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The Dougs travel from Lahore to Islamabad to Murree

ByDoug Dirks

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In the morning we left Lahore and drove down the M2 Motorway towards Islamabad. The M2 Motorway between Lahore and Islamabad is a 6 lane divided highway, about 400 km long.

After about 2 hours of driving we stopped at Kallar Kahar, a lake near the Motorway. This is a stop for migratory birds from Siberia and a popular tourist spot for Pakistani people. We saw lots of school students out for the day on paddle boats, riding on the Ferris wheel and on a furry white camel. We took a motorboat ride and stopped to photograph some birds.

The lake called Kallar Kahar - home for migratory birds from Siberia in the winter.
The lake called Kallar Kahar – home for migratory birds from Siberia in the winter.
Bird drying feathers after diving in the lake called Kallar Kahar.
Little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) drying feathers after diving in the lake called Kallar Kahar.
School students enjoying paddle boats on the lake.
School students enjoying paddle boats on the lake.
Ehsan, Doug, Yousaf and Afaq on our motorboat.
Ehsan, Doug, Yousaf and Afaq on our motorboat.
Would you like to ride on a white camel?
Would you like to ride on a white camel?
We stopped to try some aloo pakora (deep fried potato) and this donkey loaded down with hay and firewood walked by.
We stopped to try some aloo pakora (deep fried potato) and this donkey loaded down with hay and firewood walked by.
Yousaf is paying for our scrumptious aloo pakora.
Yousaf is paying for our scrumptious aloo pakora.
A small herd of goats passing 3 women with loads of fodder on their heads.
A small herd of goats passing 3 women with loads of fodder on their heads.
Long legged migratory bird at Kallar Kahar (can you identify?).
Black winged stilt (long legged migratory bird) at Kallar Kahar.
Some of these birds have already found their way into Bunyaad Tree of Life carpets.
Purple moorhens (Jal-Kukri in local language). Some of these birds have already found their way into Bunyaad Tree of Life carpets. Maybe these ones will be featured on a future Persian Tree of Life.

 

 

Egrets and a small heron sunning themselves.
Egrets (Bagla in Urdu language) and a small pond heron sunning themselves.
Another bird like those above, searching for food in the marsh.
Another Purple moorhen like above, searching for food in the marsh.

We got back on the Motorway and reached Islamabad in the afternoon. After driving around on a sightseeing tour we stopped at the Faisal Mosque as the sun was setting.

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. Islamabad was established as the capital of Pakistan in 1966 so all buildings in the city are modern, including Faisal Mosque, the national mosque of Pakistan.
Faisal Mosque.
Faisal Mosque.
Sunset in Islamabad.
Sunset in Islamabad.

Next we headed up a mountain just outside Islamabad to the hilltop Monal restaurant. There we enjoyed the magnificent view of Islamabad lights twinkling in the darkness 2,000 feet below us. We also enjoyed a great meal on the outside terrace overlooking the city.

Monal restaurant overlooking Islamabad.
Monal restaurant overlooking Islamabad. Great food with a magnificent view.

Finally, we drove further up into the mountains to the hill station at Murree, elevation about 7,000 feet. We checked into the Maisonette Firhill, slurped down some chai and fell into bed.

Tomorrow we continue on to Jared to visit folks who are learning to make Persian carpets.

Stay tuned for Doug’s next trip post

We hope you’ve been enjoying the notes, experiences and photos and have been able to follow our adventures on the Bunyaad blog so far. Stay tuned for more.

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Here is a link to all of the posts: Read Pakistan Learning Tour

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