Karachi is the largest metropolitan in Pakistan, with 22 million people. The culture of Karachi is primarily influenced by the area’s historical attachment to the Indus River, which flows through the heart of Karachi.
The city is also one of the most multicultural hubs in South Asia, part of the British Raj after 1843. It is significantly influenced by Muhajir, Baloch, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Pashtun cultures. Due to the city’s strong connection to the sea through its port, many visitors are from Arab countries.
Karachi is also known for its street food, with dishes specific to the city. You can explore the city by planning your trip to Karachi in the right season. Generally, the best time to visit Karachi is between November and March, as the temperature and humidity level is suitable.
If you plan to visit this beautiful place, here are the best tourist attractions you must visit.
Clifton Beach
Clifton Beach is a stretch of beach in Karachi, Pakistan. The beach is located on the Arabian Sea and is 12 kilometers long.
The beach is divided into three main parts: Playa Clifton, Club Moorish, and Sea View. Playa Clifton features an amphitheater, the Dolmen Mall, a Japanese garden, food stalls, and an art gallery. Club Moorish features a dance floor and live music. Sea View is famous for fishing and surfing. Clifton Beach also has Karachi’s largest artificial reef, built-in 2016 for underwater diving competitions.
The Arabian Sea gives Clifton Beach its distinct blue color. The beach is located in Karachi’s upscale neighborhood, the Clifton. It is a popular tourist spot, and you can take part in activities like scuba diving, water skiing, or enjoy the sun as it sets on the horizon.
Karachi Zoo
Karachi Zoo was established in 1978 over 20 hectares (49 acres). In 1991, it housed 628 species comprising 94 mammals, 97 reptiles, and 597 birds. In 1997 due to criticism from animal rights groups for its poor conditions, the zoo was closed to the public.
In 2007 it re-opened after extensive renovations, and a larger number of animals were brought back, including Malaysian tapirs, Indian Wolfs, blackbucks, barking deer, and many more.
In 2014, WWF-Pakistan helped upgrade the zoo for added health benefits to the animals and its proximity to the Arabian Sea. A new section for primates has been added to the zoo, including baboons, gibbons, macaques, and langurs.
The zoo also provides educational opportunities for people of all ages about wild animals and birds through special tours and classes.
Turtle beach
Turtle Beach is located in Kamari Town, Karachi, Pakistan. It extends into the Clifton area and provides access to the beach for the locals.
Turtle Beach is notable for being one of the last remaining beaches in Karachi with turtles living on it. These turtles come to the beach between December and April to lay their eggs under the warm sands.
However, The Endangered Species Act passed in 1975 protects the turtles, which requires locals to keep away from them during this time. It also prohibits the collection of eggs laid at night when turtles return to sea to ensure that they reach adulthood. So, you must be well aware of the rules before you visit the beach.
To spend quality time at the beach and have easy access to other places, you can book accommodation in one of the nearby hotels in Karachi and seek local guidance to avoid unwanted glitches in your itinerary.
Quaid’s Mausoleum
Quaid-e-Azam’s Mausoleum is located in Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi, Pakistan. It is the resting place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, one of the founding fathers of Pakistan.
The Mausoleum is located next to the Mazar-e-Quaid, built in the 1960s. At noon each day, the sun directly hits the tomb of The Quaid for a few seconds.
It includes marble-lined walls with 643 pillars topped by domes decorated with stained-glass windows depicting Islamic calligraphy. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a lawyer, a statesman, and the founder of modern Pakistan.
A new visitors’ gallery adjoins the Mausoleum to accommodate more than 400 visitors at a time.
Houbara Bustard Sanctuary
Houbara Bustard Sanctuary is a nature reserve in the north of Pakistan, near the coast of Cant. Houbara Bustard annually draws hunters from worldwide to search for this large migratory bird.
This sanctuary was established to protect these birds from being hunted by foreign dignitaries and royalties from their countries. Visitors are not allowed into the sanctuary without permission, only given during the hunting season.
In July 2012, a new visitor’s center was opened for guests’ convenience. This center features two exhibition halls and a souvenir shop selling handicrafts and other goods made in national institutions.
Conclusion
Karachi offers a great nightlife and many tourist activities like scuba diving and surfing. From deserts to beaches and mountain peaks, there’s something for everyone here.
