شاندار شمالی پاکستان

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Hunza/Gilgit Valley(s) ہنزہ

Skardu and Shiger Valley(s) چگار سکردو

Swat, Kalash, and Chitral Valley(s)   چترال کالاش سوات

Murree and Surrounding areas and Valley’s مری

My past two years of living and working in Pakistan has been one of the better experiences of my life.  I have immensely enjoyed the people here as they are some of the most helpful, friendly, and courteous people I have ever met.  Everyone is always willing to give a helping hand and make you feel like one of them.  While living in Karachi has its challenges, I have found it to be a very interesting city with more history than you can imagine.  Like any other big city, it has its issues with pollution and traffic, but I have never in my whole time here felt threatened or my life is in danger.  I feel safer here than I do in most cities in the United States.  The photography in the city is amazing and the abundance of birds in the green part of the city I live in is great.  With only an hour drive to the beach, you can pretty much get away anytime you need.  The availability of most foods here makes it a very attractive destination. 

However, I want to focus on the beauty of the northern areas in Pakistan.  Namely, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Swat, Chitral, Kalash, and Murree areas. ہنزہ، گلگت، سکردو، سوات، چترال، وادی کیلاش، اور مری).

The north of Pakistan is probably my favorite part of the country and in my honest opinion one of the most scenic and beautiful landscapes on the entire earth.  Where else can you find three of the biggest mountain ranges in the world all intersecting at the same place (قراقرم، ہمالیہ، ہندو کش)? (Karakorum, Himalayas, Hindu Kush)?  Where else can you find some of the better food in the world, cooked traditionally like it was centuries ago?  Where else can you find some of the friendliest people that wonder why westerners would want to come to their area?  Where else can you find so many glaciers that are frozen year-round?  Where else can you drive the length of the Karakorum highway (one of the highest in the world) all the way to the China border in Xinjiang?  Where else can you see water so blue that if you wanted to, you could dip your head in there to have a drink?  Where else can you get lost in your thoughts and just stare at the scenery and have no worries?  Where else can you see an ethnic group (the Kalash people) that have their own ancient religion and have been isolated from most of Pakistan?  Where else can you get up in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and enjoy the sunrises OR sit on a balcony in the evening sipping on a drink and enjoy the mixtures of colors the sun has to offer as it sets behind some beautiful snow-capped peaks? 

The only place you can do all of these is of course in the northern mountain areas of Pakistan!!!!  I have been up there four times and I keep wanting to go back to explore more and also see the same places!!!!  There are so many different types of accommodations- guesthouses, old hotels opened seasonally, five-star resorts like Serena Hotels which you can find all over the world (especially in Kenyan Safari Parks), and boutique hotels just to name a few.  Three great places that I have stayed that have websites are.

Luxus Hotel in Hunza that sits on the banks of the crystal clear blue glacial water of (عطاآباد جھیل).  Try the Fish and Yak here as they are to die for.

Eagles Nest Hunza– Offer some stunning views of the towns and mountains.  Rooms and older and quite quaint and walking distance to the YAK CAFÉ.

Roomy Boutique Hotel– My goal is to stay at all the Roomy’s in Pakistan!!!!  They have at least 20 different hotels in Islamabad, Hunza, Gilgit, Murree, Chitral, Batakundi, Peshawar, Nathia Gali, Kalam, and Thandiana. Most of them are in the north part of Pakistan and offer lovely quaint rooms with a great restaurant menu, and usually stunning views wherever they are located..