Mohsin Khawar Photography
Photographer / Architect / Creative Director / Travel Blogger
PAKISTAN – Best Holiday Destination For 2020 says Condé Nast Traveller
Posted on December 15, 2019
Best Holiday Destination For 2020 says Conde Nast Traveller
“The adventure traveller’s must-visit goes from strength to strength
Thwarted by tales of terrorism and Taliban rule, Pakistan’s tourism industry has been stymied for the past two decades. But ancient valleys, relaxed visa restrictions and a high-profile royal visit in the offing mean this remarkable country is finally getting the focus it deserves.
Because this is a place of exquisite landscapes, where green spaces are overlooked by towering mountains. In fact, Pakistan has more peaks taller than 22,965ft than China and Nepal combined, making it an almost magnetic spot for adventure travellers and intrepid hikers. Visitors can follow in Michael Palin’s steps while traversing the 12,250ft Shandur Pass, home to the world’s highest polo field, or meet with the Kalash people of the Hindu Kush, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses and brighter-than-bright embroidery. In Lahore, the sight of 100,000 worshippers crammed into the sandstone 17th-century Badshahi Mosque will leave you breathless, while Mughal-era architectural masterpieces stand resplendent on bustling street corners.
‘Having operated tours in Pakistan since the late 1990s, I’ve had a ringside seat to its troubled tourism industry, but finally it seems to be improving,’ says Jonny Bealby, founder and CEO of adventure-tour operator Wild Frontiers. ‘A focus on security measures, which saw the British FCO lift its advice against travel to large parts of the north, and the election of Imran Khan, who has vowed to increase international tourist numbers, has already had an impact,’ he says.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are also due to visit this Autumn to witness the magic of the mountains first-hand, while many of the frustrating permits previously required to travel here have been dropped. Hardy visitors will find that little has changed since Mughal times – with the peaks’ gemstone mines, fairy meadows and winding trails worn into the ground by heavy-laden yaks – while the Karokoram, stretching upwards from the north-west frontier and carved into the ancient bedrock, is one of the world’s most astonishing highways.”
Source: http://www.cntraveller.com
Pakistan Tourism
Posted on January 28, 2019
Scenic and cultural beauty of Pakistan is no doubt a treat for any tourist!
Visit Pakistan this year to enjoy mountains and plains of Gilgit/Hunza and KPK, ancient civilization and deserts of Sindh, historical culture and food of Punjab and not to forget the virgin beaches of beautiful Gawadar!
- Excellent hotels everywhere for an average USD 100-200 per night
- Base cities can be Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Hunza and Peshawar
- Best food you will get in this region be it Pakistani, Thai, Chinese, Continental or Fast Food
- History includes centuries old Forts, Mosques, Shrines and architecture
- Uber/Careem services all over Pakistan
- Domestic flights operating from Hunza till Gawadar
- Oldest Kalasha tribe in Chitral is a major tourist attraction along with scenic beauty of Hunza/Skardu
- Helpful and courteous locals
- Also welcoming religious tourism for Sikhs, Buddhists and Hindus
- One of the finest cloth and handicrafts markets on cheap rates
- E-Visa and Visa on Arrival for many foreigners
So this summer, choose Pakistan and enjoy nature to the utmost!
Dancing House – Praha
Posted on July 26, 2017
Surrounded by the beautiful architecture of Prague, here is a unique masterpiece designed by one of the legendary architects Frank Gehry.
They call it the Dancing House!
New York Cafe Palace – Budapest
Posted on July 26, 2017
Its like a delicacy. You have to eat there! If not for the food, then maybe for the experience and interior!
P.s. The desserts are nice!
Saint Stephen’s Basilica – Budapest
Posted on July 25, 2017
Apart from the fact that this is a beautiful piece of architecture and a must go place in Budapest, you will also love this square and spending your time here! Even if you go there daily, you won’t get bored!
We are sure you will love the hustle and bustle here! 😉
3 Days in Singapore – A short vacation
Posted on July 22, 2017
Marina Bay Sands
If you are short on days and want to explore a whole country, Singapore is your destination!
Pack your bags with summer clothes, sun screen, sun glasses and a raincoat because you never know when it will start raining cats and dogs. The sun will be out again very soon so don’t worry! Just make an itinerary and follow it.
