Lonely Planet Pakistan (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author) "Most prehistorical and early historical information on what is now Pakistan is about the Indus plain..." (more)
Key Phrases: general bus stand, ablation valley, shalwar qamiz, Northern Areas, Getting There, Nanga Parbat (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The essential explorer's companion, this guide reveals a country of extraordinary beauty, legendary hospitality and landscapes that range from the ancient cities of the Indus Valley to the mighty peaks and glaciers of the Hindukush and Karakoram ranges.

• 90 maps, including 16 topographically detailed maps for trekkers
• special section on Pakistan's ethnically diverse peoples
• separate chapter covering seven languages
• the lowdown on staying out of trouble and staying healthy
• tips on shopping and bargaining, and a full-colour guide to regional handicrafts
• critical listings of all the best places to stay

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 5th edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086442535X
• ISBN-13: 978-0864425355
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,366,212 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the maps need help, June 7, 2000

By	Joshua Winters (Bemidji, MN USA) - See all my reviews

I just returned from two months in Pakistan, and I primarily used the Lonely Planet. Using the Lonely Planet for travel can tend to give one the feeling that all countries look and taste the same, and are inhabited by mostly backpackers and english-speaking hotelkeepers. The hotels recommended manage to sustain a surprisingly similar clientele throughout the Middle East and South Asia at least, and it starts to wear thin after a bit. The maps of many cities were not up to LP standards, Peshawar's Old City being a notable example. The Rawalpindi section could use an update, and I must say that the food recommendations generally seem to be stabs in the dark, in which case one is better off stabbing in the dark according to his own tastes. Accomodation selection criteria must be devoid of any Architectural or historical interest factors, but is quite successfully utilitarian. Many wonderfully intriguing and inexpensive old hotels are skipped. The ubiquity of this guide tends to ghetto the Western backpackers in little enclaves, useful both if you wish to avoid them like the plague, or you relish their company. The historical notes are surprisingly knowledgeable in most areas, though some notes concerning the British Raj period are either tritely anti-colonial or of dubious veracity, sometimes both. The Paksitani bureaucracy is a much more flexible entity than the authors would suggest, and things like Foreigner's Registration and exit taxes are not necessarily carved in stone. In conclusion, this guide definitely caters to the trek-minded eco-groover, with disproportionate emphasis laid on the Northern Areas, and on repeating tired environmentalist mantras.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real companion throughout Pakistan, December 28, 2000

By	Maurizio Giuliano (Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Perhaps just below the usual Lonely Planet standard, this guidebook surely is a wonderful companion for your journey through Pakistan, filled with interesting as well as entertaining data and information, as well as tips for the traveller. There are some minor lacks, such as bad coverage of the battered Kashmir region, and perhaps too much focus on the usual tourist sites. Yet, all in all, the best guidebook on the country I ever found.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide To Pakistan, August 18, 2003

By	Dennis D. Dey (Fairfield, IA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It gives you an insight into the history and the people of Pakistan, as well as everything a tourist should know, i.e. cheap places too stay, what to eat, how to travel, the local customs, etc. And, by the way, there's nothing wrong with the map, though perceptions may differ as to which part(s) of Kashmir are free & democratic and which are not.