Comparative Cultures - MUGHAL COSTUMES PRINTS, MOTIFS AND THEIR REPRESENTATION IN CONTEMPORARY ART

​

‘The costumes and turbans coming from the various states and provinces of the “undivided India” -characterized by the rhythm of decorative patterns, vibrancy of colour and finesse of the fabric- had distinct styles developing within various socio-economic classes and gender…’

The presentation will explore symbolism rooted in the costumes of the Mughal court – their prints, motifs and representation in the contemporary urban context particularly in musical videos and films. The contemporary media industry has tried to preserve the distinctiveness of the traditional attire through a lively exchange of experimentation that embraces a fascination for the nostalgic past, characterized with an indefinable balance of compositional elements, ideas, tonalities, moods, dazzling colors and floral ornamental aesthetic….

Hikes - THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE MARGALLAS

​

One of the most regular hikes in the ASG Hiking calendar- not to be missed!

The Tila Charauni, at 1490m, is the highest peak of the Margalla Hills ridge, adjacent to Islamabad. Categorized as a moderate level hike the total distance is 10Km, half of which is the climb to the top.

Adventure Club - ROHTAS FORT, A WORLD HERITAGE SITE

​

Day trip to Rohtas Fort is a symbol of the determination and strength of its builder, Sher Shah Suri. The fort, 12 km in circumference, is located 110km from Islamabad in a gorge 16 km North West of Jhelum City. This huge fort has 12 gates, remains of old palaces, 68 towers, 3 deep wells and 12 – 18 meters high/3 – 5 meters thick fortification walls. The construction of the fort started in 1543 and took over three years to complete. Conservation and restoration work is underway to bring back to this great edifice, some of its past glory.

Film Club - COMING HOME (2014) - China

​

Duration: 1 hr 49 mins

Director: Zhang Yimou

Screenplay: Jingzhi Zou based on the book by Geling Yan

Cast: Gong Li, Chen Daoming, Zhang Huiwen, Guo Tao, Yan Ni, Li Chun, Zhang Jia-yi

Awards: Asian Film Award: Gong Li (Best Actress) / Zhang Huiwen (Newcomer)

A haunting drama about a family torn apart by the violent Cultural Revolution in the 1970s when Party officials and local police publicly humiliated and harassed people, seized property, tortured some and arbitrarily imprisoned others. The story is ultimately one of triumph of the human spirit and the endless love it is capable of as well as the phenomenal power of such love to emancipate and create beauty from the bleakest of circumstances.

Cycling - AROUND THE TAXILA HERITAGE SITES

​

Situated about 32 km (20 mi) north-west of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, just off the famous Grand Trunk Road ,Taxila (meaning "City of Cut Stone") is an important archaeological site of ancient India..Ancient Taxila was situated at the pivotal junction of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. The origin of Taxila as a city goes back to c. 1000 BCE. Some ruins at Taxila date to the time of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE, followed successively by Mauryan Empire, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, and Kushan Empire periods.

Gardening and Botanical Walks - ORANGE PICKING!

​

Bring family and friends along and enjoy a day’s outing!

We will be driving to a citrus farm to see fruiting organic orange trees. The farm is located approximately 25 km. from the Rawal lake area...the drive is 30-40 minutes.

The oranges at the Farm are unique to this region as they are red from inside and are grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Located in a beautiful setting with a backdrop of mountains, and a river winding down between the farm and the mountains. Our host will give us a guided tour of the orchards and give a brief talk on growing citrus plants, their maintenance, fertilizer and pest control.

Film Club - A PRIVATE WAR (2018) - UK/USA

​

Duration: 1 hr 50 min

Director: Matthew Heineman

Screenplay: Arash Amiel & Marie Brenner, based on a Vanity Fair article

Cast: Rosamund Pike, Alexandra Moen, Tom Hollander, Faye Marsay

Awards: Golden Globe Award Nomination: Rosamund Pike (Best Actress)

A haunting film about the legendary Sunday Times war correspondent Marie Colvin.The film does an incredible job recreating the tension and anxiety of moving through a war zone and at its center is the remarkable performance of Rosamund Pike who captures with sharp precision the flawed but brave character of Marie Colvin…

Hikes - ‘BRUTI – LOH DANDHI’- LOOP HIKE

​

We will take the old route from the foothill village of Noorpur to Pir Sohawa through the valley. This is an old route developed and used by local villagers.It offers a fascinating experience of walking past the old villages in the hills, besides offering views of the valleys below…

We will pool cars to go to the actual starting point of the hike: the parking of Loh Dandi. From there we will start the hike which is around 8-9Km long .We will climb up a track through the valley and loop back via the Loh Dandi track.

Adventure Club/Archaeology - TAKHT E BAHI- A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

​

A Day Trip

The Takht-e-Bahi Buddhist Monastery is one of the most impressive and well preserved pieces of Gandhara architecture in Pakistan. It is situated 14 km northwest of Mardan on the road to Swat (2 ½ hour drive from Islamabad). The reputation of Takht-e-Bahi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is based partially on the extraordinarily good state of preservation and partially on its glorious location. The site itself is located on the northern flanks of a rocky spur rising 150 meters (500 ft.) above the plains.

Cycling - A RIDE AROUND F-9 PARK

​

A family outing!

This is for all the new comers and families with children who want to test their riding skills in a relatively comfortable and stress-free location!