Story of a Beautiful Destination

Paye Meadows

"Siri Paye"- a name which you can commonly hear in the country of Pakistan. Siri Paye are actually two "Fairy Meadows" in the valley of Kaghan. The lush green mountains and a vast series hills represents a majestic and poetic view. The path to reach these meadows is also very rough and only a 4 wheeler car or a jeep can reach this place.

Paye Meadows

Scenic beauty of this place, summer season especially, attracts thousands of tourists from all over the country. The meadows also contain small lakes where water collects during summer season.

In spite of this great beauty it is still hidden from the world and a very few international tourists visit the place. 

I hope that travelers from all over the world visit this majestic beauty of a majestic country.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Story of a 1st Century Buddhist Monastery

Takht-e-Bahi(Throne of Origin /High Spring)

This story is about one of the most important and well preserved Buddhist Monasteries of the Gandhara period. The Monastery is located in the Mardan city of the province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. This place was once the heart of the Gandhara civilization.

As per local people the name Takht-e-bahi is because of the two wells on the hill or because of the nearby springs

 The history of this place dates back to 1st Century AD. This was proved through various inscriptions which had the name of Gondophares who was a Parthian King of the Suren family. After Gondophares the monastery remained in the control of Kujula Kadphises who was the first Kushan King.

According to researchers the place remained in use until 7th century AD. The location of this Monastery helped alot in retaining its ancient structure as compared to other Buddhist Monasteries of that period because it is located almost 500 feet atop of a small hill. Therefore, it remains safe from many destructive invaders who came to this region. 

Precisely the Takht-e-bahi complex consisted of a Stupa court, Monastic chambers, a Temple complex and Tantric monastic complex. which were used for various religious purposes.

It is also one of those places which even many Pakistanis are not aware of. I strongly recommend to visit this place as it is one of the ancient places in Pakistan.

Picture Credit goes to Anonymous Photographer.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Story of a Fort Lost in the Desert

Derawar Fort

Pakistan is rich in cultural and historical heritage. Some of these cultural sites disapear in the pages of History while some are still finding their path into the future.

 Derawar Fort is one of the magnificent structure standing alone in the Cholistan Desert, Bahawalpur state of Pakistan. The fort was actually built by Rai Jajja Bhatti, a Rajput King of the area. But it was captured by the Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sadeq Muhammad Khan 1 in 1733 who than gave this fort the shape which today we can see.

Derawar Fort is in square shape with visible forty bastions. It has an elegant look and has a unique appearance as compared to other forts. The fort has a water pool, rooms for the royal family, a small jail and a network of underground tunnels that leads to the Nawab's Palace and other forts. 

Unfortunately due to the negligence of the government and the related authorities derawar fort is on the verge of collapse. Rooms and structures within the Derawar Fort which once represents the glory of the ruling periods of Nawabs are now long gone. The fort is deteriorating so fast that the places or underground tunnels which a decade ago can be seen, are now gone.

After all these damages still the fort attract many tourists and they imagine the days of glory which this fort passed over centuries.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Picture credit goes to: Anonymous photographer.