PESHAWAR: The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) on Sunday organised safari train excursion to Attock Khurd in collaboration with Pakistan Railways and Sehrai Travels to mark the World Tourism Day. Talking to media, Additional Secretary Sports, Tourism, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs Department Muhammad Tariq Khan said that World Tourism Day was being celebrated around the globe on September 27 every year. He said the TCKP had always maintained its record of celebrating the day with zeal and vigour. Despite Eidul Azha vacations, the TCKP organised the safari train trip for the youth of the city to mark the day. The participants, who were also accompanied by children, enjoyed the one and a half hour excursion to Attock Khurd from Peshawar. The activity included 150 youth organisations including the female scouts, Women Chamber of Commerce, Peshawar Cricket Team among several others. The historic tourist resort complex of Attock Khurd is situated on the eastern bank of Indus River near the old iron girder bridge built in 1883. The bridge connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab. The old British era railway station built around 1880, with its magnificent stone masonry and beautiful Victorian architecture is set in a hilly backdrop of an area steeped with history. The train tour offers a rare glimpse of a section of the historic Rawalpindi-Landikotal route. The journey begins from Peshawar Cantt Railway Station and passes by the famous Balahisar Fort. After leaving the city, the train chugs through lush green fields and orchards of peaches and plums, undulating hillocks and enters the rugged Manglot mountain range. The train passes through seven colonial era tunnels, the last one is called Aornos named after the site of Alexander The Great last siege in India, before he crossed the Indus into India. The train then crosses the mighty river over the Old Attock Bridge and makes the final stop at Attock Khurd Railway Station.
