Hotels in Pakistan

Pakistan or also known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistani is one of the countries located on the Asian continent. It is also the 6th country with an overpopulation of 212,742,631 people. The country has the size of 881,913 square kilometres. Pakistan is on the coastline with the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. It is also bordering with India to the east, Afghanistan by the west, Iran on the southwest and China on the far northeast. The largest city in Pakistan is Karachi while their capital is Islamabad.

Pakistan has a big land which is equivalent to merging France and United Kingdom. Therefore it houses a wide variety of wildlife and has a diverse climate. The city of Sindh and Punjab are located on the Indus–Tsangpo Suture Zone, Balochistan and most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on the Eurasian plate. Gilgit–Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, on the other hand, is located on the Indian plate and is prone to violent earthquakes. Other than that, Pakistani landscape varies from deserts, forests, hills and also plateaus. They also experience monsoon season which causes flooding due to the heavy rainfall. Pakistan has four distinct seasons which are cool, dry winter from December to February, hot and dry spring from March to May, summer rainy season from June to September then the monsoon period the rest of October and November.

The official language used in Pakistan is Urdu. It is the language that is understood by almost 75% of their citizens. It is also the Muslim identity and national unity. In actual Pakistan speaks over 60 languages nationwide. English is also mostly used in their official business and government and legal contracts. Other languages that are used in Pakistan are Shina, Balti, Burushaski, Pahari, Gojri, and Kashmiri.

The main religion practised in Pakistan is Sunni Islam. However, the country guarantees the freedom to practice any religion. This falls under the Constitution of Pakistan where all their citizens are allowed to profess, practice and propagate their religion subject to law, public order, and morality. Almost 96.4% of the citizens practice Islam while 1.5% are Hindus and 1.5% are Christians. There are also others who practice Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism.

Pakistani cuisine uses a lot of spices, herbs and also seasoning. Some of the common spices used in their dishes would be garlic, ginger, turmeric, red chilli, and garam masala. Some of the dishes are curry, roti and flatbread. The proteins would be meat, vegetables and lentils. Rice is also one of the common food taken by the Pakistani.

How to Get There?

By Flight

The best way to get to Pakistan from Singapore is by plane. The flight ticket price to Pakistan is about SGD 670 to SGD 710 for two-way flights for each person depending on the travel dates. There is no flight to Pakistan direct from Singapore. Many travellers would need to take a transit flight usually in Bangkok or Dubai depending on the airline. Among airlines that travel to Pakistan are Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates and KLM. This is the price usually charged for those who will fly to the main city of Karachi or Islamabad. As soon as tourists arrive at the airport, there are many available means of transport such as taxis, trains, and buses.

By Autorickshaws

In Pakistan, autorickshaw is the most popular way to get around in Pakistan despite the city or the town. The fare is negotiable and is best to be done before the journey. However, due to pollution, the government has ordered for it to be stopped and replaced with CNG auto rickshaw. It is pronounced as Qing – Qi. It is a cross between motorcycle and auto rickshaw. It works like a motorcycle, but it has three wheels instead and is able to carry a heavier load. This is usually used to transport passengers for short distances.

By Bus

Buses are one of the most widely used in Pakistan especially when commuting a large number of travellers between two cities. Since the year 2000, the government is aiming to modernise the buses and to reduce their impact on the environment. Some buses bring passengers between intercity. There are public and private sector buses such as Raja Bus Services, Khan Brothers and Bilal Daewoo. These buses usually run 24 hours and are more modern and well kept.

There are also buses that connect the city to other countries. Some of them are Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China and India.

What to Do There?

Shalimar Gardens

Shalimar Gardens previously owned by a noble, Pakistani family. The garden has three tiers. Each tier has their name which are Bestower of Pleasure, Bestower of Goodness and Bestower of Life. Each tier has a difference of 4 to 5 meters’ gap above each other. Usually when mentioned a garden, many would expect an array of flowers however not in this case. The attraction of this garden is the large pools placed in the middle of the terrace. Each of these pools is sourced by the hundreds of fountains. There are over 410 fountains found across the 3 acres of land.

