Katas Raj Temples

Katas Raj Temples a new face of beauty:

                                               

Pakistan being the destination of all types of tourists holds a very unique position in the arch of religious tourism like all other types. And if we talk about religious tourism  we cannot ignore Qatas Raj Temples. Located near Chakwal (about 40 kilometers away from the main city close to Choa Saidanshah town) in province Punjab of Pakistan Katas Raj Temples also know as Qila Katas is one of the most significant Hindu pilgrimage sites which date back to 615-950 CE These temples are very popular tourist attractions as thousands of tourists visit the site annually.                 

The temples hold a very special  position in the hearts of Hindus who believe that the Hindu deity Krishna laid the foundation of the temples and the pond in the Temples' courtyard  is formed by the tears of Hindu god Shiva who wandered inconsolably after his wife Sati’s death and Hindus believe that taking bath in this pond will wash your sins away. Not just this, even the name of this temple complex comes from Sanskrit word kataksha meaning  “teary eyes”. Being a sacred place for Hindus the temples are visited by hundreds of Hindu pilgrims from India also. The temples are very architectural which serve the purpose of many tourists who visit the Temples. The pond water is crystal clear which is immensely beautiful and becomes the centre of attention for everyone who visits the site. Tourists can reach the site very conveniently as it is just 20 kilometers away from M2 motorway( which links Islamabad and Lahore ) KallarKahar interchange.                         

Baltit Fort, majestic beauty of Hunza

Remains open 7 days a week

Ticket Cost: 250 (45 min guided tour)

Baltit fort is one of the most ancient fort situated in Karimabad a town in Hunza, region of North Pakistan. It’s located in the heart of the of city and its location is responsible for adding more attraction to its beauty such as you can have an aerial view of the City.

Baltit fort is a fine example of Baltit architecture. The structure of this fort was influenced by Tibetan architecture but later on few changes were made in its structure due to the invasion of British. Now the structure comprises of three building stories with its wooden and stoned floors with mud plaster. The main structural element consists of pegged Timber frame.

 Its traces can be found about 700 years ago. Baltit fort was the first ever to be restored by Agha         Khan for culture. It is equipped with the most beautiful things such as handmade unique shawls, different variety of carpets from local handmade to the variety of afghan woven carpets,  stuffed animals, Kashmiri glasswork, local rugs etc. some of the rooms in the fort comprises of dresses, pictures and ancient vessels.

Baltit fort is not only recognizes by Pakistan but worldwide. It has been on the UNESCO world heritage since 2004. Along with view it has a very interesting art and architecture. The Majestic beauty of Baltit Fort leave people amazed with so many best features like beautiful view, history and the perfect representation of the ancient culture of the city

Best Hotels to Stay in Gilgit, Pakistan.

Gilgit is the federal as well as main hub of whole Gilgit-Baltistan. It is also most common travelers destination as it is situated in the center of northern areas and provide access to all areas worth visiting. There are huge number of hotels and guest houses to stay there but the list of best hotels in Gilgit that are worth staying especially for families is given below. 

Serena Hotel Gilgit 

Situated at the top location in Gilgit, Serena Hotel provides the best of view of Gilgit valley. It is one of the best very few hotels in Gilgit city. Gilgit Serena Hotel has a very beautiful structure and has vast gardens that surround the whole building. Serena Gilgit provides best services in town. 

View from Gilgit Serena Hotel

Serena Hotel provides four varieties of rooms for accommodation which includes Twin room, standard king room, suite and deluxe king room with all the general amenities including multi-cuisine restaurant, barbeque, rent a car, pick and drop to airport and much more. 

Address: Serena Hotel Gilgit, Jutial, Gilgit, GB, Pakistan. 

