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1 Jan- Feb, 2014 Volume 3, Issue 1 STFP Bulletin STFP promotes tourism practices that are environmentally sustainable, economically beneficial to the local communities, and educational experience for tourists. Newsletter Highlights: Day trip to Rohtas and Rawat Forts 1 Eco Adventure trip to Cholistan desert 2 Weekend trip to explore historical sites of lower Swat Valley 3 Trip to Soon Valley in Salt Range 4 Day Trip to Rohtas Fort and Rawat Fort Rohtas Fort is a symbol of the determination and strength of its builder, Sher Shah Srui. The fort, 12 km in circumference, is located 98 km from Islamabad in a gorge 16 km North West of Jelhum. This huge fort has 12 gates, 4 palaces, 68 towers, 3 deep wells and meters high/3 5 meters thick fortification walls. The construction of the fort started in 1543 and took over three years to complete. The original intent in building the fort was to block possible entry of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, who after his defeat had fled to Iran. The second objective was to punish and defeat the turbulent Gakkhars who had control of the valley and were allies of the Mughals. The fort could not have been more strategically located protected as it was by ravines and the river Kahan. However, it lost its importance as a frontier garrison when Akbar built the great fort at Attock on the Indus in the 1850s. Rawat Fort was built in early 16th century by the Gakhars, a tribe of the Pothohar plateau. It is 17 km east of Rawalpindi on the Grand Trunk Road. The fort was scene of a battle between the Gakhar chief Sultan Sarang Khan and Sher Shah Suri, the builder of Rohtas Fort. The fort is almost in square form and has two gates and contains a mosque. There are many graves inside including Sultan Sarang Khan and his 16 sons. Date: 12 January Days: Sunday Duration: 10 hrs Base: Islamabad Per head Fee: Rs. 1,600/- Booking Deadline: 08 January For further information contact: Arif Tufail at ,

2 Page 2 of 5 Eco-Adventure trip to Cholistan Desert In the south of Punjab along the border of India lies the mysterious desert of Cholistan. This vast dry expanse holds in its heart a treasure of historical sites, cultural heritage and rich variety of wild life. The desert of Cholistan was once the lush green valley of great Hakra River which suddenly disappeared about 4000 years ago and with it went the glory of this land. The jungles vanished, wildlife migrated and civilization living along its banks moved on to the fertile banks of Indus River. Through this tour we will take you to Cholistan desert at the time of the year when its landscape looks its best and you will get a chance to explore the hidden grandeur of the vast wilderness of this magical desert. You will visit desert villages, nomadic settlements, shrines of sufi saints, Lalsohanra National Park and remains of the old fort of Derawar. Date: January Day: Friday to Sunday Duration: 3 days Base: Lahore Per head Fee: Rs.10, 900/- Booking Deadline: 12 January For further information contact: Arif Tufail at , The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. St. Augustine

3 Page 3 of 5 Weekend Trip to Explore Historical Sites of Lower Swat Valley Lower Swat valley has a rich historical past. It was described as Udyana (the garden) in ancient Hindu epics and where in 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought and won some of his major battles before crossing over to the plains of the five rivers. The famous Gandhara Buddhist Civilization later flourished in this valley. There are many remains of Buddhist stupas, monasteries and old settlements in the area of lower Swat. During this two days trip we will visit more than 10 important archeological sites in lower Swat. Date: January Days: Saturday and Sunday Duration: two days Base: Islamabad Per head Fee: Rs.6,500/- Booking Deadline: 20 January For further information contact: Arif Tufail at , Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard

4 Page 4 of 5 Weekend Trip to Soon Valley in Salt Range The Salt Range comprise of two rows of low lying rugged hills that run east to west between the Soon and Jhelum rivers from the Grand Trunk Road near Jhelum city to the River Indus near Kalabagh. This area is said to record 600 million years of the earth s history. Its name comes from the vast deposits of rock salt exposed and mined at Khewra. The salt was left behind when the sea, which extended over the Indus plains and the Potwar plateau, evaporated 600 million years ago. The region is also known as the Museum of Geology. The Salt Range Wetlands Complex comprised of a series of adjacent lakes Kallar Kahar, Khabbeki, Ucchali, Jhalar and Namal. These lakes provide an important wintering ground for migratory birds and are core habitat for the endemic Punjab Urial. Pakistan Wetlands Programme has launched a comprehensive project for the conservation and protection of these important lakes. Historically this region is also very rich. Alexander the Great passed through the Salt Range on his way to fought battle with Porus on the banks of the Jhelum River in 326 BC. In the 3 rd century BC, this area became part of Ashoka s Buddhist Empire. Towards the end of the Buddhist period, in the 6 th century AD, there was a kingdom in the Salt Range called Singhapura, probably centered at Ketas. From 7 th to 10 th centuries, the Salt Range was part of powerful Kashmiri Hindu kingdom. Mahmood Ghazni invaded the region in the early 11 th century. The local tribes were converted to Islam at this time. "It is the quality of our experiences, the satisfaction, excitement or joy that we get or fail to get from them that will determine how those experiences will change us, in short what we learn." John Holt Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan in collaboration with local community is arranging this ecoadventure safari trip for those who like to explore natural, historical and culture beauty of the Salt Range. Date: February Days: Saturday and Sunday Duration: 2 days Departure Time: 0900 hrs Base: Islamabad/Lahore Per head Fee: Rs. 5,900/- Booking Deadline: 10 February For further information contact: Arif Tufail at ,

5 Page 5 of 5 Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan Islamabad House # 9, Street # 11, Main Road, Banigala Islamabad Ph # Cell # Karachi House 53/3, Maqbool, C.H.S, Alamgir Road, Karachi. Ph # stfp.info@gmail.com We re on the Web! See us at: "Success doesn't come to you, you go to it." Marva Collins The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism sets a frame of reference for the responsible and sustainable development of world tourism. It draws inspiration from many similar declarations and industry codes that have come before and it adds new thinking that reflects our changing society at the beginning of the 21st century. With international tourism forecast to reach 1.6 billion arrivals by 2020, members of the World Tourism Organization believe that the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is needed to help minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and on cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits for residents of tourism destinations. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is intended to be a living document. Read it. Circulate it widely. Participate in its implementation. Only with your cooperation can we safeguard the future of the tourism industry and expand the sector s contribution to economic prosperity, peace and understanding among all the nations of the world. For more information on this topic please send us an at: stfpak@gmail.com Upcoming Events Mela Chanan Pir Cholistan (13-16 March) World Water Day event (22 March) Day trip to Takht-e-Bhai (30 March) Back to Nature Salt Range Expedition March Day trip to explore historical sites of Taxila (20 April) Earth Day event (22 April) Weekend trip to Banjosa lake, AJK (26-27 April) Field trips are also open for your family members and friends, so you are welcome to invite them on these trips with prior intimation to the concerned staff of STFP at the time of signing up. Minimum group size for each trip is 8 persons. Your participation in our trips, expeditions and knowledge sharing events provide support to STFP s mission of increasing awareness through exploration, environmental education, exchange of ideas and research work.