Places That Can Fit Into Your Year-End Budget

When it comes to traveling, there are various aspects governing it which one needs to look at before deciding upon whether they can go on to satiating their thirst for travel expedition. One of these travel aspects is money. It is often the factor that forces people to hold their horses and stop them from traveling around the world.

People often feel that they are tight on their budgets at the end of the month or the year. This is perhaps because they are involved in shopping to welcome the new year in the best possible manner. Despite the tight budget, especially at the year, Jovago Pakistan (an online hotel booking website) believes that you can still travel  to various places. with the help of some tips and tricks.

Rather than traveling abroad to spend your vacations, you can set on a journey to explore the sheer beauty of Pakistan, that too without causing a strain to your budget. You can  places that can still fit your limited amount of money are as follows:

• Ziarat

The beautiful hill station of Ziarat, which is the capital of the Ziarat District in Balochistan, is situated at an altitude of 8000 feet. It is home to the world’s second largest juniper forest, which is a must see sight especially in the winter season when the area is covered in the blanket of snow.

• Kund Malir

In the largest province lies an exotic beach by the name of Kund Malir. It is located at an approximate distance of 230 km from Karachi. Kund Malir is located near the Hingol National Park which is Pakistan’s largest national park. It is considered to be a natural wonder because  of it being a beautiful desert beach with palm trees on the shoreline.

• Kachura Lake

In the area of Gilgit-Baltistan, flows the Kachura lake. The lake, at an altitude of 8200 feet, comprises of two lakes in the Skardu District. Among the two lakes, the lower Kachura Lake is commonly known as Shangrila Lake and is a popular tourist destination.

• Gorakh Hill Station

The province of Sindh has its very own hill station. In the town of Dadu, lies the Gorakh hill station at the border of Sindh and Balochistan. The hill station enjoys the status of being the highest point in Sindh.

Places to Visit After You Have Attended Your Convocation

There are various events in life which people tend to cherish and value for as long as they live. They engrave such moments in the deepest part of their brains so that can remember them long after they have occurred. Moreover, they tend to capture these these moments by taking photographs and videos so that they can serve as the perfect reminder of the good time that they had.

One of these important events is the time when one is presented with an educational degree to serve as a reminder of the time that one spent in learning a new skill or gaining a new perspective. The degree is usually presented at convocation, which is a ceremony where faculty members and families of graduating students gather about to applaud the efforts put in and the time spent by the students to get the educational degree.

In order to engrave the special moment when you finally get hold of the academic degree, for which they worked so hard, students make plans as to what they will do to make it a memorable one. The key to making your convocation an enthralling one lies in not only getting hold of the degree, but it also involves celebrating it in good yet memorable manner.

To help you make your convocation a memorable one, Jovago Pakistanbrings an exclusive article on the places that are must visit after you have attended one of the most special events of your life.

• Restaurants/ Cafes

People say that one of the best ways to celebrate an event is to “wine and dine”. Whether you are celebrating with family or fellow batch mates, make sure to head out to some good eating places in your area. If you are someone who likes to dine at places that offer a lively yet warm ambiance, then a cafe can be  a suitable dining place for you.

• Amusement Parks

People say that there is no age limit for having the time of your life. Although your convocation signifies that you are a grown up but it does not mean that you can’t go to amusement parks. Accompanied with your friends and family head out to these parks, which are full of rides and what not, to add the high ending note to your special day.

• Companies

Once you get hold of your degree, it is important that you make the most out of it. If you are someone who is planning to implement what you have learned in school, then it is important that you start searching for a job, that you actually want to do, after your graduation.

Places to Visit to Achieve Your Travel Goals in 2017

The month of December is usually marked with celebrations that are held to bid adieu to the current year and to welcome the new year. People get busy in not only cherishing of what is left of the outgoing year but they also get excited about what the next year would bring about for them.