Here’s our:
Day one:
We were staying at the Orchard road so started with the Botanical Gardens nearby. Perfect for anyone who’s even slightly fond of plants… My little one loves them!
Be ready to walk though and don’t forget to visit the Orchid Garden in it and the children’s play area if you are travelling with kids. All the walking made us hungry so next stop was Arab street for lunch. You’ll get Turkish, Persian and Arabian cuisine on a street right out of Aladdin’s movie.
Wait for the sun set while shopping some really economical gifts and then head to Gardens by the Bay for a light and music show.
Sculptures at Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
National Orchid Garden
Botanical Garden
Central courtyard of National Orchid Garden
Sultan Mosque – Arab Street
Arab Street
Sultan Mosque – Arab Street
Musical Light Show at Marina Bay Sands
Day two:
Started our day late and went to have brunch at Little India. Like its name it really is a mini India with shopping, food, temples that you can roam around if you have time and don’t mind crowded streets. We took the bus from Little India to the River Side, which was very convenient. Got tickets for the River Cruise, but not the full round and got off at Marina Bay Sands.
Saw the famous Merlion fountain and the Singapore cityscape from the guided cruise and had tea at Marina Bay along some shopping.
Enjoyed the Night Carnival and an art installation & exhibition of Lights.
Ended the Day with a Riverside walk enjoying the night time city scape and the mild breeze.
River Cruise
Little India
River side walk
Marina Bay Sands
Merlion
Art installation along the river
Art installation along the river
Day Three:
Take the subway to Sentosa Island and spend the whole day there!
You will love the Universal Studio while you meet Elmo and friends.
Watch the Sesame Street Show 😀 and you will be back in Grade 5!
My Boy was in heaven!! And his joy made our whole trip! 🙂
Enjoy till the sun set when it closes and then you can relax at the Crane Dance at City Center. And don’t forget to dine at brilliant restaurants there before you take a train back!
Sesame Street at the Universal Studios
You can buy all the toys, mugs, accessories and shirts here by Sesame Street
Live Sesame Street show
Shrek’s Palace at Universal Studios
We hope you loved this little visual treat from our end although there are a lot of photos but we could not add all of them here!
Don’t forget to share it with your friends who love traveling! 🙂
Till next one, Good bye!
Tea Lover? How could you miss Mackwoods!
Posted on October 30, 2016
On our Sri Lanka trip, we specially went to Nuwara Elliya to visit the beautiful tea gardens and Mackwoods tea factory. We are huge tea lovers and if we would have missed this, we would have felt very guilty.
So after a nights stay at Kandy, the next morning we drove to the chilly Nuwara Elliya. It’s a fairly beautiful place with small hills adding to its scenic beauty. We reached there around noon and it was cloudy with slight patches of rain. After climbing down the stairs (big risers) we walked through the gardens, took photos and admired this beautiful crop (we have this association with tea 🙂 ). Later, on our request one of the staff members at the museum took us to an introductory visit to the factory inside where they showed us the process and explained how the leaves are picked, crushed, blended, refined and finally packed. The aroma was simply charismatic! (It was dark inside the factory so i am not adding its photos)
From there we went to the cafe where we were served the special Mackwoods tea for tasting (they do not charge for it). As we sat beside a window and sipped our tea, the rain poured down which made our experience even more beautiful. The drops on the window glass, the lush green gardens and the relatively cool weather made our tea taste even better! 🙂
On our way back we bought the signature Mackwoods kettle and some boxes of tea. It was later we figured out that they do not retail it and if you are really lucky you might see it at ODEL (A famous Srilankan store which is almost everywhere).
We have run out of tea boxes and it seems we need to visit Sri Lanka again…but this time we will at least buy a dozen of them! 😉
Sunset lover? Galle (Sri Lanka) is a must visit!
Posted on September 12, 2016
I have travelled to a lot of beaches and capturing seascapes is one of my favourite part in travel photography, but during my stay in Galle fort vicinity in Sri Lanka, i had a chance to view and photograph the sunset at Galle. I was amazed to see the beautiful colors and its hues, while i sat on the fort wall with perfect angle for my shot (I have attached two photographs above).
I recommend this heavenly spot to all the nature lovers, romantics and travel photographers.
Happy viewing guys! 🙂
Mohsin Khawar Photography 