Strategically situated between
India,
China,
Afghanistan and
Iran,
Pakistan follows the
Indus River down from the spectacular mountain ranges in the north (which include the world's second highest peak, K2) to the
Arabian Sea. The river passes through the fertile provinces of
Punjab and Sindh in the east and south. The southwest of Pakistan consists of the arid plateau of
Baluchistan. The major cities of
Karachi, the capital
Islamabad,
Lahore and
Rawalpindi are all situated in the lowlands of the Indus valley.
The nation of Pakistan itself may be relatively new, but the Indus region has
hosted civilization for thousands of years and the country has a rich culture and fascinating history from
Alexander the Great to the heyday of the Silk Route, with the lucrative trade between China, India and the Roman empire; and rivalries between Hindu and Islamic dynasties and later the British Empire.
Life in the bustling southern cities is a mix of ancient tradition and modern technology, where shoppers haggle in colorful bazaars and craftsmen ply their trade, while others tuck into hot and spicy treats at street restaurants, or take their ease at teahouses. Lahore, in particular, boasts some wonderful historic architecture with its pink and white marble buildings, and the beautiful Moghul-style Badshahi Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world - almost as magnificent as the
Taj Mahal in India.
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