In August 2022, ignoring Foreign Office advice, we set off for a two-week holiday to northern Pakistan expecting balmy days and stunning views of snow-capped peaks. However, the extended monsoon season resulted in a different but unique and unforgettable experience.
We were very lucky to be able follow our planned route with limited interruption, nothing compared to the disruption to Pakistani lives. Roads were swept away, bridges destroyed, orchards and homes submerged, crops ruined, and power cut off. The roads were blocked in many places by landslides. We witnessed the courage of men moving rocks in fast flowing rivers and under precarious cliffs to allow traffic to pass by and watched shepherds hastily bringing their goats down from the high meadows. Women attempted to dry soft furnishings between downpours, as the traditionally constructed plastic and mud roofs could not withstand the power of the rain.
Still, everywhere we were greeted with the warmest hospitality, from the Kalashis, the Punjabis, the Pashtuns, the Gilgitis, the Chitralis, the Tajiks…the country is a cultural and ethnic melting pot. For thousands of years, the area has been a route of military and religious significance with Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims all leaving their marks.
Finally, on our journey back to Islamabad the skies cleared, giving us glimpses of some of the highest peaks in the world.
The beauty of this area is undeniable, and we look forward to returning. In the meantime, our thoughts are with all the wonderful people we met along the way, hoping that they can quickly rebuild their lives before the harsh winter sets in.
For more of Vicky’s photos, click on the below link to her Flickr album:
