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Not the most attractive destination at the moment, Pakistan has some great heritage and architectural delights.

Former England cricketer Ian Botham once jokingly said about Pakistan that “It’s the kind of place you would send your mother-in-law to.”

While Botham’s comments, rightly, didn’t go down well, you do get the drift. And more so now, as it’s not a good time to plan a trip to Pakistan, considering the tensions brewing between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks.

But then, when has it been the right time to visit our neighbours, one may ask. And with the cricket tour being cancelled as well, the chance for more people to travel to Pakistan has also been laid to rest.

Nevertheless, the country still has a lot of delightful places to visit, like the ancient cities of Taxila, Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. If you really want to get your fill of archaeological and heritage sites, then these three places are a must-see, if you do visit Pakistan.

Apart from the ancient cities, there is a lot of architecture from the Mughal era that should top any list of places to see in Pakistan. For instance, the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, which was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1637. The mosque is an architectural delight, and was at one time considered the largest mosque in the world.

Speaking of mosques, one of the modern-day mosques in Pakistan is the Faisal Mosque in the city of Islamabad. Supposed to be one of the largest in the world, it can hold over 300,000 worshippers at one time. This was the place where the General Zia-ul-Haq’s funeral took place. Again, it’s considered to be an architectural wonder of Pakistan.

The Shalimar Gardens in Lahore are another tourist attraction, constructed during the Mughal era by Shahjahan. These gardens have a total of 410 fountains and are spread over a huge area. This is one of several World Heritage Sites designated by UNESCO in Pakistan.

For mountaineers and adventure lovers, there are the mountains like K2, which is considered one of the most arduous climbs in the world.

Pakistan is home to several mountain peaks which are over 7,000 metres tall.

The various street markets of Lahore and Karachi have become extremely popular for the delicious food they dish out. Pity, there won’t be many tourists travelling at this point of time.