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Music CD: Asian Journeys $15.95 buy now
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Globe Trekker TV Shows: Pakistan |
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Presenter: Neil Gibson
Pakistan was formed by the division of India half a
century ago, and founded in the name of Islam. Few Western
people venture here but as traveller Neil Gibson discovers
it offers some of Asia's most mind-blowing landscapes,
a kaleidoscope of cultures and a deeply generous people.
His journey begins in Karachi, a bustling
port town. He comes across a film crew making a movie
on the life of Jinnah, and takes the opportunity to
find out more about the founder of Pakistan. Leprosy
is still a massive problem amongst the poor in Karachi
and Neil visits one of the hospitals that treats lepers.
Neil then takes a horse and cart to the Saddar
Bazaar, Karachi's main shopping area, and gets
himself kitted out in a shalwar kamiz, Pakistan's native
dress.
From Karachi, it's a 17 hour train ride north to the
sufi city of Multan, inhabited by the
ancient Indus valley civilisation. The 4000 year old
city is home to the mystical side of Islam and Neil
arrives in time for the Urs festival,
where every year the holy men come to chill out and
trance out. Neil has his fortune told by a bird, has
his turban stuffed with onions and rides a camel to
the spectacular Derawar Fort in the
midst of the Cholistan desert. |
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Sufi man at Urs festival
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Neil's next stop is Lahore, once the
centre of the Mogul empire and considered to be Pakistan's
cultural and artistic capital. Here Neil visits the
last bastion of British colonialism, Aitchinson College
where Imran Khan was once a pupil, and visits the incredible
Badshahi mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world.
Neil learns about the strict lifestyle required by the
Koran and takes part in some Kushti wrestling.
A bus journey 440 kilometres north-west takes Neil
to the frontier town of Peshawar. Due
to it's proximity to Afghanistan, the town is full of
smuggled goods and as Neil discovers, it is possible
to buy almost anything in the markets. Neil then visits
the legendary Khyber Pass and looks
out at the real-life 'Gateway to India'. |
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Neil takes a short flight to the north-western extremity
of Pakistan and the exotic valley of Chitral.
This is where the game of Polo originated and
Neil is invited to take part in a game. He stays with
the Kalash people, believed to have descended from Alexander
the Great.
From here Neil journeys north to Gilgit for
the incredible Ashura festival, a Shiite
festival which commemorates the death of Iman Hussein,
grandson of the prophet Mohammed who was murdered in
the desert. During this festival, the Shiites whip themselves
with knives to show their grief, until they are completely
exhausted.
From Gilgit Neil heads up to the Hunza valley
to the start point of a three day trek, crossing two
incredible glaciers and ending his journey looking out
at the stunning views from Rush Peak. |
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