Kharian is a beautiful city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is also called the ‘Little Norway of Pakistan’. Kharian is currently an administrative division of District Gujrat and it is also known as Kharian Tehsil.

For 2020, Pakistan is the best place to go on vacation. It was also one of the top underrated destinations in 2019. There are many reasons why you should visit 

Pakistan for your next vacation, including it being a great place to explore-- not many people have gone there before! 

To help you get ready for your trip, our guide has everything you need to know about places to stay and other things that are important when traveling. Get ready!

Kharian - A Mini Norway of Pakistan 

Kharian is a city that is off of the Grand Trunk Road in Pakistan. It has lots of bazaars, green landscapes, and trees. The people are nice there. 

Kharian was an important place for soldiers and there are important army bases here. They defended the country from other countries who wanted to come into it.

If you want to experience a mix of city and country life, go to Kharian. You will find tractors with loud engines and noisier Punjabi music around every corner of this small town. The smoke from the brick kilns in the area will help you see how people live in rural areas.

However, when you explore this small town with bricked houses and grazing buffaloes, it will surprise you in little doses. This surprise happens when you see that there are more than just homes. The surprises become even stronger when you see the infrastructure, villas with luxury cars outside them, and developments that are happening in the same space as where homes are located.

When you find yourself in a place like this, you will know that you are in Little Norway. You will be able to tell that it is Little Norway because there are 400 people who live there and who also live in Norway.

Norway has a small population of about 5 million people. About 50,000 Norwegians are Pakistani and 70% of them are from Kharian. This migration has not only changed life in this Norwegian village but it causes Norway to be interested in the area. They visit often and send diplomats there too.

Many people are moving from Aalam Pur Gondlan to Norway. They're doing this because they think that there are more opportunities in Norway than in other countries. An elderly villager in Kharian says that the financial stability of this village is unmatched. 

Most people earn money in crores and then send it home to their families or invite them to come to live with them in Norway.

Activities to Do in Kharian

People from all over Pakistan come to Kharian. This is where you can get inspired by seeing both urban and rural life. You can get here if you drive for 2 hours and 30 minutes from Islamabad on Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

If you are visiting Kharian from Lahore, it will be a 3-hour drive. When you get there, make sure you visit Pabbi Forest. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city.

The main attraction in the forest is a lake. A wooden bridge helps you explore the other side of the woods. You can find barbecue grills on your way to the other side. There are also many nice things to do at this park by the lake, like relaxing with a cup of tea while watching the sun go down over dinner time.

The forest has some homes on the top of a hill. They are for people who want to stay for a night. Some tourists like to take it to the next level and camp and sleep under the sky in these homes.

Kharian has a lot of nature. There are many opportunities for water sports. For example, people who like swimming and boating can go to the Jhelum River in Pakistan. The river is around 30 minutes away from Kharian and it is easy to get there from Sarai Alamgir – a village near Kharian.

Famous Industries and Souvenirs From Kharian

Kharian has the honor of being the city that produces many different things, including handmade Punjabi fans, cane furniture, and crockeries. It is also one of Pakistan's major suppliers of rice, wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, and seasonal vegetables and fruits. 

If you are planning to visit Kharian, then take a souvenir with you that will remind you of the good time that you had. There are many nice things for sale in Kharian. Some examples are hand-printed fabric, glass bangles, hand-fans, handicrafts, and embroidery work.

So if you enjoy a juicy melon this season it may have come from Kharian!