When you next fly to Pakistan or India....

[filosofee]

where would you like to visit?

In Pakistan: I'd like to go to Gilgit, Hunza and Swat areas (done the cap cities in the four provinces, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi, as well as Islamabad and Faisalabad).

In India: been to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and now would love to go to Bangalore, and Darjeeling as well as "occupied Kashmir" Srinagar and Gulmerg.

Indians on the forum: how easy is it to travel to, and around, those parts of Kashmir?

[aussie-pak]

where would i like to visit?? anywhere!

im going to pak for 5 weeks in december for the first time! dont no what to expect really! hope its a good trip!

though ive heard good stuff about a place called murrey/murry so i hope i can go there!

[filosofee]

where would i like to visit?? anywhere!

im going to pak for 5 weeks in december for the first time! dont no what to expect really! hope its a good trip!

though ive heard good stuff about a place called murrey/murry so i hope i can go there!


Visiting the Sub-continent is like travelling to another planet! But the food is wonderful, the weather glorious, the people hospitable, the scenery enchanting ... I could go on but I'll let you describe it when you return. Enjoy your trip (Will you be able to get to Murree in December, aren't they snowed in then?)

[aussie-pak]

Visiting the Sub-continent is like travelling to another planet! But the food is wonderful, the weather glorious, the people hospitable, the scenery enchanting ... I could go on but I'll let you describe it when you return. Enjoy your trip (Will you be able to get to Murree in December, aren't they snowed in then?)
yeah! i should have a good time. about murrey i want to go there but thats exactly what ive been told, its going to be snowing! but i want to go their when the opportunity arises!

[Boi]

i went to pakistan when i was 2 years old that a long time ago (about 12 years go) never been there since looking to go there in the near future

[filosofee]

i went to pakistan when i was 2 years old that a long time ago (about 12 years go) never been there since looking to go there in the near future


Ummm, have you read the "state of emergency" thread?

[Plasma]

well i went last year but my mom did really let me go anywhere...

went to ISB and muree, and faislabad, but thats about it...

Pakistan

Next time i go, i want to go to chitral and then Gilgit. Also abbottabad, Karachi (no, i haven't been there yet), Multan, swat, and Kashmir.

India
Never been there so...: Mumbai, agra, and a very low key town that is not know by many...

[traveller007]

where would you like to visit?

In Pakistan: I'd like to go to Gilgit, Hunza and Swat areas (done the cap cities in the four provinces, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi, as well as Islamabad and Faisalabad).

In India: been to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and now would love to go to Bangalore, and Darjeeling as well as "occupied Kashmir" Srinagar and Gulmerg.

Indians on the forum: how easy is it to travel to, and around, those parts of Kashmir?
In the recent years it is much more relaxed, not that much security, much better as compared to 5 years back. I heard the tourist business has picked up in "Kashmir" , and Gulmerg and Sonmerg are just beautiful. Darjeeling has its own northeastern charm, Bangalore is a cool place too, Kerala even better.

[JammydodgA]

'Home' (Azad Kashmir) would be a good start. :D

After that anywhere but Lahore, Islamabad and Muree would be nice.

[PlanetPakistan]

Faisalabad

[Plasma]

Faisalabad
booooring... :37: :37: :37: :37:

[anand99]

Frankly I wouldn't want anyone who is too caught up in the kashmir issue to even visit india. If you feel its occupied then why even go to India. Stay out.

[MarathaPride]

where would you like to visit?

In Pakistan: I'd like to go to Gilgit, Hunza and Swat areas (done the cap cities in the four provinces, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi, as well as Islamabad and Faisalabad).

In India: been to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and now would love to go to Bangalore, and Darjeeling as well as "occupied Kashmir" Srinagar and Gulmerg.

Indians on the forum: how easy is it to travel to, and around, those parts of Kashmir?

Hey filosofee..I am surprised you didnt list Mumbai as a place you visited..you should go there next time...you can advantage of everything from a seriously great party scene/night life to food and drink from around the world :)

Warning: you will get annoyed will the fake-ness level over there..everybody tries to act "ultra-modern"...other than that you will enjoy

[Toony™®]

murree is just a hillstation..but can see the foot of the himalayas from there.

It will be cold and scenic but also sludgy!

[Shahid A]

chaksfarri

[lahori]

I am visiting Lahore for 3 weeks in December, it will be a lot of fun! The best part is arriving at the airport, it always makes me chuckle when I see how unorganized and informal everything is compared to the states. But that's part of the package of visiting Pakistan.

[iZeeshan]

Well, I am going to Agra this December.

I would love to visit Swat and Mari in Pakistan.

