VISIT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES OF PAKISTAN
Tour Duration : 11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS

Day 01: Islamabad
Arrival at Islamabad airport, meet, assist and transfer to the hotel.
PM city sightseeing of Islamabad.
We will begin at the old city of Rawalpindi, at the Raja (King) Bazaar. A stop in the silver and gold bazaars will allow us to catch traditional craftsmen at work. We will then continue on the main street linking the Twin cities – Murree Road – before arriving at the gleaming new capital. We pass shining new buildings and thousands of park areas – a full 50 percent of the 350 square mile site is set aside for parks. We will then stop at the Shakar Parian, ” Sweet Hills” to catch a bird’s eye view of Islamabad. Our next stop will be Shah Faisal Mosque, which is the landmark of Islamabad.
Overnight at the hotel.(Breakfast only)

Day 02: Islamabad – Taxila – Swat
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Swat en route visitng Taxila.
Taxila, situated 35 miles from Rawalpindi, was once the seat of Oriental culture. It was first mentioned as a satrapy of the Archemenian Empire in 6th century B.C. It was invaded by Alexander the Great and passed along to other rulers un till finally reaching the hands of Ashoka the Great, who moulded the city into a center of learning. The creative Gandha ra period followed shortly thereafter and Taxila remained the center of learning, philosophy and art. It came to a disastrous and pathetic end when sacked by the White Huns. Today, Taxila is an archaeologist’s paradise: there is a well – maintained museum here and eight sites scattered around a very short radius. Amongst the best preserved are Sirkap, Jaulian (the University).
Arrive at Swat and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast only)

Day 03: Swat – Madyan / Behrain – Swat
Breakfast at the hotel. AM Visit Jahanabad and Madyan/ Bahrain. 35 miles north of Saidu Sharif is the charming town of Madyan, lying at an elevation of 4336 ft. The town borders the Swat River and trout fishing is a favorite pastime. 6 miles further north is the town of Bahrain, whose precarious wire bridge and fabulous woodcarving makes it a must. PM visit Butkara/ Saidu stupas/ Museum and Bazzar. Butkara – the remains of one of the most important Buddhist shrines in the valley. This
site consists of a main stupa around which jostle 215 votive stupas in apparently glorious disarray. The main stupa was believed to contain some ashes of Lord Buddha and to have been built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. It is difficult to imagine it as it must have been once, all painted and gilded and topped by stone umbrellas. You can still see the statue of lions crouching on their haunches. They probably fell off the tops of the tall columns which once stood near the stupa. Then you will visit Mingo ra Bazaar, which is the commercial center well – worth visiting,
for there you will find emeralds for which Swat is famous. Then continue to Murghazar here you will behold the old white palace constructed from white marble and adorned with ornate carvings.
The Museum in Saidu Sharif has a large collection of Gandharan sculptures collected from some of the buddhist sites in Swat.In the ethnographic section there is some local embroidery, carved wood and tribal jewelry. There are also a few coins on display.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast only)

Day 04: Swat – Nimogram / Udegram – Swat
Breakfast at the hotel. AM Visit Nimogram.
Nimogram is impressive, and the drive there both beautiful and archaeologically interesting. Nimogram is unique in that it has three main stupas, one of Buddha he teacher, one for Dharma (the Buddhist doctrine) and one for Sangha (the Buddhist Order), the three principles, or jewels, of Buddhism. Surrounding the main stupas are a number of votive stupas, and nearby is an unexcavated monastery site. Much superb sculpture was found at Nimogram, most of which is now in the Swat Museum at Saidu Sharif. PM visit Udigram.The site of countless battles fought or control of the Swat Valley. The town flourished from the 4th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D., and harbored the armies of Alexander the Great, Mahmud of Ghazni and Raja Gira.
Overnight at the hotel.(Breakfast only)

Day 05: Swat – Takhtbai – Peshawar
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Peshawar en route visiting Takhtbai. Shahbaz Gadi is 40 miles from Peshawar on the ancient route to India. Here lie the ruins of a Buddhist monastery dating back to the 2nd century B.C. A few miles further on lie the ruins of another monastery, Takht-Bahi, situated 500 feet high on a rocky spur. This site, dating back to 45 A.D. has produced sculptures in stone and stucco that are uniquely arranged on small shrines that surround the main stupa. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.(Breakfast only)

Day 06: Peshawar – Lahore
Breakfast at the hotel. AM city sightseeing tour of Peshawar.
We begin by visiting the rich museum of Peshawar, which houses treasures of the Gandhara period. Proceed to old Peshawar through the Kabuli Gate – one of the sixteen – to the Qissa Khawani bazaar, “the street of story tellers”, and witness unusual and unforgettable sights. We will also visit the coppersmith’s bazaar, which flourished from the 1st century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. Continue to Mahabat Khan’s mosque, built in 1670 by the Governor of Peshawar under Moghal Emperor Shah Jahan. Our tour will pass by Balar Hisar Fort, built by Babar in 1526 – 30, and rebuilt by Hari Singh Nalva, under the guidance of French engineers in 1830.
PM transfer to the airport for your flight to Lahore. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel (Breakfast only)