Amidst the excitement to welcome the new year, people make plans as to what they will be doing in the year ahead. While many promise themselves to change or improve their habits by making New year  resolutions, others make plans as to how they can get make great memories in the upcoming year.

One of the best ways to make great memories is to make travel plans that will not only help you to unwind and relax but will also provide a new yet different perspective by opening the doors to a new land and a different culture. In order to help you make the most out of your travel plans in the year 2017, Jovago Pakistan brings you an exclusive article on the places in Pakistan that are a must visit.

• Naltar Valley

In the area of  Gilgit-Baltistan, which possesses the natural beauty that seems to be out of the world, lies the breathtaking valley of Naltar which is surrounded by the Karakoram mountains. The valley is located at a distance of 40 kilometers from Gilgit. It is home to three colorful lakes, which are called Naltar or Bashiri lakes, that allure the tourists with different hues of aquamarine and azure.

• Borith Lake

Situated at an altitude of 8500 feet, the Borith Lake is a perfect place that will certainly help in achieving your travel goals in 2017. It is the perfect place for camping as it is surrounded by a hamlet, which is a smaller settlement as compared to a village. Surrounded by mountains from all sides and the far stretched sky, it will enthrall you with its view at night.

• Mahodand Lake

If you are looking out for spending some quality time surrounded by nature, then Mahodand lake is a must visit. Not only is it a quite place, a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of city life, the Mahodand lake also serves as a great resort to set your spirit free as you get to indulge in activities such as fishing,  boating and rafting. It is located in the Swat District’s Usho Valley on the Northwestern side of Pakistan.

If you have any other places in Pakistan that will he

Smart Phone, the Ultimate Tool for Tourists

The advent of technology has paved way for ‘convenience and efficiency’ to seep into the lives of human beings. This is one aspect of globalisation that has helped people to not only connect but also to conduct the business transaction with people living all over the world.

Amongst the various technological innovations that have removed various barriers, the advent of smartphones have dissolved the communication barrier to a great extent. The smartphones are a much better version of the old mobile phones.

Hence, this gadget no doubt provides the true meaning to the word ‘convenience’. Not only are they able to communicate effectively through these gadgets but they are able to access merely anything at just a click away.

Amongst the various aspects of the human lives that have benefited from this technological advancement, the wandering and curious nature of the human beings is  one such example that has gained from this invention. As people have a yearning to explore and wander, to discover new things and places and they satiate this yearning by traveling to different places.

There can be seen a revolution in the travel and tourism sector as a result of the smartphones. While the conventional traveling experience was difficult and  expensive, among other things, the modern day traveling is far easier and convenient. Moreover, it won’t be wrong to say that the modern day traveling is far more memorable for travelers. There are several reasons as to why Jovago Pakistan believes that smartphones have emerged as the ultimate traveling experience.

●     Perfect memory capturer

Gone are the days when you were just able to ‘live in the moment’. Now you are able to capture all your moments so that they get engraved and serve as a beautiful reminder of the wonderful time that you had while traveling.

●     The know-it-all

Despite the small size of the smartphones, people are able to access large amounts of information at just a touch away. No matter where you want to travel, the smartphones allow you to gather all the travel related information.

●     Ultimate hotel booking tool

Technology has made a breakthrough in the travel and tourism sector, as it allows people to get to make all the travel-related plans. Various online hotel booking websites, including Jovago Pakistan, now offer customers the ease to view, compare and book hotel online.

●     Ultimate direction guide

Gone are the days when we saw people who had their nose stuck up to large maps in order to find directions. The advent of Google maps has certainly solved this problem. With easy  directions for every place on the planet Earth, Google Maps has emerged as the new best friend of tourists all over the world.

Naltar Valley- Beauty yet Undiscovered in Pakistan

Pakistan’s northernmost territory of Gilgit-Baltistan portrays a spectacular amalgamation of various facets. Not only, does it mark the border with countries  including  Afghanistan, China and India but it is also home to a variety of natural wonders that enthrall the tourists with their beauty.

