Karachi, the commercial nerve centre of Pakistan, is one of the most richly rewarding regions of the world to visit. Its scenery is captivating and varied; its history and culture is mystifying and impressive. Karachi is exceptional in many ways and rather different to the rest of Pakistan, just as Amsterdam is not typical of the rest of the Netherlands and London is not a mini-England.
Karachi's culture is characterized by the blending of Middle Eastern, Central Asian, South Asian and Western influences, as well as the city's status as a major international business center.
The bazaars of Karachi offer a wealth of exciting shopping and irresistible bargains. Express Market, with its gothic style, was built by the British to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign. From its centre rises a tall clock tower. The market contains shops that sell meat fish, poultry, vegetables and other groceries. Within the city, talented artisans with age-old skills produce handicrafts of exquisite beauty.
Karachi has a a hot summer season and a relatively mild winter season. With its stunning beaches, yachting, golf courses and famous horse racing meets, Karachi echoes an imperial charm. The countless Karachi restaurants prepare a wide choice of Pakistani and international cuisines.
Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum and Museum, is a prominent and impressive landmark of Karachi located at the City Center. Designed by Architect Yahya Merchant, this white marble Mausoleum with its curved arches, copper grills and a four-tiered crystal chandelier gifted by the peoples Republic of China is a must see. There is also a large park surrounding the mausoleum.
Other landmarks of the city are: Aga Khan University hospital, Pakistan Maritime Museum, Koocha-e-Saqafat, Pakistan Maritime Museum and Masjid e Tooba, the largest single-domed mosque in the world. As a whole, there is considerable diversity in culture, and this diversity has produced a unique cultural amalgam of its own type.
July 24, 2013
Photo source: wikipedia.org
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