• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
SILK ROAD
Silk Road named in the middle of the 19th century by the
German scholar,Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen
-
the greatest East
-
 West trade route andvehicle for the cross cultural exchange.
The early trade in silk was carried onagainst incredible odds by great caravans of merchants and animals traveling at asnail 's speed over some of the most inhospitable territory on the face of the earththrough waterless deserts and snowbound mountain passes. The journeys ofChina's emissary, Zhang Qian , in the third century BC brought the Han Dynasty( 206 BC - AD 220 ) into political contact with the many kingdoms of Central Asiaand opened up the great East - West trade route. The long route was divided intoareas of influence both political and economic. The Chinese traders escorted theirmerchandise beyond the Great Wall to Loulan, where it was sold or bartered toCentral Asian middlemen - Parthians, Sogdians, Pakistanis and Kushans - whocarried the trade on to the cities of the Persian, Pakistan, Syrians and Greekmerchants. Each transaction increased the cost of end product , which reachedthe Roman empire in the hands of Greek and Jewish entrepreneurs. At Kashgarthere were many choices. Some went westwards over the Terek Pass across theOxus River to Merv . Others crossed the high Pamirs to the south nearTashkurgan and went over the Khunjarab Pass and down into Pakistan. Eitherthrough land route crossing the desert of Cholistan and Tharr to port of Thatta orthrough boats from different river ports of Pakistan. It takes 40 days river journey from port of Lahore to reach Thatta for onward journey to Port of Aqba( JORDAN )and to Rome (ITALY).
 
Once you have traveled the Karakorum Highway through Pakistan youunderstand why it is often described as the 8th World's Wonder. Over 700 yearsago, Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road into China and wrote of his travels,revealing to the world places most people didn't know existed. The Silk Roadopened up over 3,000 years ago. It traverses snow-capped mountains andimmense deserts.Silk was only one item in the abundant and cultural exchange on the route, but itwas such a coveted, precious item the name Silk Road stuck. The route bustledwith activity from the 2nd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. when it declinedas sea routes were opened.
ITINERARY
:
DAY 1: ISLAMABAD: 
Arrive at Islamabad International Airport. Welcome by our Company guide andtransfer to Hotel Pearl Continental ****. After welcome drink we move out at1000 hrs for Islamabad.Pakistan is the seat of one of the world's oldestcivilizations. The artistic traditions to which it is heir are nowhere more apparent
 
than in the enormous diversity of its culture.There is plenty of evidence fromprehistoric and historic periods to support this arguments and this all we see atTaxila Museum. e.g. fossil jaws of apes 14 million years old found fromIslamabad mountains .They belong to a species named " Sivapithecus Pakininsis "said to be ancestor of man.Also a 2 million years old stone axe is on displayrecovered from this area.This museum also houses the important finds ofMehrgarh a glorious era of Indus Civilization over 9000 years old and than of5000 years old of Mohenjodaro and Harappa era in respective galleries. First wewill have lunch in Afghan Restaurant in traditional style and than will move tosee the world biggest mosque "The Shah Faisal Mosque , Daman e Koh , ShakarParian and to super market to see real collection of oriental carpets gathered fromChina, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan , Kazakistan at bargaining rates. Dinner atbarbecue restaurant. Return to hotel for over night stay.
DAY 2: BESHAM:
An early morning departure after break fast toward North along the GrandTrunk Road through terraced fields to Margala Pass some 28 kms which lies atthe real boundary between Central Asia and Sub continent. This is an ancientroute and first indicated at 516 BC. We will walk for it through a gentle climb to
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...