Contact: +92- 5811-455894 

Park Hotel Gilgit 

Park Hotel Gilgit is one the very few best hotels in Gilgit-Baltistan. It provides the best service in town whether it is on site restaurant or accommodation, Park Hotel is the worth staying place in Gilgit, Pakistan. It is also known as one of the biggest hotel in Gilgit city. It is just on a walking distance from Gilgit airport and very famous NLI market Gilgit.

Park Hotel Gilgit front

Accommodation at Park Hotel Gilgit includes 5 categories of rooms which include Deluxe Master room, deluxe twin-bed, family room, suite and standard twin room with all the desired amenities under one roof. Park Hotel Gilgit provides on-site handicraft shop and multi-cuisine restaurant. 

Address: Main Airport road, Kaashirot, Gilgit, GB, Pakistan. 

Contact: +92-5811-453379

Religious Tourism For Sikh Community

RELIGIOUS TOURISM FOR SIKH COMMUNITY

Tourism in Pakistan can be broadly classified into four kinds: religious tourism, cultural tourism, eco- tourism and archaeological/historical tourism. As for religious tourism, the followers of Sikhism carry uttermost significance for promoting religious tourism in Pakistan. Out of 10 Sikh Gurus, 2, including the father of Sikhism Baba Guru Nanak, were born in a modern-day Pakistan. In addition, Guru Arjun, the fifth guru, died in Lahore. In this regard, two Sikh Gurdawaras – Gurdwara Bal Lila where Guru Nanak (1469-1539 AD) spent his childhood, and where he was born are located in Nankana Sahib district; Gurdwara Sachcha Sauda (Farooqabad) where Baba Guru Nanak entertained the Hindu mystics as per Sikh traditions; Gurdwara Panja Sahib near Hasan Abdal where Baba Guru Nanak’s handprint on rock is greatly revered by Sikh pilgrims (yatris), Samadhi Maharaja Ranjit Singh ( who ruled Punjab from 1799 to 1839) in Lahore; tomb of Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Guru of Sikhism, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur where Guru Nanak spent last days of his life, are some of the religious sites revered and sanctified by Sikhs. In addition, one of the oldest manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib ( the most respected and sacred book of the Sikhs that is also considered the 11^th Guru of Sikhism) can also be found in Lahore Museum. It is Pakistan where greatest Sikh warrior Maharaja Ranjeet Singh was born ( Gujranwala). It is Lahore Museum where the largest collection of artefacts belonging to Sikh empire has been preserved.

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Noor Mahal: A Magical Place in Bahawalpur

Noor Mahal: A Magical Place in Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur is a famous city in Punjab, Pakistan. Abbasi family of Nawabs ruled Bahawalpur till 1955 and so, Nawabs left an architectural legacy behind and now this city is famous for its monuments.

One of the prominent palaces in Bahawalpur is ‘Noor Mahal’. It was built in 1872 by an Englishman named Mr. Heenan. It has 32 rooms and 5 domes. Its design is based on the mosque of Aitchison College. It was the property of Nawabs of Bahawalpur princely state, during British Raj. A famous story attached to the construction of Noor Mahal is that Nawab Adnan Abbasi made this palace for his beloved wife. Interestingly, she spent just one night in the mahal because the view of the adjoining graveyard was frightening and so, she refused to live there.

Pakistan Army owns this palace now. It is used as a state guest house and several meetings with foreign delegations occur here. But it is also open for the public between 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM throughout the entire week. The magnificent sound and light show at Noor Mahal attract a lot of visitors from all over the country. It is usually held on a weekend around 7:30 PM. As the lights are turned on at night, it is beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way. On the building of the palace, they display the culture and animating history through various light effects. This is the reason why it is also called as the ‘Palace of Lights’.

If someone is interested in history and modern architecture, this is the right place for them to visit as there are many ancient things present in the palace. It includes some used items by the Nawabs of that time. There are so many old swords, old currency notes and old coins. Also, there is an old piano present there that Nawabs used to play. Some articles about second-hand furniture are still there. Imaginary pictures of Nawabs are placed on a long wall. But, one picture is real for sure.