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CHITRAL SWAT JEEP SAFARI
ITINERARY
DAY:
01 ISLAMABAD
Arrival Islamabad. Transfer to Hotel for overnight.
DAY: 02 ISLAMABAD TO DIR
Early morning departure to Dir. Passing the Frontier town of Mardan
we arrived in Takht-e-Bahi. Takht-e-Bahi is the most impressive and
complete Buddhist monastery in Pakistan. Passing through Takht-e-Bahi
we cross Malakand Pass and descend down onto the Swat valley. Turning
left from Chakdara Bridge we cross the Swat river. Here you
can see the “Chakdara Fort” above which is the ”Churchill picket”.
Dir is situated in NWFP & 7-8 hours jeep drive from Islamabad. Overnight in
Dir.
DAY: 03 DIR TO
CHITRAL
Early morning departure for Chitral. After crossing the Lowari pass
(3,200 m) we descend into the Drosh valley and continue on to Chitral.
Overnight in Chitral hotel.
DAY: 04 CHITRAL
TO KALASH VALLEY
Drive to the “Kalash” valley of Bamburet to spend the day amongst
this pagan tribe with their unique culture. You can also visit a typical
Kalash house to observe their life style. It takes 1 ˝ hours drive from
Chitral. Overnight in tents.
DAY: 05 KALASH TO
GRAM CHASHMA
Drive to “Gram Chashma” 45 km. (2 hours) from Chitral & 3 ˝ hours
drive from Bamburet. The road follows the south bank of the
Lutkho
River
through a steep-sided gorge and emerges into the green, wooded valley of
Gram Chashma (Hot Spring), which is guarded by a mud walled fort. The
hot Sulpher springs are believed to heal skin diseases, gout, rheumatism and
headaches. Overnight in Gram Chashma.
DAY: 06 GRAM
CHASHMA TO CHITRAL
Early morning departure to Chitral. In Chitral you can visit Chitral fort
stands on a bend of the Kunar (Chitral) river, beside the 100 years old
Shahi Mosque surrounded by clusters of enormous chinnar trees. The
impressive fort is the ancestral home of the Mehtar of Chitral (ex-ruling
family), and was considered the most easily defended of all the forts in
northern Pakistan. Over night in Chitral.
DAY: 07 CHITRAL
TO DIR
Return via same route. Overnight in Dir.
DAY: 08 DIR TO SAIDU SHARIF
Early morning departure for Saidu Sharif via Chakdara. Its take 7-8
hours drive from Dir. From Haibatgram, the village on the main road eight
kilometers from Chakdara Bridge, you can walk up the ridge behind the
village where there is an enormous Hindu Shahi fort of the eight to
tenth centuries. Top Dara Buddhist Stupa is nestled into a
secluded valley on the side of Haibatgram Ridge, below the Hindu Shahi
ruins, Top Dara is well preserved and there is a ruined monastery nearby.
Birkot Hill is the site of the ancient town of
Bazira,
which was sacked by Alexander the Great in 327 B.C. It is on the
left (north) side of the main road, it is just before the town of Barikot.
Shingerdar Stupa is on the right of the main read, three kilometers
past Barikot. A large Buddha dating from the sixth century is carved
on the cliff face directly beside the road 1.5 kilometers beyond Shingerdar
Stupa. Udegram, The village of Udegram is one of the most
historically interesting in Swat. The site of ancient town of
Ora,
where Alexander the Great fought one of his battle in 327 B.C. Udegram was
also the capital of the Hindu Shahi rulers. Overnight in Saidu Sharif.
DAY: 09 SAIDU SHARIF TO ISLAMABAD
Morning departure to Islamabad. It takes 6-8 hours drive. Overnight in
Islamabad.
DAY: 10 ISLAMABAD TO TAXILA AND ONWARDS
Early morning after breakfast proceed by coach to Taxila, situated 35
miles from Rawalpindi. Taxila once the seat of oriental culture. It was
first mentioned as a satrap of Achaemeenian Empire in 6th century
BC. It was invaded by the Macedonian Alexander and passing along to
other rulers until finally reaching the hands of Ashoka the Great,
who moulded the city in to a centre of Philosophy, Art and Education. The
creative Gandhara period followed shortly thereafter and Taxila
remained a prosperous city. It came to a disastrous end when sacked by white
Huns. Today Taxila is an archaeologist’s paradise here is a well-maintained
museum and eight sites. Among best-preserved are Sirkap,
Julian, Mohair Maradu and Bhirmond.
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