Need travel advice to India and Pakistan :)

[Tin Man]

Dude consult the beautiful Pakistan thread.
http://www.defence.pk/forums/general-images-multimedia/45929-beautiful-pakistan.html


Its worth it.

hi, is there any place unsafe for foreigners?. I like to visit places with ABSOLUTELY NO SNOW while in india or pakistan. I hate the snow. Atleast for now...

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

hi, is there any place unsafe for foreigners?. I like to visit places with ABSOLUTELY NO SNOW while in india or pakistan. I hate the snow. Atleast for now...

Yes.... FATA......

 

[Omar1984]

If you want to see the real historic Pakistan, then I suggest you visit Lahore.

Islamabad is a very new city that is well-planned, the city does not have much of a rich history like Lahore. However, 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Islamabad is a very ancient city called Taxila. It is was an important city during Alexander The Great's campaign in South Asia and contains buildings and buddhist stupas from thousands of years ago.

I've spend much time in Islamabad and Lahore, and I would suggest you go to Lahore and go to a restaurant called Coco's Den after 8pm. Ask the waiter for a seat on the most upper level of the restaurant and you'll see a magnificiant view of the historic Badshahi Mosque lit up at night, theres nothing like it in the world. And in the morning/afternoon visit the Lahore Fort, which is next to the Badshahi Mosque. And then in late afternon you should viist the famous Wagah Border (Pakistan-India International Border). The Pakistani Rangers and the Indian Rangers put up an entertaining show. You can cross the Wagah Border into India if you have proper documents (Valid Passport and a Valid Indian Visa). For transportation, I suggest you take a rikshaw for transportation in South Asia, its cheaper and safer mode of transportation in South Asia.

I dont know much about Karachi. Ask PDF members who are from Karachi (most Pakistani PDF members here are from Karachi). I heard from relatives that Karachi is also worth visiting.

Finally, if you get sick of South Asia and the subcontinent all together then visit Islamabad, its the Europe of South Asia and you will feel much in home (less traffic, less pollution, less people, modern buildings, taxis (no rickshawas), greenery all around you, all the European/American cuisine you can think of).

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Well tell us which cities u want to see n wat kinda things u want to see.

 

[Tin Man]

BTW, you cannot hire cars in India for self-drive (because of insurance regulations) but the car-hire rates (even with a driver) is lower than Europe most times. In Goa, there is an interesting facility available, you can hire a motor-bike or motor scooter for self driving, if you are going to spend some time there. The Hirer may ask for some security and then will charge you per-diem. Of course you need to carry your diver's licence to do that (with an International endorsement preferably from your country). But, AFAIK, that works only in Goa.
Don't forget to check out-----http://www.lonelyplanet.com/. Many of your questions can find answers there.

i have an international drivers license. I cannot hire for self drive even with that?

 

[Tin Man]

And what about pakistan? Is it like india where you cannot hire cars for self drive?

 

[Capt.Popeye]

i have an international drivers license. I cannot hire for self drive even with that?

Yes, because the Insurance companies in India do not cover that. Which means that no reputable car hire company will do it. But you are better off not driving in the entire subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal), or Egypt or Syria or Indonesia or countries like that; speaking from my own experience.

 

[Omar1984]

hi, is there any place unsafe for foreigners?. I like to visit places with ABSOLUTELY NO SNOW while in india or pakistan. I hate the snow. Atleast for now...

It snows in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, the northern parts of Punjab and Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and India Occupied Kashmir. It snows all the time in Gilgit-Baltistan and some places of Khyber Pakhtunkwa except in the summer time.

From May-September you will not encounter snow anywhere in South Asia unless you decide to climb K2 in Gilgit-Baltistan area of Pakistan.

I suggest you dont visit Balochistan and FATA, these areas are not safe for foreigners right now maybe not even safe for Pakistanis.

 

[Tin Man]

Well tell us which cities u want to see n wat kinda things u want to see.

i recently saw a post on a port city called gwadar. People were going on about how beautiful it is . I want to visit islamabad, karachi to shop for souveneirs. Other than that i want to see some pristine nature pakistan is famous for.

 

[Omar1984]

i recently saw a post on a port city called gwadar. People were going on about how beautiful it is . I want to visit islamabad, karachi to shop for souveneirs. Other than that i want to see some pristine nature pakistan is famous for.

Do not go to Gwadar. Do not go anywhere in Balochistan. Its not safe as of yet. Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, even Peshawar is safe but not Gwadar or any city/town in Balochistan as of yet. Its not even safe for us Pakistanis yet.

 

[Tin Man]

Yes, because the Insurance companies in India do not cover that. Which means that no reputable car hire company will do it. But you are better off not driving in the entire subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal), or Egypt or Syria or Indonesia or countries like that; speaking from my own experience.

My friend told me to not miss kerala and goa in india. I dont think i can get any freedom with a chaffeur driving us around along tourist designated areas.

 

[Tin Man]

Do not go to Gwadar. Do not go anywhere in Balochistan. Its not safe as of yet. Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, even Peshawar is safe but not Gwadar or any city/town in Balochistan as of yet. Its not even safe for us Pakistanis yet.

only one friend of mine has ever been to pakistan and that was for scaling some himalayan mountain. I heard balochistan is one of the most beautiful places in pak.....its too bad. Omar, can you tell me about hiring cars in pakistan? I have a valid international license. I would enjoy driving around by myself on a rental.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

My friend told me to not miss kerala and goa in india. I dont think i can get any freedom with a chaffeur driving us around along tourist designated areas.

You don't need to! In Goa, hire a motor-bike or motor scooter and drive yourself around. In Kerala, the buses or public transport network is good and occasionally hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw (cheap and effective commuting).

p.s. if you are going to spend a few months in India, then you can buy an used car to drive around. But you will need to have a local address etc. and most of all get ready to deal with the mayhem which is on most South Asian roads.
Don't say that I did not warn you!

 

[thebrownguy]

You don't need to! In Goa, hire a motor-bike or motor scooter and drive yourself around. In Kerala, the buses or public transport network is good and occasionally hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw (cheap and effective commuting).

Dude whats wrong with you. June - july is so not the time to travel to Goa. Most of the shaqs are shut after April. The party scene is completely dry.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Dude whats wrong with you. June - july is so not the time to travel to Goa. Most of the shaqs are shut after April. The party scene is completely dry.

The shacks run throughout the year. Now with the "Goa in the rains" campaign you can work out some great packages, even with the 5-star places. The party scene is not my cup of tea anymore (I've seen the Carnavals in Brazil).