Faisal Mosque

The building of this mosque initially attracted many doubts. It was designed by a Turkish architect. It was designed in a contemporary manner with sleek lines and most obviously without a dome. It took ten years for the mosque to be completed. The mosque now is one of the most captivating buildings in Islamabad. It has a 5000 square meter prayer hall with an eight-sided, concrete structure that can accommodate 10,000 worshippers. It is also surrounded by 4 88 meters high minaret.

Tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Mazar-e-Quaid)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah is a significant figure in Pakistan as he is one of the figures that lead the country to independence from the British Empire. He is known as the Great Leader or Father of the Nation. In Karachi which is also the hometown of Muhammad is where the mausoleum is built. This mausoleum is built to celebrate his memory and is home to his tomb as well. The mausoleum also has a bold design with 75 square meters, large dome clad with white marble and Moorish arch.

Badshahi Mosque

Badshahi Mosque was built in 1673 and has become one of the most beautiful sites for Muslims. Before Faisal Mosque was completed, this mosque was the biggest mosque in the world for 300 years. This mosque has a size of 26000 square meters. It may accommodate up to 95000 worshippers. It is covered with red stoned panels, sculptures, lotiform motifs and embellished with marble inlays. It is also equipped with four minarets and three domes which are coated with white marble. All visitors will go in via the main entrance. They will then be greeted with a cornucopia of arches, stucco tracery and frescoes.

Hiran Minar

Hiran Minar is a monument built to commemorate the death of a pet deer. This was done by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1606. The Deer Tower which was also another name for Hiran Minar is located in Pakistani City of Sheikhupura. The area used to be a famous hunting ground. Jahangir was one of the people who hunted too. One day he spotted a deer and had hit it. However, it turns out to be his pet deer, Mansraji. Due to his guilt, he orders for his people to build the minaret. After 30 years of completion, the mausoleum is equipped with adjoining water tank with a picturesque octagonal pavilion, and it is also connected to the elevated mainland walkway.

Where to Stay?

Hotel One Murree

Hotel One Murree is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and is rated with three stars. The hotel rooms are also large but still at a very reasonable price. The hotel also offers facilities such as tour arrangements. Also, the hotel also has a terrace, barbecue pit, smoking room, meeting facilities, picnic area, luggage storing and laundry services. This facility can all be used by the hotel's guests. The hotel also has Wifi.

Hotel Crown Inn

This 3.5-star hotel is located in Karachi District, Sindh. The hotel has many facilities such as 24-hour receptionist, laundry service, multilingual staff, tour arrangement, babysitting service, meeting facilities, fitness centre and many more. The hotel also has a restaurant that will be able to provide food for their guests. They also offer a shuttle to go to the shopping mall near the hotel.

Mövenpick Hotel Karachi

This is one of the top hotels in Karachi District, Sindh, Pakistan. This hotel is a 4-star hotel. It is nearby to Jinnah International Airport with a distance of 15.12 kilometres. The hotel has many room type that can accommodate their guests’ needs. The price starts from SGD 170+ for a room that is equipped with air conditioning, private bathroom, television and many other facilities. The hotel also has a health club, spa, sauna, steam room and also a hot tub.

Hotel One The Mall Lahore

The hotel is located in the Lahore District of Punjab, Pakistan. It is also nearby to the Allama Iqbal International Airport with a distance of 6.34 kilometres only. The hotel is rated three stars. The hotel aims to ensure their guests feel at ease while staying at this hotel as their rooms are cleaned, and toiletries are replenished daily. The hotel prohibits their guests from smoking to maintain the cleanliness of their hotel rooms.

Hotel One Super

This is a 3-star hotel that is located in Punjab, Pakistan. It is a comfortable hotel that is clean and offers excellent service and facilities. The price range also varies between SGD 100 – SGD 200. Some of the facilities available are public TV lounge, wifi in all space and rooms, parking spaces, luggage storage, laundry service, tour arrangement service, 24-hour receptionist and not to mention a café that can serve breakfast to their guests.