Pakistan
Asia · Islamabad · PK
Pakistan is the large country of the south-west Asian crossroads, a land of the highest mountains, the ancient cities and the great civilisations of the Indus, with a landscape that runs from the frozen peaks of the Karakoram to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. The north of the country, the epic scenery of the Gilgit-Baltistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, holds the great mountain valleys, the high passes and the trekking world of the famous peaks, while the centre and the south hold the cities of the Lahore, the Multan and the Karachi with their forts, their mosques and their bazaars. The ruins of the Taxila and the cities of the Indus valley civilization reach into the deep antiquity, and the people of the country, famously hospitable, make the journey the heart of the experience. Monumental, mountainous and intensely alive, Pakistan rewards the intrepid traveller enormously.
Overview
Pakistan is a country in Asia. Its capital is Islamabad and the international dialling code is +92. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Urdu and English. Local currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). Our guide covers 2 airports, including Islamabad International Airport, Jinnah International Airport. We also list 2 cities in Pakistan: Islamabad and Karachi.
The Peaks of the Karakoram and the Valley of the Hunza
The northern mountains of the country hold the greatest concentration of the high peaks on earth, and the valley of the Hunza, the spectacular corridor toward the wall of the Karakoram, frames the whole in the apricot orchards, the terraced fields and the villages of the light brown houses. The fortress of the Baltit, the old palace of the valley perched above the town of the Karimabad, is the great cultural landmark, and the peaks of the Rakaposhi, the Ultar and the Diran rise directly above the valley with their enormous rises. The road of the Karakoram, the highway that crosses the mountains to the border, and the high passes give the serious trips of the north their roads, while the trekking routes of the region lead into the glaciers and the base camps of the great peaks. It is the most spectacular mountain country in the world.
The Fort of the Lahore and the Gardens of the Shalimar
The great city of the Lahore, the cultural capital of the country, holds the finest ensemble of the Mughal architecture in the south of Asia, and its fort, the vast palace complex of the emperors, spreads the halls, the gardens and the mirrored courts of the seventeenth century along the walls of the old city. The gardens of the Shalimar, the terraced paradise of the emperor, cascade through the fountains and the pavilions at the edge of the city, and the mosques of the Lahore, the enormous marble of the Badshahi, are among the great monuments of the Muslim world. The walled old city, the narrow lanes, the bazaars and the haveli of the merchants, lives the intense life of the south Asian town, and the food of the city, the melting butter of its grills, is legendary. The city is the essential journey of the country.
The Ruins of the Taxila and the Cities of the Antiquity
The ruins of the Taxila, the ancient city of the trade routes that the armies and the merchants of the classical world crossed, spread the settlements, the monasteries and the stupas of the several successive cities across the valley of the north-west of the country, and the archaeology of the site runs from the Persian era through the Greeks and the Kushans to the later ages. The museums of the site hold the extraordinary sculpture of the Gandhara, the syncretic Buddhist art that blended the Greek and the Indian traditions, and the monasteries of the surrounding hills, from the Julian monastery to the stupas of the Dharamrajika, complete the circuit of the ancient sacred landscape. The site is a world heritage of the meeting of the civilisations, and its sculptures are among the treasures of the museums of the region.
The City of the Mohenjo-Daro and the Civilisation of the Indus
The plain of the Indus, the great river of the country, holds the ruins of the Mohenjo-Daro, the enormous city of the bronze age that was one of the capitals of the Indus valley civilization, the first great urban world of the Indian subcontinent. The excavated city, with its grid of the streets, its great public bath, its granary and its sophisticated drainage systems, reveals a civilisation of the thousands of years ago whose thousands of the citizens lived by a remarkably orderly plan, and the seals, the weights and the small sculptures of the site hold the mystery of the writing that no one has yet deciphered. The site, set in the flat green plain of the Sindh, is a world heritage and the greatest archaeological monument of the country's deep history. It is a humbling and extraordinary place to visit.
The Coast of the Karachi and the Sindhi of the City
The great port city of the Karachi, the sprawling economic capital of the country on the Arabian Sea, holds the modern, commercial, intensely busy face of the nation, and its seafront, from the beaches of the Clifton to the old port of the town, runs the life of the enormous city. The mausoleums and the mosques of the city, from the tomb of the Quaid, the founder of the country, to the modern monuments of the coast, hold the history of the state, and the bazaars of the city, the markets of the clothing and the spices, the street food and the famous biryani, run the trade of the metropolis. The island beaches and the mangroves of the delta beyond the city give the one-day escapes of the natural world, and the whole of the city vibrates with the energy of the south of the country.
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- Capital
- Islamabad
- Currency
- Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- Calling code
- +92
- Internet TLD
- pk
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Pakistan.
Airports (2)
All airports →Cities (2)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Pakistan?
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Pakistan?
You pay with Pakistani Rupee (PKR) in Pakistan. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Pakistan?
The languages we list for Pakistan are Urdu and English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Pakistan?
The dialling code for Pakistan is +92 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Pakistan?
We cover 2 airports for Pakistan, including Islamabad International Airport (ISB), Jinnah International Airport (KHI).
Which cities in Pakistan do you cover?
Our guide lists 2 cities for Pakistan: Islamabad (capital) and Karachi.