Where would you like to travel to if you
get an all expense paid trip someday?
I have been asked this question quite a
many times and every time my answer was Pakistan. I got a chance to visit
Pakistan in 2012 and since then I always wanted to go back to that country. My
last trip was self sponsored but this time, thanks to SkyScanner, I have got an
opportunity to travel to the far-off lands of Pakistan without hurting my
pocket.
Why Pakistan?
I’d say why not Paksitan? Because Pakistan
is not what we see in the movies or TV channels. Because Pakistan is another
colorful country like ours. Because Pakistan must be visited at least once by
all the Indians. That way we will understand our neighbor in a much better way.
My perception about Pakistan changed entirely after my first visit. And also
Pakistan has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. And not to
mention the grandest of all, five of the fourteen Eight Thousanders belong to
Pakistan.
So without wasting any time on thinking
about location, my SkyScanner journey would mean traveling to Karachi,
Pakistan. And then off to the remote tribal lands of Balochistan where one gets
to witness the divine confluence of Hindu & Muslim faiths. Followers of
both the religions revere the Hinglaj Temple of Balochistan and that’s where I
am going with SkyScanner.
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| The Other Side of India: Wagha Border, 2012 |
Although I wanted to travel more and spend
less but because mode of entry/exit to Pakistan have to be same, and these are
harsh summer times, so I have decided not to go by bus or train but take the
aerial route. Flying to Pakistan via Sharjah and deliberately choosing a long
wait flight so that I get to see the best of Sharjah. An evening walk in
Sharjah, sounds fun, doesn’t it.
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| Al Noor Mosque,. Sharjah | Image: Dubai Chronicle |
If Indo-Pak rivalry is known across the
world, so is the Indo-Pakistan hospitality. Every time I said I came from
India, people refused to charge me anything. From auto guys to adventure clubs,
they refused to take any money from me.
A walk across Pakistan bazaars is a
heartwarming experience always. Stories of cricket, movies, songs, and
pre-independence era always make you emotional.
Visiting Hinglaj – The Land of Mud
Volcanoes
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| Mud Volcano, Hinglaj | Image: Bashir Osman Photgraphy |
Now comes the adventure part, traveling to
the remote lands of Baluchistan. Some 300 kilometers from the mainland of
Karachi lies one of the most important pilgrimage sites of both Hindus and
Muslims. While Indians call it ‘Hinglaj Mata’, the Pakistani’s call it ‘Nani Ka
Haj’.
Close by lies one of the largest active mud
volcanoes of the world, the Chandrakup Volcano. The sand dunes rising against
the backdrop of Makran Mountain Ranges takes you back to the Spiti Himalayas.
The land is barren and the mud volcano looks like a rising guardian protecting
the pilgrims from the evils of the deserts. And if time and money permits,
there are 18 more mud volcanoes in the region.
Then head back to Karachi, spend another
blissful day at the Marriott.
My Travel Itinerary
Day1: Karachi - Sharjah - Karachi - Stay
Day2: Karachi - Hinglaj Drive - Stay At Inn
Day3: Trip to Mud Volcano
Day4: Hinglaj to Karachi
Day5: Return to India
My Expenses
Initial Budget – 100,000
Air Fare (Return) – INR 40,630
Hotel Stay Marriott – Two Days – INR 20,000
Sharjah Travel Spree – INR 10,000
Food and Shopping – INR 10,000
Hinglaj Yatra Registration – INR 5,000
Taxi Fare – Karachi to Karachi – (approximate
INR 20 per km for 327km) – INR 7540
Total = INR 93170/-
Meanwhile, I am still left with 8,000 in my kitty.
Karachi Sweets? Anybody! J
