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