Shah Allah Ditta Caves
These glorious caves of antiquity are located in an area called D12 in the capital city of Islamabad. These caves will transport you back to the golden age of the Buddha as they have been archaeologically defined as belonging to an era that goes back at least two thousand years. The trees have roots that stretch hundreds of feet into the ground and some of the trees are so old that extravagant bundles of roots hanging from the branches themselves. Walking through these ancient caves and standing under these ancient trees evokes a strange nostalgia for the world of antiquity and a feeling of utter connectivity with bygone eras.
Baltoro Glacier
Pakistan is famous for its monumental glaciers made purely out of ice located at the core of some of the most extreme mountain ranges in the country These white castles of nature are inspiring as well as extremely difficult to reach even though the magnificent view is worth every hardship you may encounter to get there. The Baltoro Glacier is located in the Karakorum Range at an elevation of 13,895 feet and is 63 kilometres long, making it the second-longest non-polar glacier in the entire world. Trekking through it is like experiencing an ice age – you’ll be completely overwhelmed by every aspect of the glacier on a physical, mental and emotional level.
Baltoro Glacier | © Wiki Commons
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert is said to be the heart of Pakistan, due to the rich cultural heritage that is possessed in the form of folk songs, art, rituals and traditions, making it the country’s cultural treasury. It is the largest desert in the country and is a picturesque land of rolling hills of sand, endless sand dunes and mesmerizing sunsets. Due to its large size that covers about 77,000 square miles, it is located partly in the province of Punjab and Sindh and stretches out to northwestern India. It is a desert of unparalleled beauty. Its rich cultural traditions, dresses and dances of the people against the backdrop of an ocean of glittering sand make it a destination worth visiting and experiencing.
Thar Desert in Pakistan | © Honza Soukup/Flickr
Neelum Valley
Neelum Valley is located in Azad Kashmir and being there is like jumping into a bright coloured painting with a marvel waiting at every corner. It contains a mind-altering beauty as it is a valley interspersed with natural wonders every few kilometres. Neelum Valley is filled with lush green hills, dense forests, glorious waterfalls and freshwater streams that glisten under the sun. Walking through the valley, travellers will encounter bright smiles from the locals and against a backdrop of the beautiful green valley, it is easy to believe you have walked straight into heaven.