[akram_rejuvinated]

India: NEW DELHI!!! Kotla (my grandparents have a huge farm there), Kaziranga (went there in 1994 and loved it), Jim Corbet (tiger census!), Sariska, Madhurai, Badrinath, Rishikesh, Gangotri, Dharamshalla, Kulu, Dalhousie, Guhwati etc

Pakistan: Islamabad, Gilgit, and open to suggestions.

[Daoud]

Pakistan: The actual Northern areas - basically anything beyond Murree, Ayubia etc, Azad Kashmir
India - Agra, Hyderabad, Kurnool (some place near Hyderabad where my ancestral home is)

[Joseph K.]

Check out this guy's travel journal. He has been to 63 countries including most of Pakistan. There are hundreds of photos in there:

http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/2fec8/


In my days, I used to trek from the ancient Buddhist Monastery/ University of Julian (near Taxila) to Islamabad. A trek of good ten hours through some very difficult terrain totally avoiding all roads etc. From distance it looks like only one mountain but once you start crossing them, they keep on rising one after the other till you lose hope and then the sight of Faisal Mosque leads you to your destiny. It should be easier in this age of GPS navigation. We didn't even have a compass. Just follow your nose to the south, south-east!

[Joseph K.]

Honestly guys (and gals!), you don't know what you are missing. Behind the Faisal Mosque, just climb the Margallah hill and follow your nose to the West, North-West and you will end up somewhere on the Haripur Road after around 10 hours, take a Suzuki to Taxila and from there climb the roof of a bus going to Hasanabdal along with other students. Only there you can find and enjoy the best fried fish in the whole blinking world. A monk from the monastry of Julian passed this ancient Budhist secret to me and I am publishing it here fore the general benefit of mankind. Your search ends here!

[Joseph K.]

Oh memories. Once you have eaten your share of 2 kilos of fried fish, I'd advise you not be tempted to climb any more hills although the one in Hasanabdal with a shrine on top is very tempting but I can tell you it is darker there when you go up close and start climbing its steep side. Then the sound of some stone that rolled off your feet and fell deep down below in the ravine making the ominous 'kerrrraaaaang' sound, that is the sure signal to turn back. Turn back but don't climb over the wall of that once-famous haunted house on Mall Road, Wah, to explore some ghosts because last time I checked it, they have turned it into a branch of National Bank and that guard is alive but he is Pathan and doesn't know much Urdu. I guess he'll let his gun do the talking. The ghosts have departed. How much adventure can you stuff in one day? Who says Pakistan is boring? Have you ever seen a 'gergoh' lump out its massive body from under a rock and run heavily across your way? It is not a commodo dragon, a bit smaller but still big enough to make you look for a diaper. My brother met a man in those hills whose one arm was torn off by a mountain leopard when he tried to rescue his goat. Yes those hills are exciting. Places can't be boring, only people can be.

[Plasma]

Oh memories. Once you have eaten your share of 2 kilos of fried fish, I'd advise you not be tempted to climb any more hills although the one in Hasanabdal with a shrine on top is very tempting but I can tell you it is darker there when you go up close and start climbing its steep side. Then the sound of some stone that rolled off your feet and fell deep down below in the ravine making the ominous 'kerrrraaaaang' sound, that is the sure signal to turn back. Turn back but don't climb over the wall of that once-famous haunted house on Mall Road, Wah, to explore some ghosts because last time I checked it, they have turned it into a branch of National Bank and that guard is alive but he is Pathan and doesn't know much Urdu. I guess he'll let his gun do the talking. The ghosts have departed. How much adventure can you stuff in one day? Who says Pakistan is boring? Have you ever seen a 'gergoh' lump out its massive body from under a rock and run heavily across your way? It is not a commodo dragon, a bit smaller but still big enough to make you look for a diaper. My brother met a man in those hills whose one arm was torn off by a mountain leopard when he tried to rescue his goat. Yes those hills are exciting. Places can't be boring, only people can be.

Wah, kya post hai

You made me even more excited to go to Pakistan. Can't wait, not sure when my trip will be though...

[Joseph K.]

You think you are the only one excited? I can't sleep! I have done some exciting things in my life. You've got to be an absolute nutter when you are young. Don't hold it back because it would not last long. I wanted to feel the history of my land under my feet. I actually did feel that I stood on the same rocks and boulders where Alexander stationed his soldiers, I drank from the same springs. At a very young age I could visualise our Raja Ambhi laying his royal crown at Alexander's arrogant young feet just to destroy his neighbor, Porus. Then there were the ancient Buddhist monks and Sher Shah Soori and his 'road'. All places are exciting if you know a bit about them.