Day 07: Lahore
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day city sightseeing tour of Lahore.
Our tour includes visit to Lahore Fort, a marvel of Moghal architecture begun in the 11 th century and completed finally by the end of the 16th century. Amongst the Emperors who contributed to its splendor are Emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. We will visit the beautiful palace of Mirrors, Shah Jahan’s Quadrangle and the Pearl Mosque. Overlooking the Fort is the Badshahi mosque – the world’s largest – and it is our next stop. It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. Pakistan’s famous poet-philosopher, Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, lies buried outside the mosque. We will drive to the National Museum which contains one of the finest collections of
Buddhist Art from the Gandhara period.Here one is able to view the original Fasting Buddha statue. In front of the museum is the Zam – Zama, the gun immortalized by Rudyard Kipling and the campus of the Punjab University. We will also visit the Town Hall, a yellow building with bulbous silver domes. We drive through Lahore’s crowded streets to the Shalimar Gardens, designed by Ali
Mardan of Persia and set out in the Persian style with marble pavilions, a marble waterfall and more than 400 fountains in an area of 42 acres. Emperor Shah Jahan ordered the construction of this “Garden of Heaven” in 1642. Next we proceed to the Anarkali Bazaar, named after a pretty dancer named Anarkali who was put to death by Emperor Akbar for having an affair with Prince Salim,who later became Emperor Jehangir. We will also visit Wazir Khan’s Mosque, constructed under the stewardship of the Governor in 1643, and Jahangir’s tomb.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast only)

Day 08: Lahore – Harappa – Multan
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Multan en route visiting Harappa.
Harappa is on the bank of the Ravi River situated 140 miles from Lahore, and is a very important archaeological site. The houses unearthed were constructed with baked bricks set in mud or mortar. Every house had a well, and amazing sewage and drain facilities, indicating that the inhabitants were well versed in Town Planning. One building of particular beauty has six inter – connecting halls approximately 52″ x 17″ wide, with a wooden floor and it was used to store grains. The famous Chinese religious historian, Hieun Tsiang, remained here for two months since Harappa had four Buddhist stupas and twelve monasteries. It also had over twenty Hindu temples. The city was destroyed during an 8th century Arab invasion.Continue drive to Multan.
Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast only)

Day 09: Multan – Karachi
After breakfast half day city tour of Multan.
Visit the old Fort, Shrine of Hazrat Rukne Alam, and the colorful Bazaar full of local handicrafts.
PM transfer to airport for your flight to Karachi.
Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast only)

Day 10: Karachi – Thatta – Karachi
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for full day Thatta excursion.
Thatta is an ancient town whose history dates back to Alexander the Great, who used the town to rest his weary troops. Founded in the 15th century, it was used by the Moghuls as the capital of Sind. It is rumored that at this time upto 400 institutions of learning flourished. Some outstanding Moghul ruins, such as the Shahi Masjid, form the core of the religious and historical monuments preserved. The Makli Hills is an ancient necropolis containing up to a million graves spread over an area of six miles. The geometric and floral designs carved upon the stone tombs help identify the different eras and their dynasties, and reveal many a secret of the gone days. We will also visit the archaeological site of Bhanbore, whose network of streets and narrow lanes associate it
with the legendary city of Debal.
Drive back to Karachi
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast only)

Day 11: Karachi – Mohenjodaro – Karachi
After breakfast proceed for full day Moenjodaro Excursion.
Moenjodaro – The “Mound of the Dead “, is situated about 563 Kms (350 miles) from Karachi on the Super Highway via Dadu. It is one of the world’s oldest civilizations, dating as far back as 2000 B.C., and only the Egyptian and Mesopotanian Civilizations precede it in age. This archaeological wonder was discovered in 1922, and subsequent excavations show it to be divided into two parts: the upper & the lower. The Archaeological Museum in Moenjodaro is definitely worth a visit. It had mud – brick and baked – brick buildings, an elaborate covered drainage system with
soak – pits for disposal bins a spacious pillared hall a college of priests a large and imposing building (Probably a palace) and a citadel mound which incorporates in its margin a system of solid burnt brick towers. Efforts are being made to save the ruins from crumbling due to rising water table. Farewell dinner after all the fun and excitement. Its time to say goodbye to each other
with a wish to meeting again at some other Walji’s tour program in future.
Overnight at the hotel. (Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 12: Karachi
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to airport for home bound flight.
(Breakfast only)

Cost