Top 6 gorgeous landmarks in Pakistan

Pakistan is famous for its lush green valleys, high-rise mountains and peaks, beautiful lakes, rivers, healthy weather, nature-rich wildlife, cuisines, and of course the four seasons. Traveling to a country that displays a package of beauty, nature, seasons, and food cannot be any less than a wonder?

Discover some of Pakistan’s best attractions and sights with following guide to the country’s most striking examples of historic architecture.

Wazir Khan Mosque

The Wazir Khan mosque was built by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari in 1634, who was Viceroy of Punjab under Shah Jahan. This mosque is located in Lahore, Pakistan and famous for its beautiful design. The Urdu meaning of Wazir is ‘minister’. The expanded and huge faience tile work there is the eye catching for all the tourists. This beautiful mosque is known as one of the famous historical places in Pakistan, which was built in seven years.

The most historical and architectural feature to distinguish this mosque from others is the efficient use of minarets. No doubt, this mosque depicts the real and clear picture of the historical era gone by.

Pakistan Monument

The Pakistan Monument was inaugurated in Islamabad on 23 March 2007 as a national monument embodying the country’s history, and is in effect rich with significant cultural references. For its design, architect Arif Masood drew inspiration from the figure of a blossoming flower to represent the four provinces and three territories into which Pakistan is subdivided. The structure consists of four bigger ‘petals’ (the provinces), alternated with three smaller ones (the territories), built in granite and decorated with murals on the inner sides.

Seen from above, the monument meaningfully recalls the five-pointed star on Pakistan’s national flag. Below the petals, a metallic crescent is found, which is inscribed with verses by Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Indian poet Muhammad Iqbal.

Faisal Mosque

The Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in Pakistan, located in the national capital city of Islamabad. Completed in 1986. It was designed by Turkish architect Mr. Vedat Dalokay to be shaped like a desert Bedouin’s tent. It is also the national mosque of Pakistan named after Saudi King Faisal bin Abdul-Aziz.

Hiran Minar

When a beloved pet dies, what people usually do to keep its memory alive is preserve pictures and maybe a few objects to remember it by. In 1606, when Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s pet deer died, he had a minaret built to commemorate it. The Hiran Minar (Deer Tower) is situated in the Pakistani city of Sheikhupura, which briefly enjoyed the status of a popular hunting ground in the early 1600s.

One day, during a hunting session, Jahangir spotted a deer he wanted to kill, but mistakingly hit his favorite hunting deer, Mansraji, instead. Feeling guilty, the Emperor ordered the construction of the minaret. Almost thirty years later, the mausoleum was enriched with an adjoining, large water tank; in the middle of the tank lies a picturesque octagonal pavilion, connected to the mainland through an elevated walkway. A rare celebration of the love of man for animals, the Hiran Minar is an attractive sight that certainly deserves to be seen.

Lahore Fort

The origins of the Lahore Fort, a stronghold in Old Lahore, are so ancient that it is impossible to establish precisely when the fort was first constructed. It is known, however, that in the second half of the 16th century, the original mud-brick structure was demolished and rebuilt with burnt bricks. Since then, this fortified citadel has undergone numerous other modifications at the hands of almost all the rulers who reigned over Lahore, British colonialists included.

As a result, it summarizes Pakistan’s amazing cultural heritage in the various artistic influences seen throughout its wide range of different buildings such as mosques, mausoleums, palaces, audience halls, baths, watch towers, and more. A journey through Lahore Fort is in fact a journey through Pakistan’s past, and is for this reason recommended to anyone visiting the country.

Read more: The best traditional dishes you should try in Pakistan

Source Internet

Marvel at these stunning road trips in Asia

The iconic road trip is a must experience travel style for wanderers of all ages. As the fundamentals of the road trip are in-line with long-term travel, we've researched what we're calling the top 5 must experience road trips in Asia.

The Karakoram Highway (Pakistan and China)

Often hailed as the highest road in the world, this trip is as much an amazing engineering feat as it is a tourist attraction, and there are many people who travel long distances to be able to drive or ride a motorbike over the Himalayas on this road connecting China and Pakistan.

There are some stunning scenic areas with beautiful lakes and mountain views along this road that are well worth stopping to enjoy. Many people also use this route to gain access to some of the best mountain climbing spots in the world. The road rises to higher than 15,000 feet, so be conscious of the potential for altitude sickness and how it could affect you during the trip.

The Hokkaido Scenic Byway (Japan)

Hokkaido is one of Japan's four main islands, and many people also consider it to be the most beautiful regarding the scenery. Driving the Hokkaido Scenic Byway will take you through a series of routes around the island that offer beautiful sights.

With stunning coastal and mountain views, this route is a breathtaking one, and it offers plenty to see and do along the way. Consider rolling down the windows as you drive through the  fragrant lavender fields or stopping at one of hot springs along the way.

Golden Road to Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

Uzbekistan is a country that is well off the tourist trail for most people, but it has an interesting history (the city of Samarkand was once the capital of the large empire of Tamerlane), and it's a fascinating place to explore.

Although there isn't a formal route, most visitors will fly into the capital city Tashkent, and then transfer to Bukhara. This beautiful, old city is home to many historic sights, and from there, you can follow an historic Silk Road route to Samarkand. The historic ruin of the Rabati Malik caravanserai (inn) is a wonderful place to stop along the way. After arriving in Samarkand, you can explore the history of the city by visiting a few landmarks, such as the Registan square or the Ulugbek observatory.

The Mountain Tunnels of Guoliang and Xiyagou (China)

The Taihang Mountains have been a remote part of China with limited access for centuries. Even though most of the country's road system is publicly funded, it was decided that it was uneconomical to build roads in this region, so the locals ended up blasting their own roads out of the cliffs.

Driving through these tunnel roads is a remarkable experience, as they are inside the cliffs, and the windows along the route have spectacular views over the surrounding mountain scenery. These two tunnels are connected by a road that takes you through the Taihang Mountains on a relatively short stretch of 60 kilometers. Most visitors get to the area by going through the city of Xinxiang.

Nha Trang to Quy Nhon (Vietnam)

This 134-mile stretch of highway is spectacular—it's got mountain scenery on the inland side of the road and stunning sea views with golden beaches on the ocean side of the road. It is easy to stretch this road trip into a vacation to stop in the many towns and villages along the way. Plus, you'll find plenty of places to relax on a beach.

Every two years, there is a week-long festival where visitors drive the route together and take part in a large celebration. If you want a memorable experience between Nha Trang to Quy Nhon, consider joining in that celebration.

See more: 5 best multiple-country trips in Asia

Source: Internet