Lalazar Valley

                

                                             
                                                                             
                           

             

             

             

             

             

             

Fairy Meadows - Pakistan

Fairy Meadows is in the heart of exotic North Pakistan, It is located at the base of Nanga Parbat, which, at 8126 m, is the 9th highest mountain in the world and second in Pakistan after K2.

               
Fairy Meadows has been a source of enchantment since long for back packers, climbers, wildlife researchers, photographers, painters & geologists, besides nature lovers. The pine forests skirting Fairy Meadows are perhaps one of the virgin forests in the north of Pakistan, and are home to a number of species of birds and wildlife. The site overlooks the Raikot Glacier and provides a majestic view of the North Face of Nanga Parbat, commonly known as the Raikot Face.
The area in front of Fairy Meadows Cottages is known as Pari Mahal (Fairy Palace), named by the famous Japanese photographer, Fujita Heroki. The Fairy Meadows Cottages are at a distance of eight minutes hike from main village and other tourist resorts with its breathtaking natural view of great Nanga Parbat.

                         

            

            

            

            

            

            

            
             
            

Khewra Salt Mine

     

   The main tunnel at ground level developed by Dr. Warth in 1872 has been converted into Tourist Resort. Thousands of tourists visit Khewra Salt Mines every year. They are fascinated by nature's beauty inside the mountain. Nearly 35,000 to 40,000 visitors, comprising college students, general public, and foreigners visit Salt Mines Khewra every year. The Salt Mines Khewra has developed as a big attraction for the tourist. Impressed by the interest of the tourist, the PMDC Management launched "Khewra Salt Mines Resort Development Project" in February, 2002 with an estimated cost of Rs.4.2 million which now has been increased by another Rs.3 million.

Khewra Salt Mines Tourist Resort has been developed by PMDC with its own resources. Inside the Mine a beautiful mosque made of different shades of rock salt bricks has been constructed – hollow walls of salt bricks when lighted gives a beautiful look. A large chamber called "Assembly Hall" measuring more than 250 ft in height fascinates tourists. There are certain chambers filled in with saturated brine solution. These ponds when illuminated with fancy lights give splendid look. There is an area of transparent salt of light pink colour known as "Shish Mahal". Different chambers are connected with salt bridges over water ponds and when illuminated with lights show marvelous reflection of different colours of salt. The development programme envisages creation and development of following facilities at Khewra Salt Mines in the first phase of development programme, which have since been completed. 

• CREATION OF RECEPTION/BRIEFING HALL: A reception/briefing hall has been constructed to serve as reception center for tourists.
  
  
  
  
   
• WALKWAY: The walkway from receipt/briefing hall to the Mine Mouth has been constructed by fixing pavers for the smooth walk of tourist.
  
  
  
  
  
  
      Mosque made with salt bricks
  
  
  
  
   
• SOUVENIR SHOP: For the convenience of tourist, a souvenir shop has been established in the reception/briefing hall area where tourists can find model lamps and other articles made of salt.
• CLEANING THE MINES: The Main Mine area reserved for tourist has been cleaned and cleared from the unwanted materials and debris for the convenience and comfort of the tourists.
• ILLUMINATION: The mines have been illuminated at a grand scale with fancy and reflector type lights to magnify intrinsic beauty of the salient features of the mine, its interior look and texture of rock salt.
  
  
   
• ELECTRIC TRAIN: Electric train has been made available for tourists to have a joy ride upto main juncture inside the Mines.
• REFRESHMENT: Seating arrangements have been made in side the mine. Refreshments have been provided inside the mine, where kiosks have been fitted, having sufficient capacity for tourists to relax and enjoy light refreshments.
• MINE VISITING TIMES: Mine is open for tourist from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day including Sunday and gazetted holidays.
• MINE GUIDE: Trained female guides are available at the mine to conduct tour of visitors inside the Mines. CHARGES:

• Entry Fee: - Foreigner Adult US$ 6.00 or equivalent - Foreigner Student US$ 3.00 or equivalent - Pakistani Adult Rs. 30.00 - Pakistani Student Rs. 15.00 Trolley Charges - Upto group of 12 person Rs. 250.00 per trip - A group of 12 person and above Rs. 20.00 per head Parking Fee - Scooter/Motor Cycle Rs. 3.00 - Car/Jeep/Suzuki Van Rs.10.00 - Van/Hiace Rs. 20.00 - Coaster/Flying Coach Rs. 30.00 - Bus Rs. 50.00 Guest House Charges - VIP suit (per night) Rs.500 + Rs. 100 (Air condition charges) - Side Room (per night) Rs.300 + Rs. 100 (Air condition charges)

Badshahi Masjid (Badshahi Mosque)

               
 

             


             


             



         

    

Kaghan Valley - Pakistan

                   

                  

 A vacation in the Kaghan Valley, the Himalayan hide-away, located north-east of the Hazara district of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, is an unforgettable experience. The Kaghan valley is named for the town of Kaghan rather than for the Kunhar River which flows to the length of the valley. The Valley extends for 155 km rising from an elevation of 2,134 metres to its highest point, the Babusar Pass, at 4,173 metres. The local population is friendly and easygoing and speaks Hindko (a language spoken by the hill people in Hazara), Pushto, and/or Urdu. The region is Alpine in geography and climate, with forests and meadows dominating the landscape below peaks that reach over 17,000 feet.
              
