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The world cannot travel like before. The pandemic has made it difficult to travel due to travel bans in many countries. Has your dream trip to the world’s top destination disappeared? Let that not happen. It is time to feed your wanderlust. Let us take you to Pakistan with splendid landscapes and diverse cultures, virtually. Read on to visit Pakistan and experience it truly, without leaving home.
Visit Pakistan Without Leaving Home: Here’s How?
What To Read?
Pakistan And The Karakoram Highway By Owen Bennett-Jones
Pakistan comes with its dramatic mountainscapes, the world’s biggest mosques, and famous bazaars. The author details an excursion by jeep or train up the Khyber Pass and includes tales of native culture. You get to read the experiences of an adventurous traveler. It describes the history, geography, attractions, and people of the country.
Three Cups Of Tea By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver
The book takes us through the journey of Mortenson’s transition. From a registered nurse and avid mountain climber, he changes his focus to social cause activities. His non-profit group Central Asia Institute works towards educating girls and reducing poverty in the remote regions of Pakistan. The book is about one man’s mission towards the betterment of the girl child, one school at a time.
Culture Shock! By Karin Mittmann & Zafar Ihsan
The very useful guide belongs to every traveler as a country guide. The series gives all the information about the customs and etiquette of Pakistan. The easy-to-read guide is useful to everyone, whether a student or a business traveler. It talks about daily life in some cosmopolitan cities and gives useful practical information. It helps you feel at home in the South Asian country.
Among Muslims By Kathleen Jamie
The book is about a woman who travels alone in the early 1990s to the remote Northern Areas of Pakistan. She got friendly with not only the men but also got to know the purdah clad womenfolk. It is the story of the author as she travels the isolated mountain villages. The author learns about the traditions, lifestyles, and attitudes of the Shia Muslims. Jamie returns in 2001 to learn how the area has changed after the war, a sensual epilogue.
What to Cook, Eat, and Savor?
Chicken Karahi – For the bliss of spices & aroma
Enjoy tasting the popular poultry dish made with red chilli powder, cumin, ginger, cardamom, tomatoes, garlic and garam masala. Made in a deep cooking pot, this is a popular dish in Pakistan and Northern India. Eat it with rice, roti or naan.
Chapli Kabab – Indulge your taste buds in the Pashtun Specialty
Savor the unique taste of spices such as dried coriander and pomegranate seeds. Enjoy the Pashtun cuisine of spicy meat patty. We can eat this combination of mutton or beef with green chilies and mint. An original favorite in Peshawar, serve it with yogurt sauce, salad, and naan. Pairs well with lassi or laal sharbat.
Lobia ka Salan – Take comfort in a vegan delight
Lobia or black-eyed peas is a yummy vegetarian dish made in an onion-tomato gravy base. This recipe is vegan as well. Made in a stovetop or a pressure cooker, we can serve the tasty Pakistani dish with rice or quinoa. The simple vegetarian cuisine pairs well with gannay ka juice (sugarcane juice).
Mutanjan
If you have a sweet tooth, then this sweet dish made by boiling rice, milk, sugar, raisins, saffron, almonds, and pistas is a delight. It is a favorite at weddings and other occasions and is a Pakistani variety of Zarda. Enjoy the traditional South Asian dish to pamper your taste buds.
What to Listen to?
Dam Mast Qalandar By Sami Yusuf and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
British singer Sami Yusuf sings the popular qawwali that you can listen to in the SoundCloud App or Amazon Music App among others. This is a Sufi song written in honor of the Saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The Sufi qawwali is a lovely listen to step up the spirits in the lockdown.
Disco Deewane By Nazia Hassan
The disco album made in 1981 is a pop album. Sung by the Pakistani duo, Nazia and Zoheb. The British music director Biddu composed it. Her voice and the melancholy of the songs will make you a fan of the Pakistani pop star. The album trended music across South Asia and broke the sale records.
Talaash By Junoon
Talaash is the second studio album of the Pakistani Sufi rock band Junoon. The popular album is also played as a soundtrack for the Pakistani television show Talaash. The show has a storyline about the band and its success. Woh Bheegi Yaadein and Aap Aur Hum are other songs you should listen to in the album.
Sampooran By Mekaal Hasan
The debut album by the Pakistani rock band was released in 2004. Listen to Darbari, Late Moon, and Sajan for some delightful music. Mekaal Hasan is the lead guitarist, and Javed Bashir is the lead vocalist. Sampooran in Urdu means ‘Perfect’, a perfect way to spend the afternoon at home.
What to Watch?
Bol
The best drama movie by far, it features controversial topics such as religion, extremism, and transphobia. Don’t miss watching the bold movie made amid highly conservative people. A popular movie from the Pakistani Movie Industry.
Laal Kabootar
This thriller portrays the dark days of Karachi. The story is a mystery around the daylight murder of a renowned journalist. The movie tells us about the lives of a widow, an Uber driver, a cop, a corrupt businessman and their stories.
Main Hoon Shahid Afridi
The film is about a young Pakistani boy who looks up to his idol Shahid Afridi. His story is of a dream gone bust when his cricket club goes bankrupt. He forms his team of misfits and plays against skilled opponents. A good watch with the family!
Ramchand Pakistani
The story is about a Pakistani-Hindu family that lives on the Indo-Pak border. It is about the struggles of a mother who tries to find her family. Her 8-year-old son and his father by mistake cross the border and are arrested. Watch their struggles for survival in this gripping movie.
Explore Virtual Tours: Famous Pakistan Attractions
Pakistan Monument
Enjoy a panoramic virtual tour of the national monument, the beautiful heritage museum is on the Shakarparian Hills in Islamabad. It stands for the unity of the Pakistani people. It is dedicated to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for a better Pakistan. Tour the majestic complex that covers 2.8 hectares of the area from your home.
Rawal Lake
This beautiful artificial reservoir collects water from the small streams coming from Margalla Hills. The lake provides water for the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Take a virtual tour of the artificial lake that covers an area of 8.8 square kilometers. You could tour the lake virtually in the Margalla Hills National Park.
F9 Park
The Fatima Jinnah Park is a beautiful recreational park and named after the younger sister of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Enjoy the virtual tour of the magnificent surroundings. The F9 park has 304 hectares of land dedicated to the park. It offers kids entertainment rides and beautiful natural environs.
Grand Mosque
Grand Jamia Masjid is the third largest mosque in the world. It has a capacity of 70,000 worshippers. It is in Lahore and designed by the famous Nayyar Ali Dada. Take a tour of the religious site from your home. The grand mosque is also called Bahria Town Jamia Masjid Complex, a beautiful cultural complex in Karachi.
Pakistan Air Force Museum
Enjoy the virtual tour to see the aircraft vehicles, radars, equipment, army vehicles, and more. The tour takes you to explore the archives gallery about the history and legacy of the Pakistan Air Force. The interactive sessions make the visit almost real. Enter the gates of the PAF Museum with a click of a button.
Popular Urdu Phrases for Your Visit to Pakistan
Assalam Walekum – May Peace Be With You
Shukriya – Thank You
Maaf Kijiye- Sorry
Khuda Hafiz- Goodbye
Shabba Khair – Good Night
Zaberdast- Excellent
Recommended Reads: Travel To Africa Without Leaving Home: Here’s How? How To Travel To The UAE From Home? Get your Pakistan Travel Guide here.
