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Pakistan
is the land of the Indus River, which flows through the
country for 1,600 miles from the Himalayan Mountains to the
Arabian Sea. It is a land of snow covered peaks and burning
deserts, of fertile mountain valleys and irrigated plains.
Created in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian
subcontinent, it is inhabited by some 130 million people
speaking over 20 different languages and wearing distinctive
costumes, yet all united by the Islamic faith.
'The
Land of the Pure'
(as the Urdu name Pakistan translates into English) is
strategically placed at the crossroads of Asia, where the silk
roads from China to the Mediterranean meet the routes from
India and Central Asia. For thousands of years this junction
has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, attracting traders
and adventurers, pilgrims and holy men, creating a deep and
ancient cultural base.
For
any visitor Pakistan has a wealth of attractions: its
4,500-year history is richly illustrated by archeological
sites and imposing monuments scattered the length and breadth
of the country. Brick cities from the Indus Civilization,
which flourished around 2,000 BC and paralleled the
achievements of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, stand beside
Buddhist ruins contemporaneous with the birth of Christianity.
The region has played host to history’s most famous:
Alexander the Great brought the influence of the west;
Chandragupta and Ashoka built vast Buddhist empires in the
north; Genghis Khan made his mark; Mahmud of Gazni
strengthened the role of Islam; and Tamerlane, Bahur and Akhar
brought the sophistication of Persia and Turkey into the
region and produced the brilliant and exquisite Mughal Empire.
Islam was introduced to the subcontinent on the shores of the
Arabian Sea in the 8th century, and magnificent Muslim tombs
from the 10 -12th centuries vie with the palaces, mosques and
forts of the Mughal emperors of the 16 - 18th centuries. Most
recently is the indelible stamp - architecture, rule of law
and civil engineering projects - left by the British Raj.
The
country’s main cities reflect these many influences, both
historical and modern. Lahore, close to the Indian border, is
the cultural center of the country, with an elegant core of
Mughal architecture embellished by the flower of the Raj.
Peshawar, on the Northwest frontier with Afghanistan, is a
city straight out of Arabian Nights, with tribesman in turbans
nonchalantly carrying rifles through colorful bazaars.
lslamabad, the federal capital, is a
modern garden city planned by Greek architects. Bustling,
energetic Karachi, with its population of 14 million,
is a huge industrial port and a sprawling industrial
and financial center.
Best
of all are Pakistan’s natural riches. The terrain includes
five of the world’s seventeen highest mountains including
the second highest in the world, K-2; the vast Thar desert is
best explored on camel safari; five huge rivers flow south to
the sea creating the largest irrigation network in the world;
and on shores of the Arabian Sea are hundreds of miles of
almost uninhabited beaches.
To
the spirit hungry for exploration and adventure, Pakistan
beckons.
(from
Pakistan, At the Crossroads of Asia, by Isobel Shaw)
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