If you are planning a trip to Pakistan, you probably already know that there are hundreds of great places to visit and things to do. Narrowing down your list to just a few can be difficult. How do you know what you absolutely have to do or see, whether this is your first visit to Pakistan, or your tenth? Here are the top five must-see attractions in this beautiful country:
- Badashahi Masjid – This mosque, located in Lahore, is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is also one of the largest, and one of the most historical. It was built in between 1672 and 1674, of marble and sandstone, and has been decorated with some of the most intricate Islamic calligraphy, beautifully preserved within the walls of the mosque.
- Qila Rohtas – This fort was built in the mid-1500s, and still stands today as one of the most impressive examples of that period’s architecture. It was used as a base for Sher Shah Suri’s military campaigns, which will fascinate anyone interested in history. The design is not unique to region, but it is very different from buildings, forts, and castles built in other locations at the same time period, making this fort a great glimpse into the culture of the region at the time of its construction.
- Taxila – When it was first built, in the fifth century BCE, it was used as a place of learning. Over the centuries to follow, Taxila, in the Punjab province, went through many different stages, and though it now stands as a ruined monument to the region’s history, it now plays home to a variety of different construction styles, from Persian, to Greek, and beyond, and is widely considered to be one of the most important archeological sites in the world.
- Mohenjo-daro – This is one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world and is a great place to explore. Its name literally means “mound of the dead,” and the maze of rooms, walkways, and common spaces reveal just how advanced and complex the society that inhabited this part of the world was.
- Kalash Valley – Pakistan is home to many different beautiful natural attractions, but one of the very best is the Kalash Valley. With villages built into the sides of mountains and plenty of green space to explore, this valley is definitely worth a visit.