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Inter-Cultural Arts Exchange

Ancient Culture of a Young Nation

Islamabad - Day 1
After clearing Customs & Immigration, you are met at the exit gate by our representative for the transfer to the hotel. Afternoon tour includes the Shakarparian Garden, which gives us a magnificent view of Islamabad before driving past various modern government buildings, graceful with a touch of Islamic design and architecture. Next visit is to one of the world's largest mosque, named after the lake King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, the mosque also houses an Islamic University specializing in Islamic Philosophy and Law.

Islamabad - Taxila - Swat - Day 2
Morning brief tour of the old garrison town of Rawalpindi and the new, planned capital of Islamabad. Visit the ancient village of Saidpur, and stop at the Institute of Folk Heritage, a small, neatly decorated ethnological museum displaying numerous costumes and artifacts from all over Pakistan. Afternoon depart for Taxila, once the seat of oriental culture. It is famous for the rare specimens of stucco from the Gandhara period excavated from Sirkap and various Buddhist Stupas & Monasteries. The museum houses various objects and sculptures dating from the 4th century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. The excations are spread out over and area of 8 km. Continue on to Swat Valley. Saidu Sharif is the capital city of the Swat Valley. It is named after the Moslem divinity, Saidu.

Swat - Day 3
Morning visit to the Swat Museum which has a rich collection of Gandhara Art obtained from sites in the region. Just 3 km from Saidu Sharif is Mingora, the commercial centre of Swat. Also visit the bazaar & the Islampur weaver's village, where we will get an insight into the traditional and rural life of the Swatis. This village has a very highly developed traditional weaving industry using traditional textile, designs and local materials. Most of the embroidery consist of small circular mirrors woven into the design making it a unique piece of cloth. Swat is also well known for the woolen shawls.

Afternoon visit Madyan. This picturesque city lies in an enchanting setting of steep wooded hills, popular for its scenic beauty which is reputed to be the best in the entire Swat Valley. Next stop is Bahrain, a market town in the upper valley. We'll have time here to wander down the main street, stopping in the various shops to admire the fine woven fabrics. This is an excellent place to purchase some of the fabrics or a traditional Swati vest and hat. The people of Bahrain are famous for their woodcarving, and looking around the town we can see some beautiful door handles, windows and tables.

Swat - Peshwar - Day 4
Morning depart for Peshawar with enroute stops at Takht-e-Bhai, a monastery from Buddhist times & Charsadda - identified as ancient Pushkalavati, the pre-Kushan capital of Gandhara. During the Buddhist period it was the capital of the province and according to Buddhist legends, was the place where Lord Buddha preached his faith.

Peshwar - Day 5
Set in a valley of colours and flowers, this legendary city has many secrets. Her story is one of many cultures, peoples, traditions and customs that even today the aura of oriental romance and mystery has been preserved. This morning a trip to the historic Khyber Pass. The Pass has been the silent witness to countless great events in the history of mankind. It has been conquered by the Greeks, ruled by the Buddhists, destroyed by the Huns, rebuilt by the Brahmins and still later invaded by the great Moghuls. It is reputed that the army of Alexander the Great of Macedonia crossed this pass in 327 B.C.

Peshwar - Lahore - Day 6
Morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of Peshawar. The Peshawar Museum houses a rich treasure of art, sculpture and historical relics dating from the Gandhara period (300 BC to 300 AD) to modern times. After a visit to the museum,we journey to Yadgar Square and visit Mahabat Khan Mosque, a beautiful towering structure with lofty minarets. We then be driven through old Peshawar to the popular Qissa Khawani Bazaar (street of story-tellers), the Peshawar Pottery Works, Bater Bazaar (street of partridge lovers) and Mochi Lara, famous for its exquisitely embroidered sandals. Peshawar is a colorful and cosmopolitan city and many different peoples gather here; afghans, Iranis, Uzbeks, Tajeks, Afridis and Shinwaris all add to the excitement. Afternoon transfer for flight to Lahore - the cultural & Mogul capital of Pakistan.

Lahore - Day 7
Morning visit to Badshahi Mosque, one of the largest in Pakistan. Built in 1674, it is an example of some of the finest Mughal architecture. Beside it, the massive walls of Lahore Fort tower over old Lahore. We'll visit several of the pavilions, including Shish Mahal, the "Palace of Mirrors", built by Shah Jahan in 1631 as private apartments for his empress. Surrounding a main hall are many smaller rooms where intricately latticed windows look out over the riverbed. Afternoon visit Shalimar Gardens, also built by the Moghuls but still much enjoyed and appreciated today, the museum, which houses the famous statue of the Fasting Buddha. In front of the main building is Kim's Gun. Immortalized by Rudyard Kipling, this was the gun he used to play on as a young boy when his father was the director of the museum.

Lahore - Multan - Day 8
Morning depart for Multan via Harappa, the site of an ancient and important settlement of the prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization (3rd to 2nd millennium B.C.) and stands witness to the 5000 year old cultural continuity of civilization in Pakistan. Harrappa was the cradle of one of the earliest civilizations known to man and conjures up images of fifty centuries ago, a period about which very little is known. An interesting and well maintained museum at the Harrappa site houses artifacts found in the area.

Multan - Day 9
Morning visit the Old Fort of Multan an eloquent example of the proud history of this city. Among the attractions inside the fort are the elaborately decorated shrines of Sheikh Bahauddin Zakria, Shah Shams Sabzwaria and Shah Rukh-e-Alams Damdamal, the highest point in the fort, provides a bird's-eye panoramic view of the city, which has survived the destructions of invaders since Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C.

Multan - Bhwalpur- Day 10
Drive to the Cholistan Desert oasis of Bhawalpur. Afternoon tour this historic settlement where feudalism still prevails. Tour includes Sadiq Garh Palace and the mighty Noor Mahal, once the State House. Bahawalpur is noted for its delicate pottery and exquisite embroidery

Sukkur - Day 11
Morning excursion to Moenjodaro, the premier site of the Indus Valley civilization. The city thrived from 3000 to 1700 B.C., contemporary with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Few of the cities from this civilization, which stretched from modern Kabul to Delhi, have been excavated, and what little we know of this vibrant culture comes from the work done at Moenjodaro and Harappa, 340 miles to the north. The ruins are set in semi-wasteland, and are constructed of baked red bricks covered with fine, thick dust. The architecture is unusual and alien, and the sense of history and past grandeur is very strong. The city was planned with wide avenues and streets set in square or rectangular blocks, with an elaborate and effective system of waste drainage which has excited much interest. There were public buildings, baths, granaries, colleges, palaces, houses and shops. Moenjodaro had diverse industries and trade links with other cultures such as Mesopotamia, Persia, China, Tibet and Burma.

Sukkur - Karachi - Day 12
Morning we are transferred to the airport for flight to Karachi. An afternoon tour of Karachi visits Dhobi Ghat, an incredible outdoor laundry stretching as far as the eye can see; the National Museum and the tomb of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan. Built entirely of white marble, the mausoleum has an impressive dome with a huge crystal chandelier of Chinese origin.

Karachi - Day 13
Morning transfer to the airport for the departure flight.

• All land transport
• Accomodations, dble occ, first class category in major cities; best available elsewhere
• Local English speaking guide
• Airport transfers
• Entrance fees to museums and sites
  

Package Does Not Include

• Airport departure taxes
• Tips
• Insurance
• Visa Fees
• Any expenses of a personal nature such as phone, laundry, drinks