               
 
               

Its mountains, dales, lakes, water-falls, streams and glaciers are still in an unbelievable pristine state. It is indeed an unspoiled paradise! This is why it can be a deeply satisfying experience to spend a few days in Kaghan. Kaghan is at its best during summer (months ranging from May to September). In May the temperature is: maximum 11 C and minimum 3 C. From the middle of July up to the end of September the road beyond Naran is open right up to Babusar Pass. Movement is restricted during the monsoon and winter seasons. The Kaghan area can reached by road via the towns of Balakot, Abbottabad and Mansehra. In Balakot, one may find buses and other transports to reach Kaghan or Naran.

              

              
    
The road from Balakot ascends along the Kunhar River through lovely forests and the villages of Paras, Shinu, Jared and Mahandri. The valley is somewhat narrow along this stretch and the views are limited but as you ascend, the sorrounding peaks come into view. One spot that is quite famous for its spectacular view and scenery is 'Shogran'. This village, sorrounded by peaks and forests, is east of the main Kunhar River. It hosts the famous Siri-Paya mountain with breathtaking views at its top.
                    
             

             

             

Babri Masjid attack and Demolation (Babri Mosque)

Babri Masjid




Interior of Babri Masjid


Hindu terrorists destroying the Babri Mosque

The Babri Mosque was a mosque constructed by first Mughal emperor of India, Babur, in Ayodhya in the 16th century. Hindus believed it to be the birth place of Lord Rama. It was destroyed by a mob of Hindu fanatics in a terrorist attack on December 6, 1992 and thereafter a Hindu temple was built by the terrorists at this place.

The Babri Mosque was a large imposing structure with three domes, one central and two secondary. It is surrounded by two high walls, running parallel to each other and enclosing a large central courtyard with a deep well, which was known for its cold and sweet water. On the high entrance of the domed structure are fixed two stone tablets which bear two inscriptions in Persian declaring that this structure was built by one Mir Baqi on the orders of Babur. The walls of the Babri Mosque are made of coarse-grained whitish sandstone blocks, rectangular in shape, while the domes are made of thin and small burnt bricks. Both these structural ingredients are plastered with thick chunam paste mixed with coarse sand.

One of the columns of the Babri Mosque. Some Hindus say it came from a Temple under the site, particularly noting the two flowers which they say are Hindu-associated lotus motifs, however this motif is common in mosques of that period.The Central Courtyard was surrounded by lavishly curved columns superimposed to increase the height of the ceilings. The plan and the architecture followed the Begumpur Friday mosque of Jahanpanah rather than the Moghul style where Hindu masons used their own trabeated structural and decorative traditions. The excellence of their craftsmanship is noticeable in their vegetal scrolls and lotus patterns.

On mid-night of December 22, 1949, when the police guards were asleep, some miscreants (Abhay Ram Das of Nirmohi Akhara) planted idols of Rama and Sita into the Babri Masjid. This was reported by constable, Mata Prasad, the next morning and recorded at the Ayodhya police station. On hearing this news Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru directed UP Chief Minister Govind Ballabh Pant, to see that the dieties were removed. Under Pant's orders, Chief Secretary Bhagwan Sahay and Inspector-General of Police V.N. Lahiri sent immediate instructions to Faizabad to remove the dieties. However, K.K. Nair feared that the Hindus would retaliate and pleaded inability to carry out the orders. Finally the idols of "Ram Lala" were never removed.

Hindus sought permission to start worship at the mosque which was not granted at that time. However with the permission of the court, the locks of Babri mosque were opened on February 1, 1986 and Hindus were allowed to start worship of idols of Ram Lala. Muslims on the other hand were prevented from offering any prayers at the mosque. India being a pre-dominantly Hindu nation, no court or administration could afford to antogonise the majority community.

Lal Krishna Advani, a high-ranking member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (former Home Minister & Deputy Prime Minister) began a campaign tour (a rathayatra, or "chariot-journey") in 1990, to organise support for building a Rama temple at the mosque site.

The mosque was destroyed on December 6, 1992, by a crowd of 75,000 hindu fanatics belonging to militant outfits such as VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena etc. led by top leaders of the BJP, some of whom were later to become ministers in the Union Government, in the surcharged communal atmosphere that followed.

Following the destruction of the mosque, communal riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims across India, including in Mumbai (Bombay), which was a largely secular and cosmopolitan city. About 1500 people, mostly muslims, were killed in an organised genocide of innocents by Hindu terrorists belonging to outfits such as Shiv Sena, VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal & BJP etc. duly supported by the State Government and the Police.

Some muslim militants later carried out serial bomb blasts in Mumbai in 1993 to avenge the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the genocide of muslims, in which more than 250 people lost there lives.

Extremist Indian Hindus demolishing Babri Masjid


Extremist Hindus are demolishing Babri Masjid


Hindu terrorist attacking the Babri Masjid