Cultural Tour- Suffis & Saints

Sufi comes from the Arabic safa, meaning - purity- so Sufis are those whose hearts and souls are pure. Sufism is Islam's mystical tradition, and Sufis are Muslim holy men who develop their spirituality through prayer and meditation. Sufi comes from the Arabic ‘safa', meaning ‘purity' - so Sufis are those whose hearts and souls are pure.

The places where Sufi saints settled and died have become important centres of pilgrimage, attracting devoted followers who admire their piety and hope for their intercession to secure God's grant of health, fertility, peace or success. In this way, the saints have given hope to the poor and rich for over a thousand years. The greatest saints in Pakistan are Lal-Shahbaz Qalander, data Gang Bakhsh. Baba Farid ganj-e-Shakar, Shah Abdul Latif Bhattai., Pir Baba, Bari Imam and Shah Shams Tabrez. Some of the important places of Sufism and saints are found in Lahore and Multan.

Day 1: Lahore - Arrival at Lahore airport, where you will be met, then transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Multan - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Multan en-route visit Harrapa, which lies on the bank of the Ravi River. It is 140 miles from Lahore, and is a very important archaeological site. The houses unearthed were constructed with baked bricks set in mud or mortar. Every house had a well, and amazing sewage and drain facilities, indicating that the inhabitants were well versed in Town Planning. One building of particular beauty has six interconnecting halls approximately 52" x 17" wide, with a wooden floor and it was used to store grains. The famous Chinese religious historian, Hieun Tsiang, remained here for two months since Harappa had four Buddhist stupas and twelve monasteries. It also had over twenty Hindu temples. The city was destroyed during an 8th century Arab invasion. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Multan - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast full day sightseeing of Multan city. Visit the old Fort, Shrine of Hazrat Rukne Alam, and the colourful Bazaar full of local handicrafts. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Bahawalpur - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Bahawalpur. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Deraward - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Fort Deraward. The drive takes 3-4 hours through fascinating barren landscape in the Cholistan Desert. The whole area was once well watered by the River Ghaggar. All along the 500 km of the dried up river are over 400 archaeological sites. Most of these date from the Indus civilization, 4,500 years ago, and are clustered round Derawar Fort - the only perennial water hole in the desert. Derawar Fort is in good condition, its walls intact and still guarded by soldiers in fezes. Its age is unknown. The tombs of the Amirs of Bahawalpur are also at Derawar, decorated with attractive blue-glazed tiles contrasting with the ochre landscape. Overnight in the Tents.

Day 6: Multan - Breakfast in the tents. After breakfast drive to Multan. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Islamabad - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Islamabad. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Peshawar - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Peshawar. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Peshawar - Breakfast at the hotel. Full day sightseeing of Peshawar City. We begin by visiting the rich museum of Peshawar, which houses treasures of the Gandhara period. Proceed to old Peshawar through the Kabuli Gate - one of the sixteen - to the Qissa Khawani bazaar, "the street of story tellers", and witness unusual and unforgettable sights. We will also visit the coppersmith's bazaar, which flourished from the 1st century B.C. to the 5th century A.D. Continue to Mahabat Khan's mosque, built in 1670 by the Governor of Peshawar under Moghal Emperor Shah Jahan. Our tour will pass by Balar Hisar Fort, built by Babar in 1526-30, and rebuilt by Hari Singh Nalva, under the guidance of French engineers in 1830. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Islamabad - Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Islamabad visiting Taxila on the way. Situated 35 miles from Rawalpindi, Taxila was once the seat of Oriental culture. It was first mentioned as a satrapy of the Archemenian Empire in 6th century B.C. It was invaded by Alexander the Great and passed along to other rulers until finally reaching the hands of Ashoka the Great, who moulded the city into a centre of learning. The creative Gandhara period followed shortly thereafter and Taxila remained the centre of learning, philosophy and art. It came to a disastrous and pathetic end when sacked by the White Huns. Today, Taxila is an archaeologist's paradise: there is a well-maintained museum here and eight sites scattered around a very short radius. Amongst the best preserved are Sirkap, Jaulian (the University) and Mohra Moradu. In the evening transfer to the airport for flight to Lahore, arrive and connecting homebound flight.