PHOTOGRAPHY/ARTS & CRAFTS/CUISINE

For all you photography buffs out there, the perfect opportunity to capture some special images... and for Islamabadites to enjoy the general ambience,check out on the regional cuisines and pick up some crafts along the way!

The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (NIFTH)/Lok Virsa is organising its annual cultural festival called “Lok Mela” from November 1- November 7.

The festival aims at promoting indigenous folk heritage and 
encouraging traditional practitioners including master artisans, folk artists, folk musicians and rural performances.

Daily Attractions:

• Provincial / Regional Cultural Pavilion
• Folk musical performances
• Craft Bazaar
• Traditional Cuisine
• PNCA puppet theatre performances at open air theatre
• The Hill Joint Rooftop Amphitheater performances

Please Note: Foreigners requested to check if NOC’s required

(Some parts of the area are in Haripur District of KP).

We invite you to join us on a very special nature walk along the ancient 'Alexander Route' through the scenic Margalla Hills. As we trek through the area, you will be briefed on the indigenous wildlife, local flora, history, heritage / ancient cultures, and the environmental impacts of deforestation in the region. Given the season, autumn will manifest itself in all its glory, a very special floral variety unique to the Margalla Hills National Park will be in full bloom. Birds and other forest dwellers unique to this area will be singing their songs. The indescribably beautiful fall scenery is a treat to watch!

We will travel to the base camp at Gharyala next to the Buddha Caves and from there to the Kenthla mountain top .

We will then reach the walking track at Papran De Khoe for a 120 minutes nature trek and further through the uniquely dense Papran and Pine tree forests and complete the 3 km loop in the enchanting wilderness with two water springs on the way!

As we walk along the route, we will be able to observe signs of mining in the region and fossils preserved from various geologic ages. This is also an opportunity to stop at Alexander’s well (reputedly dug by Alexander’s army) and check out the oldest mango tree- unique to this region!

On the way back, we will take a pit stop at an outdoor restaurant ‘Sadhu’s Retreat’ to relax and enjoy the delicious olive tea, if you like @ Rs. 100!

Refreshments on order,will be available at the retreat .You are encouraged to bring refreshments along with you.Don’t forget to wear sturdy walking shoes and dress appropriately keeping weather conditions in mind.

'BONSAI' (Japanese: "tray-planted") are living dwarf trees trained to grow in containers. Bonsai specimens are ordinary trees and shrubs, not hereditary dwarfs. They are dwarfed by a system of pruning roots and branches and training branches by tying with wire. The art originated in China, where, perhaps over 1,000 years ago, trees were cultivated in trays, wooden containers, and earthenware pots and trained in naturalistic shapes. Bonsai, however, has been pursued and developed primarily by the Japanese.

Bonsai may live for a century or more, and be handed down from one generation to another as valued family possessions. Medium or average bonsai can be produced in as little as three years whereas, small sized bonsai require 5 to 10 or more years to train.

The demonstration will include :

• Brief introduction of 'Root Over Rock' style.
• Tips for the selection of rock.
• Selecting the most suitable trees.
• Preparing a tree for the composition.
• A few short cut techniques that help create a composition in just a few years!

Abu-Bakar started on his own to experiment with this art in 1985. His Bonsai's have been greatly appreciated at Islamabad's horticultural events. In this program, he will briefly inform us about this art which will be followed by an interesting demonstration of techniques used to create a stunning Root-over-Rock Bonsai. We all have seen and admired trees clinging to high mountain clifs where their roots are spread over the rocks. Now imagine if we can replicate the same composition in miniature!

I was intrigued by the name Charsi Nama and because I had been reading Wajahats posts on social media,I expected irreverance, jabs and sarcasm...but I did not expect this! The collection is strung together with verses containing delightful surreal imagery,metaphor, and really, much more...

Bilal Minto ( Writer/lawyer)

Either you are the only and last vestige of the beat generationin Pakistan or Mira Jee of our times or both!

Julaian Columeau ( French & Urdu Novelist)

There is a cetain playfulness & ease in his verse which makes him distinct among his contemporaries ... Malik's diction and idiom makes the most complex emotions accessible to the reader.Some shorter poems read like sweet spells...an absolute delight to read!

Harris khalique (Poet- Presidential Pride of Performance Award)

The poet jolts the reader out of deep slumber...and sings a lullaby to the fears and insecurities that restrain us from breaking our invisible shackles...

Mazhar Niaz (Author; The Mahogony Junction- Tamgha-I- Imtiaz)

Wajahat Malik is a well known TV travel show host and has produced numerous documentary series for local and foreign TV channels. He has lived in Seattle USA for many years. While there he wrote and performed for several fringe and commercial theatre productions. His poems and short stories have been published and highly appreciated in different American publicatrions. Presently he lives in Islamabad.

Autumn is the time when the landscape of Baltistan is at its most picturesque! The trees throughout the valley seem to be on fire, as their leaves turn to gold, red, orange and bronze contrasting sharply with the snow covered mountains.

Truly, a photographer’s dream come true, the tour provides a golden opportunity to capture the stunning autumn scenery through the lens of a camera. At the end of the Photo Safari there will be a Photographic Competition among the participants of this tour. Certificates of merit will be awarded to the three best photographers. Chances are there that the best photograph is also selected for the 2022’s calendar of ASG.

