SOUTHERN PAKISTAN'S CULTURAL FLAVOUR

Itinerary for 11 nights & 12 days

Day 01:

KARACHI Arrival at Karachi Quaid-e-Azam Airport . After picking the guests Transfer to the hotel, if guests come in the morning then early check-in. After Breakfast and resting till noon the semi-day tour of Karachi will start. Karachi is the most populated city of Pakistan and centre of trade and industry in Pakistan. It’s a city of interesting contrasts, on one side skyscrapers and 19th century Victorian buildings and on the other side narrow dusty streets. Short panoramic tour and then visit to the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader) – the Founder of Pakistan. Mausoleum is made of white marble and has a stunning Chinese made dome. After the lunch visit to Masjid-e-Tooba (Mosque) which has one of the biggest domes among all mosques in the world. The mosque has such a perfect acoustic that one person on one edge of the mosque can hear another person talking on the other edge. It has the capicity of 5000 worshipers in one time. After the visit transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at hotel in Karachi.

O/N Karcachi.

Day 02:

Starting daily tour of Karachi following breakfast at 08.30 a.m. Visit National Museum where the ruins of Indus Valley Civilization and the examples of Buddhist Ghandara art are exhibited. Later on, visit the – Dhobi Ghat (open-air clothe washing are of public people) and see lots of clothes left to get dry under the sky. Later, walk in the most famous street of Karachi, Zaibunissa Street. Following the lunch break visit the shopping areas; Abdullah Haroon Street, Zeinab Bazaar and Bori Bazaar. Later, visit of Clifton Beach where there are parks, restaurants, game fields and souvenir shops. After the visits, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at hotel in Karachi.

O/N Karcachi.

Day 03:

KARACHI – CHAUKUNDI – THATTA – HYDARABAD: After the breakfast departure for Chaukundi Necropolis where there are many carved tombs which are made by sand stone. It is typical Sindhi Islamic style of architecture . After the visit here, visit of historical Makli Necropolis(graveyard) which is under the UNESCO included in the World Heritage List. It is one of the biggest necropolises in the world with its 8 km square area. It’s predicted that almost 125.000 Sufi saints were buried here. Later on, visit to Thatta near Makli Graveyard. Lunch will be taken in Thatta. The experts think that antique city of Pattala was once founded here. Pattala was the city where Alexander the Great stopped to rest with his troops. The history of modern Thatta dates back to 600 years ago. Thatta was very important for the Musulmen in Lower-Sindh who rebelled against Dehli. The city was once under Portugal and Mughal occupation. From Mughal period, there are important monuments. The most of important of all is Shah Jahan Mosque. It’s a valuable memory of its period with its dome, red bricks, blue coloured glaze tiles and its acoustic. This mosque was built as an appreciation to the Thatta people just because they supported Shah Jahan during his rebellion against his father. After visiting the mosque, we leave Thatta and go for Hydarabad to accommodation. Dinner at hotel.

O/N Hydarabad.

Day 04:

HAYDARABAD – BHIT SHAH – SEHVAN – LARKANA: Departure from the hotel at 08.00 a.m. We will visit the tombs of Talpur Kings who were controlling the area in 17th and 18th centuries. Later on, we leave Hydarabad and go for Bhit Shah. Here we will visit an architectural wander, the shrine of one of the most beloved Sufi saints in Pakistan – poet, musician Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai. After the visit, drive to Sehwan with a journey of 2, 5 hours, viewing the scenic views on the Indus Highway to see the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is another important Sufi saint and philosopher. He preached religious tolerance among Muslims and Hindus. The shrine was built in 14th century and a golden plated door was donated by late Shah of Iran. After visiting the shrine, drive to Larkana. Dinner and accommodation in Larkana.

O/N Larkana.

Day 05:

LARKANA – MOHENJO DARO – SUKKHAR: Following the breakfast drive to Mohenjo-Daro for a full day tour. Mohenjo-Daro is in UNESCO World Heritage List. It was one of the most important city of Indus Civilization along with Harappa. According the excavations which firstly started in 1922, the city had perfect system of agriculture, dealt with trade interactions with other civilizations. They built their buildings using baked brick & they were interested in beautiful arts as well. We will have information about the lifestyle of Mohenjo-Daro public. Water pipes and channels is a sign of their excellance in engineering. Lunch will be taken in the restaurant in Mohenjo-Daro. After the visit drive to Sukkur for accommodation. Dinner at hotel.

O/N Sukkur.

Day 06:

SUKKHAR – BAHAWULPUR: Following the breaksfast we drive to Punjab. While driving to Bahawulpur, we will stop at Bhong to see the magnificent Bhong Mosque which was constructed in 50 years. This mosque was awarded Aga Khan Architecture Award in 1986. Later on, visit to Uch Sharif which was founded by Alexander the Great. Despite being a small town right now, it was once the centre of Uch Kingdom. It was the political and cultural centre as well, along with its sister city Multan. There are important monuments from Muslim reign. The most important of those are the tombs with their stunning appearance. We will visit the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha el-Halim, Sheikh Seyfeddin Gazroni and Jalaluddin Bukhari r.a. After visiting Uch Sharif, drive to Bahawulpur for accommodation. Dinner at hotel.

