PAKISTAN GUIDE

Overview
A little over 50 years old, Pakistan is still a relatively young country, however the lands which today make-up modern Pakistan have a long and colourful history. It's earliest civilisation, which centred around the Indus Valley some 4000 years ago, abruptly gave way to a chaotic period of Greek, Persian and then Turkish rule, before finally entering a period of stability with the rise of the Mogul Empire. In time the Moguls fell into decline and the British stepped in to take control of the Indian subcontinent. After continued mass uprisings the British were finally forced out of India, which almost immediately split into Muslim Pakistan in the west and Hindu India in the East. Since its formation in 1947 Pakistan has mostly been ruled by the military, due in the main, to it tense relationship with India. Today Pakistan offers the adventurous traveller a chance to experience a country of immense natural beauty and genuinely friendly people.

Highlights

• Lahore - the cultural capital of Pakistan
• Peshawar - fascinating and colourful city known as the historic gateway to the Indian subcontinent
• Rawalpindi - the old capital of Pakistan
• Karakorum Highway - winding its way to the Chinese Border through stunning mountain scenery
• Khyber Pass - historically important pass leading to Afganistan

Geography
Northern Pakistan is made up of vast mountain ranges. The Himalayan, the Karakorum, the Hindu Kush and the Pamirs mountain ranges all meet in northern Pakistan, and give rise to some of the highest mountains on Earth. Further south the mountains give way to a fertile, hilly central region. These in turn give way to desert with the harsh Baluchistan in the west and the Thar in the east.

Weather
In general Pakistan's weather is monsoonal. The rains begin in June and the weather is mostly cloudy and humid through to October. Following the rain the weather becomes bright and sunny with very cold night and this lasts until February. Temperatures then rise dramatically and the heat and dust soon becomes oppressive, this lasts until the next set of rains. The mountains in the north are usually dry and warm during the monsoon and most precipitation falls during the winter. The desert remains dry throughout the year. Rainfall is much less on the coast during the monsoon but humidity is very high. Bring light clothing and head cover if visiting the desert. If travelling in winter, warmer clothing is needed for the cold nights. Bring heavy clothes if travelling in the mountains.