[Plasma]

You think you are the only one excited? I can't sleep! I have done some exciting things in my life. You've got to be an absolute nutter when you are young. Don't hold it back because it would not last long. I wanted to feel the history of my land under my feet. I actually did feel that I stood on the same rocks and boulders where Alexander stationed his soldiers, I drank from the same springs. At a very young age I could visualise our Raja Ambhi laying his royal crown at Alexander's arrogant young feet just to destroy his neighbor, Porus. Then there were the ancient Buddhist monks and Sher Shah Soori and his 'road'. All places are exciting if you know a bit about them.

quite some adventures you had, really want to experience all this stuff as well. Next time i go to Pakistan, i'm probably gonna go on a trip around Pakistan to experience all this stuff. Most likely after the 2011 World cup...

just hope i actually get to do all this stuff...

[IMD Walrus]

In the recent years it is much more relaxed, not that much security, much better as compared to 5 years back. I heard the tourist business has picked up in "Kashmir" , and Gulmerg and Sonmerg are just beautiful. Darjeeling has its own northeastern charm, Bangalore is a cool place too, Kerala even better.

Except Darjeeling isn't in the north-east.

As for occupied Kashmir, it'd be easier going there from the Pak side.

[Joseph K.]

Except Darjeeling isn't in the north-east.

As for occupied Kashmir, it'd be easier going there from the Pak side.

Some implicit and explicitly hostile remarks from our good ol' neighbours on this thread. Their general suggestion seems to be
Stay out.
which brings me back to my argument. Just get off the beaten track and you'll find some wonderful things in Pakistan. I live in UK and I have explored areas here. Yes it is beautiful, no doubt, still it is not exciting.

[filosofee]

Honestly guys (and gals!), you don't know what you are missing. Behind the Faisal Mosque, just climb the Margallah hill and follow your nose to the West, North-West and you will end up somewhere on the Haripur Road after around 10 hours, take a Suzuki to Taxila and from there climb the roof of a bus going to Hasanabdal along with other students. Only there you can find and enjoy the best fried fish in the whole blinking world. A monk from the monastry of Julian passed this ancient Budhist secret to me and I am publishing it here fore the general benefit of mankind. Your search ends here!


I've done the climbing up Margalla Hills but car'd it to Taxila! Your trip sounds awesome, would love to try it one year.

Have you been to Patriata beyond Murree? I love the view as you cable-car from hill-top to hill-top.

[Joseph K.]

I've done the climbing up Margalla Hills but car'd it to Taxila! Your trip sounds awesome, would love to try it one year.

Have you been to Patriata beyond Murree? I love the view as you cable-car from hill-top to hill-top.

Yes I have (don't forget I am a native!) It was nice in winter. I find Muree boring. Maybe if I could come off that blasted road and lose myself in the woods with no sense of direction.

[traveller007]

Except Darjeeling isn't in the north-east.

As for occupied Kashmir, it'd be easier going there from the Pak side.
I think Darjeeling is in the north eastern part of bengal and in India that area and area east to it is called north east. Of course its easy to go to occupied Kashmir from Pak side, 'cuz its right there.

Having said that I would love to visit Taxila, Karakoram Range, Swat, Peshwar , Lahore etc. someday...

[Boi]

Ummm, have you read the "state of emergency" thread?

i said in the neart future and probably wen the 'halaat' of pakistan will get better

[W63L35]

In India: been to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and now would love to go to Bangalore, and Darjeeling as well as "occupied Kashmir" Srinagar and Gulmerg.

Wow...filosofee! These are ALL the spots I would like to visit in India....with one more place that you have not listed....Fatehpur Seekri. Never been to India....but would certainly love to go there sometimes in life because my Grand-father grew up in Srinagar/Jammu area.

[IMD Walrus]

Some implicit and explicitly hostile remarks from our good ol' neighbours on this thread. Their general suggestion seems to be

which brings me back to my argument. Just get off the beaten track and you'll find some wonderful things in Pakistan. I live in UK and I have explored areas here. Yes it is beautiful, no doubt, still it is not exciting.

Not really. By all means come and visit India.

[Genghis]

Just came back from India ... spent time in Delhi, around UP, and Hyderabad. Hyderabad was good fun (in terms of eating out with everything being Halal). Insha allah hope to make a trip to Pak late next year.

[filosofee]

i said in the neart future and probably wen the 'halaat' of pakistan will get better


Actually, I'd like to go now, my hubby's in Lahore. Anyone else feel like getting on the first flight and doing something?

[filosofee]

Wow...filosofee! These are ALL the spots I would like to visit in India....with one more place that you have not listed....Fatehpur Seekri. Never been to India....but would certainly love to go there sometimes in life because my Grand-father grew up in Srinagar/Jammu area.


Fatehpur Seekri is not far from Agra. I loved India, stayed with a very lovely Hindu family in New Friends Colony in New Delhi. They were originally, before partition, from Lyallpur/Faisalabad and are friends of relatives in Lahore.