O/N Bahawalpur.

Day 07:

BAHAWULPUR – MULTAN: After the breakfast, the tour of Bahawulpur will start. Bahawulpur is such a peaceful city in which the transportation is mostly made by bicycle rickshaw, has tree-lined streets, large houses with verandas. Our first destination is Derawar Fort and the tombs around it in Cholistan Desert. After the half-day tour, return to Bahawulpur for lunch. After the lunch visit to Bahawulpur Museum. Later, free time in Bahawulpur Market. After the free time, drive to Multan for accommodation. One & half hour drive to Multan and check-in the hotel. Dinner at hotel.

O/N Multan.

Day 08:

MULTAN – HARAPPA – LAHORE: Following the breakfast, start of the tour in Multan. Multan is in such a strategic point of trade ways. It’s an important industry city dating back 2000 years ago. City is famous with its shrines. The most famous of these are the shrines of Bahaddin Zakariya r.a, Shems Tebriz r.a , Shah Yousaf Gardezi r.a and Sheikh Ruknuddin Shah Runkn-e-Alam r.a. We will visit these 4 shrines and then we will have free time in Hussein Agahi Bazaar till lunch time. After the lunch, drive towards Lahore. After a journey of 2 hours, we will visit Harappa which is on our way. We will have information about the social life, economical system and writings of Harappa. After visiting Harappa Museum & site, drive to Lahore for accommodation. Dinner at hotel.

O/N Lahore.

Day 09:

LAHORE: Following the breakfast full day tour in the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore. First destination is old Lahore city which was walled during Mughal Empire reign. We shall visit Lahore Fort. The fort is in UNESCO World Heritage List along with Shalimar Gardens. We visit the fort and its places available in and around it . After visiting the fort, we will see Badshai Mosque, the 2nd biggest mosque of Pakistan and 7th biggest mosque in the world. In its architecture Islamic, Persian, Central Asian and Hindu features can be recognized. Later, visit to Iqbal Park and see Minar-e-Pakistan which was erected in honour of the date 23 March 1940 when the independence Pakistan idea was declared officially for the first time after the meeting in the park. After lunch time , we shall visit Wazir Khan Mosque. The mosque is construsted by Shah Jahan’s Prime Minister lumiddin Ensari native of Chiniot City. After the visit, continue with Lahore Museum. We shall have the possibility of seeing Budhist sculpture of Ghandara art and manuscripts, miniatures, rugs from Islam period. After the museum visit, we will walk in the Anarkali Bazaar that is very famous shopping bazar and will listen the story of Anarkali that is a fiction. The bazaar has been active for 200 years. After the free time in Bazaar, we shall visit Shalimar Gardens & then Wahga Border Flag Ceremony. After the visits, transfer to the hotel. Dinner at hotel.
O/N Lahore.

Day 10:

LAHORE – ROHTAS – ISLAMABAD : Following the breakfast check-out from the hotel. First destination is Rohtas Fort which is in UNESCO World Heritage List. The fort is built by Sher Shah Suri in purpose of defending the city against Mughals. The fort is still intact. It reflects the early Islamic architecture. After the visit, lunch on the way may be at Dina than continue drive to Islamabad for 2 hours. Short tour of Islamabad, including Lok Virsa Public Museum where we shall have information about local culture. After the visit of museum then we shall visit of Faisal Mosque whose architect was a Turkish architect, Vedat Dalokay, The construction of the mosque was financed by Arabic king Shah Faisal, that’s why his name was given to the mosque in honour of him. Islamabad is very young and modern city. When Pakistan was founded, the capital was Karachi which was more difficult to defend. Following the visits, transfer to the hotel. Dinner at hotel.
O/N Islamabad.

Day 11:

ISLAMABAD – TAXILA – RAWALPINDI – ISLAMABAD: After the breakfast, drive to Taxila. It’s an important city of Budhism period and is in UNESCO World Heritage List. After seeing the ruins, visit Taxila Museum. Lunch in Rawalpindi. After the lunch, free time in bazaars of Rawalpindi. Later on,Pakistan monument, Shakarparian Hill before sunset and watch twin cities Islamabad & Rawalpindi bird wathcing, the garden in which Pakistani and allied countries’ politicians erected trees, a view of RawalLake and many fountains. After the visit, return to Islamabad city centre and transfer to the Margalla hills where we will have our farewell dinner. After the dinner, transfer to the hotel.
O/N Islamabad.

Day 12:

ISLAMABAD —–HOME: Transfer to Islamabad International Airport. From peace and serenity of Southern Pakistan to the hustle and bustles of “modern” trends, we shall say Khuda Hafiz, the typical farewell, as you depart after a tour. You came as our guests and you will go back as our friends.
End Of The Tour.

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