A view inside Lahore Fort

A view inside Lahore Fort with 2 Minarets of Badshahi Mosque

Mosque Wazir Khan

The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.
Since 1642.... More then 350 Years Old Mosque

Delhi Gate, Lahore

• Delhi Gate, Lahore

Badshahi Mosque

Front view of Badshahi mosque from the footsteps of Lahore Fort's gate.

Kalash Valley, Pakistan

Kalash Valley, Pakistan.

This was my first travel photography trip and my first ever shot taken from an analogue Nikon f65.
Here is something i wrote about this trip.

The jeep’s tire slipped off a tiny rock as it moved further towards the valley of Kalash. The road was all rocky with a narrow drive way. It made me sense fear as I looked thousands of feet down through the window which was covered with the December mist. I wiped it off with my hands to stare right through in the eyes of this developing fear. I know it will not last for long. I moved ahead. My destination arrived and I parked my jeep in a beautiful pathway of a wooden lodge. The journey began as I threw my bag on the bed and walked out of my room.
I took out my camera and gently removed the tiny dust particles from the lens with a soft cloth which I always kept in my bag. The wind was blowing, but I could see little raindrops on the green leaves but all this with a bright sun to put an icing on the cake for me to capture yet another master piece of nature. I walked further to get hold of my favorite snap shot. I could smell the wet mud. It took away all the tiredness that the long drive gave me. Passing by I plucked a cherry red apple from a tree branch which was inclined towards the ground. I helped my self with a little jump. Oh there I heard something, there was a bunch of young girls singing merrily and dancing in their traditional dresses. Unaware of the norms of this particular region, I did not know if I could intervene. I sat behind a rock n saw them while I took a bite of this sweet and juicy fruit. The colors in their attire were pleasing to my eyes. I took out my zoom lens and focused them capturing what I could see from there. Suddenly someone covered my eyes with both hands. I tried to remove them and could feel softness on the skin. I made my grip loosen a bit. I did not want to hurt her. She removed her hands and asked me to give the fruit. A young girl, not more than five years old, really brought a smile on my face. She ran away with the apple humming that joyous tune. For a moment I wished to be that kid with a blissful gesture on my face and watched her run away as she disappeared in meadows covered with a lush green canopy of leaves.

Yamdrok Tso Lake, Tibet

The Himalaya Range is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. By extension, it is also the name of the massive mountain system which includes the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and a host of minor ranges extending from the Pamir Knot. The name is from Sanskrit himālaya, a tatpurusa compound meaning "the abode of snow" (from hima "snow", and ālaya "abode"; see also Himavat). 

Together, the Himalayan mountain system is the planet's highest and home to the world's highest peaks: the Eight-thousanders, including Mount Everest and K2. To comprehend the enormous scale of this mountain range consider that Aconcagua, in the Andes, at 6,962 m, is the highest peak outside Asia, while the Himalayan system includes over 100 mountains exceeding 7,200 meters.

The Himalayan system, which includes outlying subranges, stretches across six countries: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are the source of three of the world's major river systems, the Indus, the Ganga-Brahmaputra, and the Yangtze. Approximately 1.3 billion people live in the drainage basin of the Himalayan rivers.

Tibet is a plateau region in Central Asia. With an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft), it is the highest region on Earth and is commonly referred to as the "Roof of the World."

Geographically, UNESCO and Encyclopædia Britannica consider Tibet to be part of Central Asia, while some academic organizations consider it part of South Asia.

Tibet is located on the Tibetan Plateau, the world's highest region. The world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, is on Nepal's border with Tibet. The average altitude is about 3,000 m in the south and 4,500 m in the north.

Several major rivers have their source in the Tibetan. These includeYangtze, Yellow River, Indus River, Mekong, Brahmaputra River, Ganges, Salween and the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Tibet has numerous high-altitude lakes referred to in Tibetan as tso or co. These include Lake Manasarovar, Namtso, Pangong Tso, Yamdrok Lake, Siling Co, Lhamo La-tso, Lumajangdong Co, Lake Puma Yumco, Lake Paiku, Lake Rakshastal, Dagze Co and Dong Co.

