As one of the most ancient cities of the Indian subcontinent, Peshawar has for centuries been a center of trade between much of Asia. Modern day Peshawar continues to be a city that links Pakistan to Afghanistan. Sadly, Peshawar was immensely affected by the Taliban throughout their prevalent years, often in the news for suicide … More Peshawar, Pakistan
Many have compared Swat Valley’s beauty to Switzerland. They both provide stunning views of snowcapped mountains as a scenic backdrop. At the base of the Hindu Kush mountains, the valley has become a picturesque tourist destination within Pakistan. Visitors are often surprised to learn about the valley’s rich history with Buddhism. Once the cradle of … More Swat Valley, Gandhara’s cradle of Buddhism
Rawalpindi is adjacent to Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, and the two are jointly known as the “twin cities” on account of strong social and economic links. Rawalpindi has been inhabited for thousands of years and has ancient Buddhist heritage, unlike Islamabad, which was constructed in 1961 as a purpose-built national capital city. Its deep history is apparent … More Jingle Trucks in Rawalpindi
It was the 17th day of our journey and the last leg of our epic roadtrip, en route to Islamabad. The capital of Pakistan since the 1960’s and the ninth largest city in Pakistan (although, the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area is the fourth largest in the country). About two hours out, we passed through Abbottabad, the city … More Islamabad
Departing Astore Valley, we continued south on the Karakoram Highway towards Islamabad. However, we still had a two-day journey ahead of us to reach the capital of Pakistan. As we approached the city of Chilas for lunch, views of Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world (26,660 ft) came into sight. Chilas is the entry … More Venturing Over Babusar Pass
The Deosai National Park is a high-altitude alpine plateau, situated at an average elevation of 13,497 ft above sea level, making it the second highest plateau in the world (after the Changtang Tibetan Plateau). Deosai means ‘the land of Gods’. The park protects an area of 1200 square miles, and is stunningly gorgeous in springtime with wildflowers galore and a wide variety of butterflies. We traversed … More The Deosai Plateau
From Khaplu, we drove about three hours to Shigar, encountering scenic views, more impressive suspension bridges, laboring roadwork, and terraced villages. We settled into another historic fort-palace, converted into a lovely boutique hotel, built in the 17th century. The rooms at the Serena Shigar Fort were especially unique, all resembling their original layouts. My room … More Shigar, the Heart of Baltistan
Upon arriving to the town of Khaplu, which once acted as the second-largest kingdom in old Baltistan, having guarded the trade route to Ladakh, we were immediately charmed. Tree lined dirt roads following babbling creeks, that broke from the Indus River and Shyok River, where families hung drying laundry, and children played joyfully with farm animals. We … More The Small Kingdom of Khaplu
The distance from Gilgit to Skardu is approximately 120 miles, but dependent on road conditions, which are constantly fluctuating, the drive can take anywhere from 10 to 14 hours. Being so, we left Gilgit in the early morning hours to hit the road. The narrow, winding, paved road was constructed by the Pakistan Army Engineers … More The Journey to Skardu
Duikar is a small village about 30 minutes from Karimabad, perched on a hilltop about 10,000 feet high. The rightfully named Eagle’s Nest Hotel offers sensational views of surrounding peaks, while enjoying tea from their rooftop terrace. The most notable peak, to us anyhow, was the 19,600 foot rock-spire, Bublimotin, also known as Lady Finger. … More Eagle’s Nest, Onward to Gilgit
Wandering Ways 