Naltar Valley is one such example of the sheer beauty that the Gilgit-Baltistan area possesses. The valley is emerging as a popular tourist spot because of the variety of enthralling views that seems to behold the visitors with their beauty. To help tourists who are planning to visit the beautiful Naltar valley,  Jovago Pakistan brings an exclusive travel guide on this valley which is yet to be discovered.

History

During the British Rule, Naltar valley served as the hill station of Gilgit Agency. The British administrators used to spend their summers here to escape the oppressive summer heat.

Location

The Naltar Valley is a beautiful mountain valley, that is situated at an approximate distance of 40km from Gilgit, in the Gilgit-Baltistan territory.  The valley comprises of two villages i.e. Naltar Bala and Naltar Pine which are accessible through Gilgit.

Description

Naltar valley is surrounded by barren mountains that seem to embrace it in their folds. The blanket of the alpine trees covers the entire valley and it provides a stunning view to the passersby. It is also home to a variety of wildlife. Moreover, the three colorful lakes also add to the sheer beauty of the area. This is perhaps why a large number of tourists visit this valley in particular.

Popular tourist attractions

❖       The Naltar lakes

Naltar valley is famous for the three lakes, which are called Naltar or Bashiri lakes. These lakes  allure the tourists with their beauty as each lake is in a different color. The different hues of color ranging from aquamarine to azure, that can be seen in all the three lakes, attract tourists towards themselves. Natl three with its azure color, in particular, is the most visited lake out of the three Naltar lakes.

❖       Skiing chairlifts

Naltar is all set to emerge as the skiing hub of Pakistan. It is home to the country’s first skiing chairlifts which are used in the winter games. For Naltaris, skiing is not only a tradition but it is a part of their identity as well. Although they cannot afford the expensive equipment, almost all of the residents know how to ski and they tend to carve their own kits from the wood that is chopped from the widely spread pine trees.

Social Media and Its Impact on Pakistan’s Tourism Industry

Technology has enabled people from all over the world to stay connected with others, irrespective of the distance. The communication barrier between people has between removed to a great extent by the introduction of various innovation including smartphones and social media.

The revolution brought about by technology is phenomenal. It has literally breathe life into the word ‘convenience’ by letting it seep into our lives through various inventions. This can be seen through the various platforms that the technology has provided to people so that they are better able to connect and remain in touch.

One such platform is the social media which in its literal sense means the use of technology to create and share information, ideas and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. Popular social media platforms include Facebook, twitter, youtube, Instagram etc.

Not only people are using these platforms to connect with other people but businesses too are using the opportunity to their benefit. They are using this platform to reach customers beyond the geographical boundaries and to connect and sell their products. They are doing this by offering customers the opportunity to shop online.

Apart from the brick and mortar stores, online shopping has emerged as an important platform for businesses to connect and engage with their customers by going beyond the geographical boundaries by creating a virtual market.

As the wings of technology spreads are spread in Pakistan, the country seems to go through a revolution. This technological advancement has opened the world of social media to the large Pakistani market, comprising of 210 million people. With more and more people joining social media platforms each day, the platform has emerged as an important tool that can be used by businesses to their advantage.

Seeing the potential that the large online market provides, many startup businesses have already made their launches in Pakistan in various sectors of the economy. In the travel and tourism sector, many startup ventures including Jovago Pakistan, Uber and Careem have already launched their successful operations. These startups have revolutionized the tourism industry in a better way.

By the introduction of these startups traveling has been made very easy. Gone are the days when people had to spent a large time planning their trip and then spending huge sums of money to ensure a safe trip is made. People nowadays are able to make quicker and cheaper travel plans including online hotel booking.

Moreover, with the emergence of social media platform people are more aware of everything that is going around them. For instance, when it comes to traveling, people are more aware of the new tourist spots that have been discovered in the country. With blogs, they get hold of the information about a place, which otherwise would have been difficult for them.