Pakistan Travel Guide

Pakistan encapsulates great variety, from hidden bazaars in the narrow 

streets of Rawalpindi to architecture that rivals the Taj Mahal in Lahore. 

It is a land enriched by friendly people and magnificent landscapes. 

Opportunity for adventure is as high as its mighty mountain ranges, 

with watersports, mountaineering and trekking all popular and rewarding 

activities.

Coupled with this is a profound sense of cultural concoction, Pakistan once 

being home to several ancient civilisations, and witness to the rise and fall 

of dynasties.In ancient times, the area that now comprises Pakistan marked 

the farthest reaches of the conquests of Alexander the Great. It was also the 

home of Buddhist Ghandaran culture. It was the independence of India in 1947 

that catalysed Pakistan's nationhood. Under pressure from Indian Muslims, the 

British created a separate Muslim state. Originally, it consisted of two parts, 

East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now a single unitary state).

Following military rule and civil war, Bangladesh became independent, truncating 

Pakistan. Today, the long-running Indo-Pakistan conflict continues, with the 

status of Kashmir at its heart. Although it has a majority Muslim population, 

Kashmir became part of India in 1947. Pakistan's landscape is as fractured and 

unsettled as its history.

Abbottabad

Abbottabad

Abbottabad is my native city also known as city of schools and city of pines all over the Pakistan and the city is located in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan and is the third-largest city in the province after Peshawar and Mardan. Major James Abbott wrote a beautiful poem about Abbottabad.

I remember the day when I first came here
And smelt the sweet Abbottabad air

The trees and ground covered with snow
Gave us indeed a brilliant show

To me the place seemed like a dream
And far ran a lonesome stream

The wind hissed as if welcoming us
The pine swayed creating a lot of fuss

And the tiny cuckoo sang it away
A song very melodious and gay

I adored the place from the first sight
And was happy that my coming here was right

And eight good years here passed very soon
And we leave our perhaps on a sunny noon

Oh Abbottabad we are leaving you now
To your natural beauty do I bow

Perhaps your winds sound will never reach my ear
My gift for you is a few sad tears

I bid you farewell with a heavy heart
Never from my mind will your memories thwart

View of Abbottabad

View of Abbottabad

Lahore fort

Lahore, Pakistan.

Lahore fort is a historical monument which has prints of various periods of history. This fort is mentioned in various travel logs, historical descriptions and archives. Like all historical cities Lahore also has an ancient background. During excavations in Lahore fort in 1959 AD remnants were found dating back to 2nd century BC. Further reference to the fort is traceable in connection with Shahab-u-din Ghauri’s (1180 AD- 1118 AD) successive invasions of Lahore. It was destroyed by Mongols In 1241 AD and rebuilt by Bulban in 1267 AD. Later on it was again destroyed by Amir Taimur’s army in 1831 AD and rebuilt in mud by Sultan Mubarik Shah in 1421 AD. Sheikh Mubarik Ali of Kabul carried out repairs to the fort in 1432 AD. Mughal emperor Akbar (1556 AD – 1605 AD) rebuilt the fort in solid brick masonary in about 1566 AD and extended its area towards the river Ravi which up till 1849 AD was flowing along its fortification in the north. Later Mughal emperors kept on adding magnificent buildings in the fort such as Shish Mehal, Dewan e Khas, Khwab gah etc. Lahore fort is inscribed on the world heritage list and a protected monument under Antiquity act 1975 which confirm its outstanding universal value.

Kashmir's Dream

Kashmir is the zone disputed between India, Pakistan and China.

Only minor edits were done, mostly for the contrasts. Colors are untouched.

