The Best Travel Guide to Karachi (UPDATED 2024) | ArrivalGuides.com

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Karachi

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Asia Pakistan Karachi

Overview

Karachi The guide was updated: 2024-06-13

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Explore historic landmarks like the Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum and Mohatta Palace, or unwind at Clifton and Manora Island beaches. Savour diverse cuisine at Burns Road and Do Darya, and discover unique finds at Zainab Market and Dolmen Mall. Karachi’s nightlife, cultural festivals and art galleries provide endless entertainment. Known as the City of Lights, Karachi dazzles with its unique charm and vibrant energy all year long.

Facts

Population:	20.4 million
Currency:	1 Pakistani rupee (PKR or Rs) = 100 paisa
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Ambulance: 115 Police: 15 Fire brigade: 16
Newspapers:	The Frontier Post: thefrontierpost.com Daily Pakistan: dailypakistan.com.pk The Express Tribune: tribune.com.pk The Dawn (Karachi-based, English-language): www.dawn.com The News (Karachi-based, English Language): www.thenews.com.pk Jang (Karachi-based Urdu Language): jang.com.pk
Opening hours:	Generally speaking, the workweek is Monday to Friday, with Friday being a half-day. Sometimes Saturday is also a half-day, but Sunday is always off. Government offices operate from 8/9 am to 5/6 pm, while private businesses tend to start operations at about 10 am. Restaurants and cafes tend to stay open later, until about 9/10 pm.
Tourist information:	PTDC Tourist Information Centre, Sea Breeze Plaza, Suit # 114-115, 1st Floor, Shahrah-e-Faisal Road, Karachi Cantonment Fowler Lines, Karachi +92 21 9933 2658 www.tourism.gov.pk

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Section in Karachi

There is plenty to see in sprawling Karachi, the biggest megacity in Pakistan and a fascinating melting pot of cultures. Most visitor attractions are concentrated in the southern district, while the outlying beaches and islands make for excellent short trips out of the city. If you're keen on learning more about the city’s history, museums like the National Museum of Pakistan and Mohatta Palace Museum are not to be missed.

Mazar-e-Quaid

Mazar-e-Quaid

Karachi’s most prominent landmark is a memorial to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and first head of state of Pakistan. The mausoleum is where Pakistan's great leader remains buried, making the location of immense historical significance to the local populace.

Tooba Mosque

Tooba Mosque

This splendid Midcentury modern white marble mosque can accommodate 5,000 worshippers and is reportedly the largest single-domed mosque in the world. Bear in mind that visits may only be arranged by prior appointment and are restricted to male visitors.

Mohatta Palace Museum

Mohatta Palace Museum

This spectacular 1920s palace, once officially belonging to the country's government, is now a museum showcasing the cultural heritage and narrating the history of Pakistan via a few dozen galleries belonging to its jurisdiction to-date. Check the website for current exhibitions.

National Museum of Pakistan

National Museum of Pakistan

The National Museum of Pakistan provides an excellent insight into the history of the region. Although the maintenance leaves something to be desired, the museum houses a collection of 58,000 old coins, hundreds of well-preserved sculptures, and other interesting artefacts dating back to various points in Pakistan's history.

Karachi’s Victorian Architecture

Karachi’s Victorian Architecture

The best places to admire the splendid monuments of the colonial era are Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road, Zaib-un-Nissa Street and M.A.Jinnah Road. Be sure to check out Liaqat Hall on Abdullah Haroon Road, the Empress Market, and the Karachi Port Trust building.

Chaukhandi Tombs

Chaukhandi Tombs

East of Karachi lie the Chaukhandi tombs, a vast Islamic burial ground full of incredibly ornate tombs that date back to somewhere during the 15th through 18th centuries. The sandstone structures are believed to be a burial site for the late Jokhio tribe members.

Beaches

Beaches

Escape the heat of the city and catch the breeze at one of the nearby beaches. The best ones are Sandspit Hawkes Bay, Clifton Beach, French Beach (privately owned, with clear water) and Paradise Point, with its scenic rock jutting out into the Arabian Sea. Camel rides are available for entertainment.

Pakistan Air Force Museum (PAF)

Pakistan Air Force Museum (PAF)

The museum adjacent to a Pakistan Air Force base in Faisal is Karachi's prime attraction for aviation enthusiasts. The grounds contain an extensive collection of military aircraft, some of which are even open to be looked inside, and a small amusement park operates on-site.

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