Since the birth of Pakistan, because of the Kashmir issue, people of Gilgit Baltistan lost their easier approach to the rest of the world via Sriniger; KKH gave them new hopes of development and prosperity and stood the economical backbone of northern areas after its completion by 1976. Although over the Babuser pass from Chilas, a narrow jeep able road was in used since the British rule, but the conditions of the road was subjected to weather and often it would be blocked even for months. In addition to this, it was only a summer passage and the whole winter, these valleys would have no connections with other parts of the country.

Tourists say that traveling on KKH is historical and adventurous. It is something new like a travel in a travel and a journey into a journey. Particularly sometimes when rain and sliding play roles to stop tourists for hours, it gives time to understand endurance, courage and patience for those who are used to explore things deeper. The history of the Indus River goes back as far as when the mountain areas were formed and emerged a unique landscape in this part of the world. It seems that the road has taken off the curtain from the hidden part of Indus and the angry muddy waves of this gathering of drops and cascades running away from their homes of heights in the ranges of Himalayas and Karakuram. It is much worthy only to be there for a common tourist where every moment comes a different breeze, with every turn changes the seine between the rock and rock, a river and a car running together either in the same or opposite directions, but never miss each other until the end of the journey.

A one day driving from Islamabad, enjoying the play between the rock and river, the road and the car, picturing windows to windows both the lush green and the uncertain wild natural beauty of the Kohistan region, the evening welcomes you in Chilas, which has the honor of being a base and host for the people coming to see Nanga Parbat. Over centuries Chilas has been performing this duty, as the town was a junction point for people and caravans where they would choose the 2 famous sections of the old Silk Route, to go over Babuser pass and downwards through Kaghan valley or to use the trail through the gorges of Kohistan to Swat Gandhara regions. The stones curving in the Chilas areas prove these historical facts when pilgrimage and trading caravans to or from Taxila and Swat considered Chilas as their base camp to proceed for onward journeys. While waiting for a turn on a raft to cross the river Indus, or looking for a sunny weather they used to camp here and roared around. They found good rocks and boulders and curved images of their interest; religion, culture and lifestyles, Buddha, agriculture and wildlife.

As there are some very famous archaeological sites, such as Moenjodaro, Harappa and Gandhara which reflects Buddhism, Pakistan also offers possibilities to learn and research another religions, like Hinduism and Sikhism. Hinduism was the oldest religion before Buddhism developed and the far off villages of Punjab and Sind hold temples, which are believed to be older than 3000 years back. Among the hills of Jehlum, temples of Katas Raj, Shri Mai Hanglaj temples in Baluchistan, Sadhu Bela temple in the middle of the Indus river near Sukkur in the sind province all furnish the importance of the country for its cultural and heritage tourism. Beside Hinduism and Buddhism, the land also owns monuments of Jainisim and the southern part of the country, Viravel and RushiMuni temples of Tharparkar are still lightened during nights and the believers celebrate religious festivals occasionally. Not only the few exists which are told here, every part and every city has a different piece from the past and it is just worthy to be there to find and see the past in present.

Sufism helped Islam to spread in the sub continent; shrines and tombs of those saints are found in every corner of Pakistan and visiting around these holy places one can feel something very typical and unique. You can realize the genuine spirits of religion by the people who seems hit by grieves and very painful, coming to the Shrines of Sufis begging for a help from Allah through their truthfulness and holiness. Most of these shrines are overcrowded round the year. Each shrine has an annual festival, which gathers thousands of pilgrims. These festivals give real opportunities to enjoy mystical music and singings. And dancing of the believers following the music can be a lifetime memory of your journey into light. Among thousands of these shrines of saints, the very famous ones are Data Darbar, in Lahore, Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Darbar Maasoom Shah in Multan and Bari Imam in Islamabad, where pilgrims around the world gather during the festivals. In addition to these celebrations, the land of Pakistan also holds the honor to give birth of Baba Guru Nanak Deo Jee Maharaj and near Taxila at HassanAbdal the tomb of the founder of Sikh religion is a big source of cultural and religious tourism which invites thousands of believers from all around the world and the birth ceremony is held through respect and devotion.

All the shrines either related to Muslims, or non Muslims, there are no religious bonds to visit these sacred places, and as in every religion it is believed that saints always preached humanity, boundaries seem broken in these gatherings but the sense go similar by every pilgrim that one must respect those who served the human being and left their names for humanity, peace and love. Put off your shoves, be in a proper dress and enter the shrines, then realize what you have been dreaming. Write to us now and choose which part of Pakistan should be your destination for the journey into light.