A Gathering Around the Corner

The Journey Home - Pakistan

by ~mobeen

This is me going home to my country after a long time.. imagine it as if you've spent your entire childhood in one place.. then gone away for a long time, finally coming back with only your memories in mind
(btw this doesn't actually happen with me, i go home every year practically xD)



As I sat in the car coming from the airport, I got jostled around inside as it went over the cracked, bumpy, and uneven road. The plush leather interior of the Honda seemed so clean that it was like brand new! The seats seemed to mould to me naturally, but oddly; I found it slightly uncomfortable.

I stared out of the window at the things whizzing past my eyes, slowly starting to pinpoint individual objects. A green shrub, looking out of place in the almost deserted land. A man, walking just anywhere it seemed the cracked dusty path would take him. Surprisingly some small children appeared in the desolate wilderness, playing in their rags, laughing and enjoying themselves despite their woeful conditions. Just a few yards ahead, was a village with small little mud huts packed tightly together. Some chickens and goats were roaming around outside while large cows bellowed lazily in the marshes which appeared behind it. The noise was muffled slightly by the thick glass of the car window. I was transfixed by the sights outside and even more intrigued by the whole area, even though I had seen it many times before. My eyes followed the quaint village until it disappeared from my sight as we sped past.

A few yards on I could see signs of life. A tiny shop selling ice-cold bottles of coca-cola with water dripping off it in condensation. My mouth watered and I was reminded by the scorching heat that I would need a drink to satiate my own thirst soon. But we were nearly there now.

It seemed so sudden and almost comical that from a hot, dry wasteland where there was barely any sign of habitation you entered the city, teeming with life and full of traffic.
"BEEP!" The sound of a car or a truck horn sounded behind us but I didn't even bother to turn around and look at the impatient driver. By now I knew that people sounded their car horns for no reason, not necessarily if they were angry or upset, just out of habit. My driver was also doing his fair bit of honking at others and trying to squeeze the large car through impossibly small gaps in the traffic - so I couldn't really complain.

A strange feeling came over me as we wove through the traffic.
A true feeling of belonging. I smiled to myself inwardly at the thought that it almost felt as though the noise and traffic was welcoming me back. I rolled down the window eager to have some fresh air as it was getting stuffy in the car.

The smell of dust and one particular scent - which was hard to explain - hit me. It was the smell which comes after it had rained for a while. Kind of musty and dry. It was the smell I hadn't known for some time and I closed my eyes against the gentle breeze that wafted through the open window - trying to sort through all the memories that came with a rush along with the sights and sounds around me. We were on the canal road now, I could tell because the noise of traffic had ceased slightly so I opened my eyes again. As usual I could see the canal running parallel to the road. Such a familiar sight I was used to. Small boats were tied to the canal side for people to go in and have a ride down. Not that anyone actually WENT in them because the canal was filled with silt and dirt. Small scooters and motorcycles whizzed past the car, throwing fresh plumes of dust into the air. After that, I rolled up the window - there was after all only some smells which were bearable.

Finally the car turned into a smaller street and my heart started to thump loudly in anticipation. I looked around at the houses set apart from each other and saw a glimpse of The Park. A rush of memories came flooding back to me and played like a film in my mind. Me, as a small child, sliding down the rough granite ride, my mother there to catch me at the end, My brothers playing cricket with their friends and pausing occasionally to sip from a large glass of Rooh Afza provided by Bushra.

And then there it was. Large and magnificent, I was still awed by it. Flowers grew in neat plant pots on the veranda and the large iron-wrought gates had ivy climbing it. As i was carrying out my observation, they were opened from the inside and the car slowly pulled into the driveway. On either side, orange trees grew with a quite a large expanse of land beyond.
When the car finally came to a stop, I smiled again, outwardly this time, as I got out with my luggage in hand. Steadily I walked up towards the front porch when all I really wanted to do was to run to the front door and run into the welcoming arms of my family.

At that moment, I realised I had reached my final Destination.
I was where I truly belonged and deep down in my soul I felt the nature of this wondrous place welcome me with open arms.
I had come just in time for the long soul-drenching downpour's, the Monsoons, but most important of all...
I had come HOME