Itinerary

Day 1: Islamabad to Skardu by air. Arrival at Skardu. Skardu to Shigar Valley. Photography en route. Arrival at Shigar. Photo walk at Shigar. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 2: Morning walk for photography. Departure for Khaplu. Photography en route. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 3: Full day in and around Khaplu to capture the best scenery of Karakorum. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Return travel to Skardu. Visit Satpara Lake, Buddha Rock, Lower and Upper Kachura Lakes. Opportunity to capture excellent landscape and village life. Night stay at hotel.

Day 5: Return flight from Skardu to Islamabad. End of tour

For those of you that just want to come along to enjoy the landscape- but specially for amateur/ professional photographers and ordinary camera buffs like you and me, this is an opportunity to sharpen your skills, share your own experiences and expertise and get some professional guidance!

The use of filters to control light in special hours of the day is a technique for capturing stunning landscapes. It is also used for blurring, smearing, or obscuring the moving elements of a subject. Imaging the landscape surrounding Rawal Lake bathed in the afternoon autumn sun through various filters will let your imagination and creativity run rife!!!

Mr Sajid Qazi, an accomplished landscape photographer, will share his expertise and techniques for capturing stunning images in soft evening light using various filters. We will also learn about tripod usage, proper frames and filter selection etc.

An off-road cycling to Kot Jandaan-not many have been here,and not many can! This is your chance to add this to your list of accomplishments!

A test of the riders endurance and perseverance... tough climbs, breathtaking views, exciting and thrilling downhills!

An easy part to Chauntra Village is followed by a tough part that will take us all the way up to the village Kot Jandaan.

Bring out your MTB and stake your claim in the hills. Challenge yourself!

Swat is without doubt one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Northern Pakistan. With a rich historical past, it was described as “Udyana”(the garden) in ancient Hindu epics. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought and won some of his major battles here, before crossing over to the plains of the five rivers. The famous Gandhara Buddhist civilization later flourished in this valley.

There are many remains of Buddhist stupas, monasteries and settlements in lower Swat. The area is full of rich and amazing archaeological sites in an environment still intact and dominated by the calm majesty of Mount Ilam. In the area south of Barikot, in about 200 sq km, archeologists have documented more than 400 sites from proto-history to Islam.

The trip involve some easy hiking to reach to the view points on archaeological sites so wear good comfortable walking shoes. Detailed trip joining instructions will be issued to the confirm trip participants well in time.

Under a joint venture, Italian ACT- Field School Project and Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan is working jointly to promote community based ecotourism in the area of Lower Swat Valley.

Trip Itinerary

Day-1

Departure from Islamabad at 07:30 am

En-route commentary about sites of tourist interest on the way.

Visit archaeological site of Takht-e-Bahi near Mardan

Lunch: (carry pack lunch with you to save time)

Visit archaeological site of Bazira near Barikot

Continue travel towards Mingora/Saidu Sharif

Visit Shingardar Stupa.

Arrival at Mingora/Saidu Sharif in the evening.

Transfer to hotels.

Dinner and night stay at hotel.

Day-2

Breakfast at hotel.

Visit Swat Museum

Visits Batkara Stupa

Visit Jahanabad Buddha

Visit shops of handicrafts en route.

Lunch at hotel along Swat river

Return to hotel for rest and freshen up

Departure for visit to Muraghzar to visit White Place of Wali-e-Swat

Return to hotel and dinner and night stay at hotel.

Day-3

Breakfast at hotel.

Check out from hotel

Departure for return travel to Islamabad.

Arrival Udegram

Visit archaeological sites of Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi’s Mosque

Visit remains of Raja Gira’s Castle (short hike involve)

Visit Galeghai cave and Buddha image on rock along the road.

Departure for Amluk-dara Stupa.

Visit Amluk-dara Stupa

Carry pack lunch to save time

Stop en-route for tea etc.

Estimated time of arrival at Islamabad at around 6:30 pm

End of tour.

Self- Drive

Perfect weather to visit a farm set up by an Internationally qualified farmer trained in sustainable agriculture and poultry production, who also manages a local cooperative of organic farmers, to promote organic food in Islamabad.

After taking a round of the farm and being briefed on modern organic techniques we will retreat to the small farm house where the local kitchen will prepare a lunch for us using only organic produce: Bread, chicken, eggs and salads...!

‘Organic food’ is the term used for healthy food grown on farms, the same way our grandparents had grown produce - using traditional methods, organic fertilizers and natural pesticides. The artificial intervention of genetically altered seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the food supply chain has raised concerns for food safety.

The farm is spread over 60 Kanals with half of it being used for vegetable production using tunnel farming technique while the other half is being used for poultry production.We will be able to see radish, carrots, turnips, peas, cabbage, spinach and mustard along with a wide range of green and red salads being grown on the farm. There are over 600 free range birds on the farm which feed openly on the organic feed being produced on the farm using milled grains from a local granary, flax seed, turmeric, cinnamon etc.

Join us to explore the western ridge of the Shah Allah Ditta. The hike starts near the caves and goes to the top of the ridge via a moderately steep trail. Once at the ridge, we will keep moving further to the west until the end of the ridge, near Sangjani.

The terrain is different than the usual Margalla Hills and presents beautiful views on both sides of the hill- Taxila on one side and GT Road on the other.One of the highlights is the view of the Dharmarajika Stupa, the Great Stupa of Taxila, from the ridge. On the way back we will pass through the Ban Faqiran Stupa and the mosque to remind us of the historical significance of this region.