7 weeks in Pakistan

PeakXV

Thanks Conor, I will try the Pak forum. I know VV had a good experience there in December. However, I've spoken to a number of Karachi natives in Toronto over the past several months and they all have tried to discourage me from attempting travel there. So just seeing if anyone else has spent a 1-2 weeks in the interior? Unfortunately Karachi does seems to be a bit of a hot bed for Al Qaeda and that is something I will have to factor in.

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mani

I am an indian with roots in pakistan.

My grandparents maternal & Paternal were from karachi, My maternal gradfather was a doctor and my maternal grandmother was one of the few women to study in college and get jailed during the freedom struggle. They lost everthing in the partition came to india and built a new life raised families that now span the globe. But they still hoped that one day they will be able to see their birthplace again. unfortunately they could never return due to the mess between N delhi + Islamabad.

I hope one day to visit karachi and sind province to hyderabad, thatta, dadu.... etc to see the places they told me stories about ... the places that are a part of my heritage.

But I am an indian hindu woman and the chances of me getting a visa to travel to pakistan are zero. But I hope against hope.

regards
Mani

TimMakins

Sindh - ah yes, that reminds me of the famous quotation reputedly attributed to Sir Charles James Napier, a British general who in 1843 won a number of major battles in the then Indian province of Sindh. He telegraphed the latin word 'Peccavi' to the British War Office, which translates as "I have sinned," or in his case, "I have Sindh."

Tim in England

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Karan321

you could try during the next cricket series there. They have a quota for Indian visitors during that period. I was in Karachi a few months back for a conference and the hospitality is unparraleled.

New-South-Welshman

I'm probably just "soft", but I'd find myself uncomfortable travelling in an strict Islamic country like Pakistan. The thig I like about travelling in India is that you don't know what to expect, and you can find aspects of every religion. But who knows, maybe one day I will travel to Pakistan and I might find something I fall in love with.

bijapuri

WEHT Pakistan forum, and Volga Volga?
can't seem to find the forum . . . .

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machadinha

It's here: http://p078.ezboard.com/bpakistantravelforum

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wonderwomanusa

Long ago, I travelled by land from Europe to India. That journey included Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan -- four Islamic countries in a row. For the most part, people were very nice to me and I had a great time. Just because a country is 99% Muslim doesn't mean there are no surprises!

bijapuri

thanx! glad to see it's still there

bijapuri

Peak . . . what's the attraction to Sindh?

is there a hockey team there, or what ?

I know- I bet they have hand-made sabres . . .

PeakXV

.... only because I've never Sindh before.

Seriously though I found Ondaatje's Sindh Revisited work quite fascinating and very enticing. The province is steeped in history, a little(alot?) dangerous, some rare art/architecture ..... & Yes! as Ondaatje's "quest within a quest" discovers many vintage sabres.

erin_zita

Mercedes10,
You said you were in Pakistan in February. Where do you visit? I am trying to decide whether to go next Feb as part of my RTW trip. I really wanted to visit the northern areas (Karimabad etc )but think it is going to be too cold. How did you find the weather?

I think Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar will be warmer but do you think it is worth visiting Pakistan just for those places (considering the price of visa and letter of recommendation from Uk embassy if I get the visa in India)?

Any advice would be appreciated- I can't make up my mind whether to go or not! Thanks.

Shiver me Timbers

Forget Islamabad (horrible place IMO), but Peshawar and Lahore are two amazing places, well worth the trouble. If you're in Lahore, you should also make the trip down to Multan, which I've heard is also a great place....

February I'd imagine would be very cold along the KKH, but that said, I think the road would be open........

IndeGuru

Dont know what to say of this..but if its true then travellers beware!

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/20pak.htm

Nick-H

I don't think this has anything to do with travellers. It is all about American foreign policy and international politics.

It is not news, even to the less-well-informed of us (which certainly includes me), that Pakistan is a military dictatorship armed with nuclear weapons and that there are extremists and terrorists.