The social media has transformed the tourism sector for the better, and the changes brought by it in this sector are phenomenal. We hope that this transformation helps in boosting of the overall Pakistani economy.

Five tips to mastering the LUMS Open Day

2016 is almost at a close, and as the New Year draws near, ‘deadline’ is the buzzword du jour for students all over. Test registration deadline, academic references deadline, personal statement deadline, attested documents submission deadline – if you’re looking to head to university, it’s likely that deadlines are all you’re currently thinking about. Before you dive into the deadline pool, however, there is one decision that precedes all the fever: figuring out which universities to apply to in the first place.

While knowing your major subject or a specific field of study can help a lot when deciding where to apply, the university experience (especially at the undergraduate level) is about far more than merely academics. Campus life, the facilities on offer, extra-curricular activities, and the demographic of your fellow students all play a crucial role in determining which universities catch your eye, and what institution holds the coveted place of ‘dream school’ in your mind.

Talking to alumni, university brochures, and websites are all great ways to gather information about your prospective university; however, Open Days offer students the best insights by covering all aspects of life. It is only by visiting a campus in person and actually experiencing on ground the actual life of a particular university that one can really know what it’s like to be a student there. Moreover, Open Days allow students to meet the admissions personnel who will be assessing their applications, giving you a chance to pick up valuable tips about what they’re looking for in successful candidates – whether undergraduate or post-graduate.

While prevalent in most countries abroad, the majority of universities in Pakistan do not organise regular Open Days. The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the country’s most pre-eminent higher education institution, is an exception to this rule. This year, LUMS is holding 3 separate Open Days in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. And if you’re looking to join the august crowd of notable LUMS alumni, these five tips will give you great insights on what to look out for and what questions to ask, so you can make the most of the short time slot available.

1.    Research: Before you head to LUMS for their Open Day, do some quick research. The University website is a great source of hardcore official information, but if you really want to get a feel for what LUMS students think and feel, make sure you check out their official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. Be sure to look at the comments under specific posts, and to look at what content has been re-posted, re-Tweeted etc.  

2.    Campus Life: Coming to an Open Day is the best way to assess the chemistry between you and the university. Each of us has a set of priorities and expectations from our academic institutions; so visit the campus in real life and see if it checks all the boxes you’re looking for. Check out the library, labs, classrooms, cafeterias, sports centre, and grounds. See the campus in real-time.

3.    Chat with existing students: And while roaming around the campus, take a moment to catch up with existing students and let them tell you about their experiences so far. If cornering an unsuspecting student doesn’t appeal to you, ask your student tour guide if they are part of any societies, where they go out in the evening, and how they knew that this university was the right choice for them.

4.    Know the curriculum and faculty: Be sure you know what subjects are being offered – and if you really want to make an impression, research the professors who will be teaching the subjects you are most interested in. The Open Day is your chance to interact with your potential future teachers and offers a unique opportunity for you to impress them with your knowledge of their academic work.

5.    Queries and Fee structure: This is also the best time to meet financial advisors, who can answer all your potential queries. One-on-one conversations are possibly the best way to get information about financial support such as scholarships, flexi-payments of tuition fee, support for disability, and student loans.

More than anything else, the LUMS Open Day gives you a chance to put yourself in the shoes of a real Luminite. By the end of the day, you should be in a much better position to assess whether or not LUMS is the right fit for you and you for it. It’s also important to remember that Open Days – especially those held by LUMS – are not exclusive to those looking to dip their toes into Higher Education. From post-graduate applicants to management executives looking to hone their professional skills, Open Days are a font of knowledge and experience. It may be worthwhile dropping by even if you are only toying with the idea of returning to academia. You never know, you might end up surprising yourself by enrolling in an after-work post-grad class or short course which could end up playing an integral role in your career.